I’m really frustrated with how slow headless browsers are for testing. I’ve been thinking about other ways to test the JavaScript-PHP-Database pipeline.
Has anyone tried using Jest (without mocking fetch) along with a PHP proxy script and some environment variables to set up a test database? This seems like it could work, but I’m not sure if I’m missing something important.
I don’t need to test HTML, CSS, or visibility stuff right now. I just want to make sure the data flow works correctly.
What do you all think? Is this a crazy idea, or could it actually work? Any tips or warnings would be super helpful!
I’ve been down this road before, and I can tell you it’s definitely possible to test the JS-PHP-DB flow without a headless browser.
In my own experience, I configured Jest to work with environment variables that fit different test scenarios. I also developed a simple PHP proxy script that handled HTTP requests from Jest and forwarded them to the main PHP service. This setup allowed me to test the entire pipeline realistically without having to rely on mocking fetch, which maintains the integrity of the data flow.
One important tip is to ensure that your test database remains isolated to avoid any conflicts with production data. Overall, this approach not only speeds up testing but also provides a more accurate representation of how the components interact.
yo, i’ve done somethin similar before. jest works great with env vars for different test scenarios. u can make a simple php proxy script to handle requests from jest n send em to ur main php service. just make sure ur test db is separate from production. it’s way faster than headless browsers n gives u a better idea of how everything works together. good luck!
I’ve actually implemented a similar setup in my projects. It’s definitely possible to test the JS-PHP-DB flow without a headless browser. Here’s what worked for me:
Use Jest with axios for HTTP requests. Configure environment variables in Jest to mimic different scenarios. Create a simple PHP script that acts as a proxy, handling requests from Jest and forwarding them to your main PHP service.
For the database, set up a separate test database to avoid conflicts with production data. This approach is much faster than using headless browsers and gives you a more accurate picture of how your components interact.
One caveat: make sure your PHP proxy script properly handles all types of requests and data formats you’ll be using. Also, remember to reset your test database state between test runs for consistent results.
Overall, this method has saved me tons of time and headaches in testing. Give it a try!