PHP - Alternatives to runkit for intercepting method calls

Question

I have some very test-unfriendly code (to say the least) that I need to test. Refactoring unfortunately is not an option. I have to test the code as it is, without the possibility of changing it.

To do that, I was thinking of intercepting function calls and dynamically change what they do so I can run my tests, as I need some functions and methods to return known values, and I need others that make requests, connect to the database, etc, to stop doing that and return what I need them to return. Is there any way to do this without runkit_method_redefine(), which is preferably not "EXPERIMENTAL" and still maintained? Maybe an alternative to runkit? Maybe a better way?

Edit: will use PHPUnit's test doubles and PHP 5.3.2's features for making private methods accessible, if I need that functionality.

Answer 1

Note: the Test-Helper extension is superseded by https://github.com/krakjoe/uopz

PHPUnit's Test Helper extension (PECL) allows redefiniton/intercepting/stubbing/mocking of hardcoded dependencies with your own implementations:

protected function setUp()
{
    $this->getMock(
      'Bar',                    /* name of class to mock     */
      array('doSomethingElse'), /* list of methods to mock   */
      array(),                  /* constructor arguments     */
      'BarMock'                 /* name for mocked class     */
    );

    set_new_overload(array($this, 'newCallback'));
}

It also allows intercepting the exit statement and instance creation:

• https://github.com/sebastianbergmann/php-test-helpers

For stubbing and mocking methods you simply use PHPUnit's regular mocking framework. See

• http://www.phpunit.de/manual/current/en/test-doubles.html

You can also use Mockery with PHPUnit:

• https://github.com/padraic/mockery

Another option would be to use http://antecedent.github.io/patchwork

Patchwork is a PHP library that makes it possible to redefine user-defined functions and methods at runtime, loosely replicating the functionality runkit_function_redefine in pure PHP 5.3 code, which, among other things, enables you to replace static and private methods with test doubles.

Answer 2

The runkit extension is a perfect solution for your needs. It is proven by years of my personal experience and described in many presentations and articles authored by different authors in the internet.

I can assure you that the runkit_method_redefine function as well as the whole runkit extension is not experimental anymore (documentation hosted on the php.net is obsolete). The up-to-date runkit extension can be found on http://github.com/zenovich/runkit

Sincerely, Dmitry Zenovich