Why are JUnit assert methods not generic in Java?

Question

I am using JUnit 4.12. The assert methods are not generic in nature. For instance, assertEquals method looks like:

static public void assertEquals(Object ex         


        

Answer 1

You want to look assertThat and the Hamcrest matchers; as assertThat actually works with generics:

assertThat(String reason, T actual, Matcher matcher) 

So:

assertEquals("abc", 123); 

compiles, but fails; whereas

assertThat(123, is("abc")); 

won't even compile!

And I am not even mentioning that asserThat calls are much better to read; and give much better information when they fail. You can even use them to compare maps, sets, whatever.

Long story short: there is only one assert that anybody needs - assertThat that is!