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1
2
3 # Introduction: Why Google C++ Testing Framework? #
4
5 _Google C++ Testing Framework_ helps you write better C++ tests.
6
7 No matter whether you work on Linux, Windows, or a Mac, if you write C++ code,
8 Google Test can help you.
9
10 So what makes a good test, and how does Google C++ Testing Framework fit in? We believe:
11 1. Tests should be _independent_ and _repeatable_. It's a pain to debug a test that succeeds or fails as a result of other tests. Google C++ Testing Framework isolates the tests by running each of them on a different object. When a test fails, Google C++ Testing Framework allows you to run it in isolation for quick debugging.
12 1. Tests should be well _organized_ and reflect the structure of the tested code. Google C++ Testing Framework groups related tests into test cases that can share data and subroutines. This common pattern is easy to recognize and makes tests easy to maintain. Such consistency is especially helpful when people switch projects and start to work on a new code base.
13 1. Tests should be _portable_ and _reusable_. The open-source community has a lot of code that is platform-neutral, its tests should also be platform-neutral. Google C++ Testing Framework works on different OSes, with different compilers (gcc, MSVC, and others), with or without exceptions, so Google C++ Testing Framework tests can easily work with a variety of configurations. (Note that the current release only contains build scripts for Linux - we are actively working on scripts for other platforms.)
14 1. When tests fail, they should provide as much _information_ about the problem as possible. Google C++ Testing Framework doesn't stop at the first test failure. Instead, it only stops the current test and continues with the next. You can also set up tests that report non-fatal failures after which the current test continues. Thus, you can detect and fix multiple bugs in a single run-edit-compile cycle.
15 1. The testing framework should liberate test writers from housekeeping chores and let them focus on the test _content_. Google C++ Testing Framework automatically keeps track of all tests defined, and doesn't require the user to enumerate them in order to run them.
16 1. Tests should be _fast_. With Google C++ Testing Framework, you can reuse shared resources across tests and pay for the set-up/tear-down only once, without making tests depend on each other.
17
18 Since Google C++ Testing Framework is based on the popular xUnit
19 architecture, you'll feel right at home if you've used JUnit or PyUnit before.
20 If not, it will take you about 10 minutes to learn the basics and get started.
21 So let's go!
22
23 _Note:_ We sometimes refer to Google C++ Testing Framework informally
24 as _Google Test_.
25
26 # Beware of the nomenclature #
27
28 _Note:_ There might be some confusion of idea due to different
29 definitions of the terms _Test_, _Test Case_ and _Test Suite_, so beware
30 of misunderstanding these.
31
32 Historically, the Google C++ Testing Framework started to use the term
33 _Test Case_ for grouping related tests, whereas current publications
34 including the International Software Testing Qualifications Board
35 ([ISTQB](http://www.istqb.org/)) and various textbooks on Software
36 Quality use the term _[Test
37 Suite](http://glossary.istqb.org/search/test%20suite)_ for this.
38
39 The related term _Test_, as it is used in the Google C++ Testing
40 Framework, is corresponding to the term _[Test
41 Case](http://glossary.istqb.org/search/test%20case)_ of ISTQB and
42 others.
43
44 The term _Test_ is commonly of broad enough sense, including ISTQB's
45 definition of _Test Case_, so it's not much of a problem here. But the
46 term _Test Case_ as used in Google Test is of contradictory sense and thus confusing.
47
48 Unfortunately replacing the term _Test Case_ by _Test Suite_ throughout
49 the Google C++ Testing Framework is not easy without breaking dependent
50 projects, as `TestCase` is part of the public API at various places.
51
52 So for the time being, please be aware of the different definitions of
53 the terms:
54
55 Meaning | Google Test Term | [ISTQB](http://www.istqb.org/) Term
56 ------- | ---------------- | -----------------------------------
57 Exercise a particular program path with specific input values and verify the results | [TEST()](#simple-tests) | [Test Case](http://glossary.istqb.org/search/test%20case)
58 A set of several tests related to one component | [Test Case](#basic-concepts) | [Test Suite](http://glossary.istqb.org/search/test%20suite)
59
60 # Setting up a New Test Project #
61
62 To write a test program using Google Test, you need to compile Google
63 Test into a library and link your test with it. We provide build
64 files for some popular build systems: `msvc/` for Visual Studio,
65 `xcode/` for Mac Xcode, `make/` for GNU make, `codegear/` for Borland
66 C++ Builder, and the autotools script (deprecated) and
67 `CMakeLists.txt` for CMake (recommended) in the Google Test root
68 directory. If your build system is not on this list, you can take a
69 look at `make/Makefile` to learn how Google Test should be compiled
70 (basically you want to compile `src/gtest-all.cc` with `GTEST_ROOT`
71 and `GTEST_ROOT/include` in the header search path, where `GTEST_ROOT`
72 is the Google Test root directory).
73
74 Once you are able to compile the Google Test library, you should
75 create a project or build target for your test program. Make sure you
76 have `GTEST_ROOT/include` in the header search path so that the
77 compiler can find `"gtest/gtest.h"` when compiling your test. Set up
78 your test project to link with the Google Test library (for example,
79 in Visual Studio, this is done by adding a dependency on
80 `gtest.vcproj`).
