JUnit test for System.out.println()

Question

I need to write JUnit tests for an old application that\'s poorly designed and is writing a lot of error messages to standard output. When the getResponse(String reque

Answer 1

Instead of redirecting System.out, I would refactor the class that uses System.out.println() by passing a PrintStream as a collaborator and then using System.out in production and a Test Spy in the test. That is, use Dependency Injection to eliminate the direct use of the standard output stream.

In Production

ConsoleWriter writer = new ConsoleWriter(System.out));

In the Test

ByteArrayOutputStream outSpy = new ByteArrayOutputStream();
ConsoleWriter writer = new ConsoleWriter(new PrintStream(outSpy));
writer.printSomething();
assertThat(outSpy.toString(), is("expected output"));

Discussion

This way the class under test becomes testable by a simple refactoring, without having the need for indirect redirection of the standard output or obscure interception with a system rule.