

Test & Code
Brian Okken
The Python Test Podcast hosted by Brian Okken
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 30, 2025 • 20min
236: Git Tips for Testing - Adam Johnson
In this episode, host Brian Okken and guest Adam Johnson explore essential Git features, highlighted by Adam's updated book, "Boost Your Git DX." Key topics include "cherry picking" for selective commits"git stash" for managing in-progress work"git diff", and specifically its `--name-only` flag, which provides a streamlined method for developers to identify which files have changed, which can be used to determine which tests need to be run"git bisect" for efficiently pinpointing bugs. This conversation offers valuable strategies for developers at any skill level to enhance their Git proficiency and optimize their coding workflows.Links:Boost Your Git DX - Adam's book
Help support the show AND learn pytest: The Complete pytest course is now a bundle, with each part available separately.pytest Primary Power teaches the super powers of pytest that you need to learn to use pytest effectively.Using pytest with Projects has lots of "when you need it" sections like debugging failed tests, mocking, testing strategy, and CIThen pytest Booster Rockets can help with advanced parametrization and building plugins.Whether you need to get started with pytest today, or want to power up your pytest skills, PythonTest has a course for you.
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Jul 22, 2025 • 20min
235: pytest-django - Adam Johnson
In this episode, special guest Adam Johnson joins the show and examines pytest-django, a popular plugin among Django developers. He highlights its advantages over the built-in unittest framework, including improved test management and debugging. Adam addresses transition challenges, evolving fixture practices, and offers tips for optimizing test performance. This episode is a concise guide for developers looking to enhance their testing strategies with pytest-django.Links:pytest-django - a plugin for pytest that provides a set of useful tools for testing Django applications and projects.
Help support the show AND learn pytest: The Complete pytest course is now a bundle, with each part available separately.pytest Primary Power teaches the super powers of pytest that you need to learn to use pytest effectively.Using pytest with Projects has lots of "when you need it" sections like debugging failed tests, mocking, testing strategy, and CIThen pytest Booster Rockets can help with advanced parametrization and building plugins.Whether you need to get started with pytest today, or want to power up your pytest skills, PythonTest has a course for you.
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May 8, 2025 • 8min
234: pytest-metadata - provides access to test session metadata
pytest-metadata is described as a plugin for pytest that provides access to test session metadata. That is such a humble description for such a massively useful plugin. If you're already using pytest-html, you have pytest-metadata already installed, as pytest-metadata is one of the dependencies for pytest-html.However, pytest-metadata is very useful even on its own.Links:pytest-metadata - The plugin we're talking about in this episodepytest-base-url - Adds the base URL to the metadata.pytest-html - Displays the metadata at the start of each report. See S2:E6: pytest-html - a plugin that generates HTML reports for test resultspytest-reporter-html1 - Presents metadata as part of the report.pytest-selenium - Adds the driver, capabilities, and remote server to the metadata.If you've got other plugins that work well with pytest-metadata, please let me know.
Sponsored by: Porkbun -- named the #1 domain registrar by USA Today from 2023 to 2025!Get a .app or.dev domain name for only $5.99 first year.Help support the show AND learn pytest: The Complete pytest course is now a bundle, with each part available separately.pytest Primary Power teaches the super powers of pytest that you need to learn to use pytest effectively.Using pytest with Projects has lots of "when you need it" sections like debugging failed tests, mocking, testing strategy, and CIThen pytest Booster Rockets can help with advanced parametrization and building plugins.Whether you need to get started with pytest today, or want to power up your pytest skills, PythonTest has a course for you.
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May 2, 2025 • 10min
233: pytest-check - allow multiple failures per test
pytest-check is a pytest plugin that allows multiple failures per test.Normally, a test function will fail and stop running with the first failed assert. That's totally fine for tons of kinds of software tests. However, there are times where you'd like to check more than one thing, and you'd really like to know the results of each check, even if one of them fails.pytest-check allows multiple failed "checks" per test function, so you can see the whole picture of what's going wrong.Links:pytest-checkTop pytest plugins
Sponsored by: Porkbun -- named the #1 domain registrar by USA Today from 2023 to 2025!Get a .app or.dev domain name for only $5.99 first year.Help support the show AND learn pytest: The Complete pytest course is now a bundle, with each part available separately.pytest Primary Power teaches the super powers of pytest that you need to learn to use pytest effectively.Using pytest with Projects has lots of "when you need it" sections like debugging failed tests, mocking, testing strategy, and CIThen pytest Booster Rockets can help with advanced parametrization and building plugins.Whether you need to get started with pytest today, or want to power up your pytest skills, PythonTest has a course for you.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

4 snips
Apr 25, 2025 • 58min
232: The role of AI in software testing - Anthony Shaw
AI is helping people write code. Tests are one of those things that some people don't like to write. Can AI play a role in creating automated software tests? Well, yes. But it's a nuanced yes. Anthony Shaw comes on the show to discuss the topic and try to get AI to write some test for my very own cards project.We discuss:The promise of AI writing your tests for youDownsides to not writing tests yourselfBad ways to generate testsGood ways to ask AI for help in writing testsTricks to get better results while using copilot and other AI toolsLinks:The cards projectA video version of this discussion: Should AI write tests?