81
82 If you still have questions, take a look at how Google Test's own
83 tests are built and use them as examples.
84
85 # Basic Concepts #
86
87 When using Google Test, you start by writing _assertions_, which are statements
88 that check whether a condition is true. An assertion's result can be _success_,
89 _nonfatal failure_, or _fatal failure_. If a fatal failure occurs, it aborts
90 the current function; otherwise the program continues normally.
91
92 _Tests_ use assertions to verify the tested code's behavior. If a test crashes
93 or has a failed assertion, then it _fails_; otherwise it _succeeds_.
94
95 A _test case_ contains one or many tests. You should group your tests into test
96 cases that reflect the structure of the tested code. When multiple tests in a
97 test case need to share common objects and subroutines, you can put them into a
98 _test fixture_ class.
99
100 A _test program_ can contain multiple test cases.
101
102 We'll now explain how to write a test program, starting at the individual
103 assertion level and building up to tests and test cases.
104
105 # Assertions #
106
107 Google Test assertions are macros that resemble function calls. You test a
108 class or function by making assertions about its behavior. When an assertion
109 fails, Google Test prints the assertion's source file and line number location,
110 along with a failure message. You may also supply a custom failure message
111 which will be appended to Google Test's message.
112
113 The assertions come in pairs that test the same thing but have different
114 effects on the current function. `ASSERT_*` versions generate fatal failures
115 when they fail, and **abort the current function**. `EXPECT_*` versions generate
116 nonfatal failures, which don't abort the current function. Usually `EXPECT_*`
117 are preferred, as they allow more than one failures to be reported in a test.
118 However, you should use `ASSERT_*` if it doesn't make sense to continue when
119 the assertion in question fails.
120
121 Since a failed `ASSERT_*` returns from the current function immediately,
122 possibly skipping clean-up code that comes after it, it may cause a space leak.
123 Depending on the nature of the leak, it may or may not be worth fixing - so
124 keep this in mind if you get a heap checker error in addition to assertion
125 errors.
126
127 To provide a custom failure message, simply stream it into the macro using the
128 `<<` operator, or a sequence of such operators. An example:
129 ```
130 ASSERT_EQ(x.size(), y.size()) << "Vectors x and y are of unequal length";
131
132 for (int i = 0; i < x.size(); ++i) {
133 EXPECT_EQ(x[i], y[i]) << "Vectors x and y differ at index " << i;
134 }
135 ```
136
137 Anything that can be streamed to an `ostream` can be streamed to an assertion
138 macro--in particular, C strings and `string` objects. If a wide string
139 (`wchar_t*`, `TCHAR*` in `UNICODE` mode on Windows, or `std::wstring`) is
140 streamed to an assertion, it will be translated to UTF-8 when printed.
141
142 ## Basic Assertions ##
143
144 These assertions do basic true/false condition testing.
145
146 | **Fatal assertion** | **Nonfatal assertion** | **Verifies** |
147 |:--------------------|:-----------------------|:-------------|
148 | `ASSERT_TRUE(`_condition_`)`; | `EXPECT_TRUE(`_condition_`)`; | _condition_ is true |
149 | `ASSERT_FALSE(`_condition_`)`; | `EXPECT_FALSE(`_condition_`)`; | _condition_ is false |
150
151 Remember, when they fail, `ASSERT_*` yields a fatal failure and
152 returns from the current function, while `EXPECT_*` yields a nonfatal
153 failure, allowing the function to continue running. In either case, an
154 assertion failure means its containing test fails.
155
156 _Availability_: Linux, Windows, Mac.
157
158 ## Binary Comparison ##
159
160 This section describes assertions that compare two values.
161
162 | **Fatal assertion** | **Nonfatal assertion** | **Verifies** |
163 |:--------------------|:-----------------------|:-------------|
164 |`ASSERT_EQ(`_val1_`, `_val2_`);`|`EXPECT_EQ(`_val1_`, `_val2_`);`| _val1_ `==` _val2_ |
165 |`ASSERT_NE(`_val1_`, `_val2_`);`|`EXPECT_NE(`_val1_`, `_val2_`);`| _val1_ `!=` _val2_ |
166 |`ASSERT_LT(`_val1_`, `_val2_`);`|`EXPECT_LT(`_val1_`, `_val2_`);`| _val1_ `<` _val2_ |
167 |`ASSERT_LE(`_val1_`, `_val2_`);`|`EXPECT_LE(`_val1_`, `_val2_`);`| _val1_ `<=` _val2_ |
168 |`ASSERT_GT(`_val1_`, `_val2_`);`|`EXPECT_GT(`_val1_`, `_val2_`);`| _val1_ `>` _val2_ |
169 |`ASSERT_GE(`_val1_`, `_val2_`);`|`EXPECT_GE(`_val1_`, `_val2_`);`| _val1_ `>=` _val2_ |
170
171 In the event of a failure, Google Test prints both _val1_ and _val2_.
172
173 Value arguments must be comparable by the assertion's comparison
174 operator or you'll get a compiler error. We used to require the
175 arguments to support the `<<` operator for streaming to an `ostream`,
176 but it's no longer necessary since v1.6.0 (if `<<` is supported, it
177 will be called to print the arguments when the assertion fails;
178 otherwise Google Test will attempt to print them in the best way it
179 can. For more details and how to customize the printing of the
180 arguments, see this Google Mock [recipe](../../googlemock/docs/CookBook.md#teaching-google-mock-how-to-print-your-values).).
