How do I set the directory for the test folder in Visual Studio Code with Mocha?

Question

I've been trying to learn unit-testing with Mocha using Visual Studio Code, as per this tutorial. But when I click the Play button to start Mocha Tests, I get an error about not finding the test files.

It apparently wants me to put the test files in a directory that'd kind of mess up the way I have things organized in my project.

So, is there a way for me to point it to the test folder I have set up elsewhere?

this is a similar issue, https://stackoverflow.com/questions/10753288/how-to-specify-test-directory-for-mocha i hope this help. but in my opnion go to jest <3 — Mauricio, Feb 12 '20 at 11:29
@Tespy I have a [simple project in GitHub](https://github.com/balexandre/so59977566) for answering another question, you can actually see how mocha works there ... feel free to download all files (or clone) and run in your computer... — balexandre, Feb 12 '20 at 13:01

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 12 '20 at 13:39

To tell Mocha to run the tests in another folder rather than run in the default ./test folder, you could simply change the command and execute

mocha "./spec/**/*.js"

or, if your bash does not support ** run as

mocha --recursive "./spec/*.js"

this means, that you can easily change the VSCode launch script to:

{
    "type": "node",
    "request": "launch",
    "name": "Mocha Tests",
    "program": "${workspaceFolder}/node_modules/mocha/bin/_mocha",
    "args": [
        "./<YOUR_FOLDER_HERE>/**/*.js",
        "--ui bdd",
        "--timeout 15000",
        "--sort",
        "--colors",
        "--bail",
        "-R spec",
        "--recursive",
        "--exit",
    ],
    "internalConsoleOptions": "openOnSessionStart"
}

remember to change <YOUR_FOLDER_HERE> with the folder name where you have the tests

if you have tests in your code but they are named, for example as routes.spec.js you can simply say ./**/*.spec.js and will find every file in your project that ends with .spec.js

The example above would be the same as having a mocha.opts file as

# mocha options
--ui bdd
--timeout 15000
--sort
--colors
--bail
-R spec
--require test/prepare
--recursive
--exit

just play with the arguments until you run it as you like ...

BTW, if you're using VSCode, I would strongly recommend a Mocha extension (there are several) as you will not need to run the tests as a launch command and you will have all the tests in your sidebar with the option to debug each one and add breakpoints to your code

as well in your tests

P.S. this project is in GitHub so you can see how everything works, including code coverage if you into looking how that also works :)

Thank you very much! It worked great ^_^ Now I can make programming for a certain game engine way easier xD — Tespy, Feb 13 '20 at 14:59

How do I set the directory for the test folder in Visual Studio Code with Mocha?

1 Answers1