Sponsored by: Porkbun -- named the #1 domain registrar by USA Today from 2023 to 2025!Get a .app or.dev domain name for only $5.99 first year.Help support the show AND learn pytest: The Complete pytest course is now a bundle, with each part available separately.pytest Primary Power teaches the super powers of pytest that you need to learn to use pytest effectively.Using pytest with Projects has lots of "when you need it" sections like debugging failed tests, mocking, testing strategy, and CIThen pytest Booster Rockets can help with advanced parametrization and building plugins.Whether you need to get started with pytest today, or want to power up your pytest skills, PythonTest has a course for you.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Apr 10, 2025 • 8min
231: pytest-repeat - works fine on Python 3.14
pytest-repeat is a pytest plugin that makes it easy to repeat a single test, or multiple tests, a specific number of times. works fine on Python 3.14is tested on Python 3.9-3.14probably works fine still on 3.7 & 3.8This episode also discusses the attempted April Fools episode.Links:pytest-repeatThe April Fools episode: Python 3.14 won't repeat with pytest-repeat
Help support the show AND learn pytest: The Complete pytest course is now a bundle, with each part available separately.pytest Primary Power teaches the super powers of pytest that you need to learn to use pytest effectively.Using pytest with Projects has lots of "when you need it" sections like debugging failed tests, mocking, testing strategy, and CIThen pytest Booster Rockets can help with advanced parametrization and building plugins.Whether you need to get started with pytest today, or want to power up your pytest skills, PythonTest has a course for you.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Apr 1, 2025 • 5min
230: Python 3.14 won't repeat with pytest-repeat
pytest-repeat is a pytest plugin that makes it easy to repeat a single test, or multiple tests, a specific number of times. Note: This was an April Fools attempt, so the statement ..."Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to work with Python 3.14, even though there is no rational reason why it shouldn't work." ... is NOT true.Listen to the NEXT episode to get an explanationLinks:pytest-repeatNext episode: pytest-repeat - works fine on Python 3.14
Help support the show AND learn pytest: The Complete pytest course is now a bundle, with each part available separately.pytest Primary Power teaches the super powers of pytest that you need to learn to use pytest effectively.Using pytest with Projects has lots of "when you need it" sections like debugging failed tests, mocking, testing strategy, and CIThen pytest Booster Rockets can help with advanced parametrization and building plugins.Whether you need to get started with pytest today, or want to power up your pytest skills, PythonTest has a course for you.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Mar 27, 2025 • 7min
229: pytest-html - a plugin that generates HTML reports for test results
pytest-html has got to be one of my all time favorite plugins. pytest-html is a plugin for pytest that generates a HTML report for test results. This episode digs into some of the super coolness of pytest-html.pytest-htmlrepo readme with screenshotenhancing reportspytest-metadata
Help support the show AND learn pytest: The Complete pytest course is now a bundle, with each part available separately.pytest Primary Power teaches the super powers of pytest that you need to learn to use pytest effectively.Using pytest with Projects has lots of "when you need it" sections like debugging failed tests, mocking, testing strategy, and CIThen pytest Booster Rockets can help with advanced parametrization and building plugins.Whether you need to get started with pytest today, or want to power up your pytest skills, PythonTest has a course for you.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Mar 1, 2025 • 11min
228: pytest-md and pytest-md-report: Markdown reports for pytest
Markdown reports as either text or markdown tables.Two fun plugins discussed.Links:pytest-md-reportpytest-mdTop pytest Plugins
Help support the show AND learn pytest: The Complete pytest course is now a bundle, with each part available separately.pytest Primary Power teaches the super powers of pytest that you need to learn to use pytest effectively.Using pytest with Projects has lots of "when you need it" sections like debugging failed tests, mocking, testing strategy, and CIThen pytest Booster Rockets can help with advanced parametrization and building plugins.Whether you need to get started with pytest today, or want to power up your pytest skills, PythonTest has a course for you.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Feb 7, 2025 • 48min
227: Mocking in Python with unittest.mock - Michael Foord
This episode is a replay of a 2021 interview I did with Michael Foord.We lost Michael in January, and I'd like to revisit this interview as a tribute. Michael Foord was a pivotal figure in the Python community and the creator of the mock library that's now unittest.mock. But he did so much more as well. His contributions continue to resonate within the developer community. This interview is just a small peek at his influence. In this episodeIntroduction to Michael FoordThe Mock Library OriginsMocking and Testing PhilosophyCareer Path and ConsultingUnderstanding MockingThe Power of PatchTesting Strategies and DesignMocking External DependenciesTeaching Testing and Mockingpython.org has put up an "In memoriam" page for Michael Foord, and many people have shared stories and memories.Links:In memoriam: Michael Foord 1974-202530 best practices for software development and testing
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