181
182 These assertions can work with a user-defined type, but only if you define the
183 corresponding comparison operator (e.g. `==`, `<`, etc). If the corresponding
184 operator is defined, prefer using the `ASSERT_*()` macros because they will
185 print out not only the result of the comparison, but the two operands as well.
186
187 Arguments are always evaluated exactly once. Therefore, it's OK for the
188 arguments to have side effects. However, as with any ordinary C/C++ function,
189 the arguments' evaluation order is undefined (i.e. the compiler is free to
190 choose any order) and your code should not depend on any particular argument
191 evaluation order.
192
193 `ASSERT_EQ()` does pointer equality on pointers. If used on two C strings, it
194 tests if they are in the same memory location, not if they have the same value.
195 Therefore, if you want to compare C strings (e.g. `const char*`) by value, use
196 `ASSERT_STREQ()` , which will be described later on. In particular, to assert
197 that a C string is `NULL`, use `ASSERT_STREQ(NULL, c_string)` . However, to
198 compare two `string` objects, you should use `ASSERT_EQ`.
199
200 Macros in this section work with both narrow and wide string objects (`string`
201 and `wstring`).
202
203 _Availability_: Linux, Windows, Mac.
204
205 _Historical note_: Before February 2016 `*_EQ` had a convention of calling it as
206 `ASSERT_EQ(expected, actual)`, so lots of existing code uses this order.
207 Now `*_EQ` treats both parameters in the same way.
208
209 ## String Comparison ##
210
211 The assertions in this group compare two **C strings**. If you want to compare
212 two `string` objects, use `EXPECT_EQ`, `EXPECT_NE`, and etc instead.
213
214 | **Fatal assertion** | **Nonfatal assertion** | **Verifies** |
215 |:--------------------|:-----------------------|:-------------|
216 | `ASSERT_STREQ(`_str1_`, `_str2_`);` | `EXPECT_STREQ(`_str1_`, `_str2_`);` | the two C strings have the same content |
217 | `ASSERT_STRNE(`_str1_`, `_str2_`);` | `EXPECT_STRNE(`_str1_`, `_str2_`);` | the two C strings have different content |
218 | `ASSERT_STRCASEEQ(`_str1_`, `_str2_`);`| `EXPECT_STRCASEEQ(`_str1_`, `_str2_`);` | the two C strings have the same content, ignoring case |
219 | `ASSERT_STRCASENE(`_str1_`, `_str2_`);`| `EXPECT_STRCASENE(`_str1_`, `_str2_`);` | the two C strings have different content, ignoring case |
220
221 Note that "CASE" in an assertion name means that case is ignored.
222
223 `*STREQ*` and `*STRNE*` also accept wide C strings (`wchar_t*`). If a
224 comparison of two wide strings fails, their values will be printed as UTF-8
225 narrow strings.
226
227 A `NULL` pointer and an empty string are considered _different_.
228
229 _Availability_: Linux, Windows, Mac.
230
231 See also: For more string comparison tricks (substring, prefix, suffix, and
232 regular expression matching, for example), see the [Advanced Google Test Guide](advanced.md).
233
234 # Simple Tests #
235
236 To create a test:
237 1. Use the `TEST()` macro to define and name a test function, These are ordinary C++ functions that don't return a value.
238 1. In this function, along with any valid C++ statements you want to include, use the various Google Test assertions to check values.
239 1. The test's result is determined by the assertions; if any assertion in the test fails (either fatally or non-fatally), or if the test crashes, the entire test fails. Otherwise, it succeeds.
240
241 ```
242 TEST(testCaseName, testName) {
243 ... test body ...
244 }
245 ```
246
247
248 `TEST()` arguments go from general to specific. The _first_ argument is the
249 name of the test case, and the _second_ argument is the test's name within the
250 test case. Both names must be valid C++ identifiers, and they should not contain underscore (`_`). A test's _full name_ consists of its containing test case and its
251 individual name. Tests from different test cases can have the same individual
252 name.
253
254 For example, let's take a simple integer function:
255 ```
256 int Factorial(int n); // Returns the factorial of n
257 ```
258
259 A test case for this function might look like:
260 ```
261 // Tests factorial of 0.
262 TEST(FactorialTest, HandlesZeroInput) {
263 EXPECT_EQ(1, Factorial(0));
264 }
265
266 // Tests factorial of positive numbers.
267 TEST(FactorialTest, HandlesPositiveInput) {
268 EXPECT_EQ(1, Factorial(1));
269 EXPECT_EQ(2, Factorial(2));
270 EXPECT_EQ(6, Factorial(3));
271 EXPECT_EQ(40320, Factorial(8));
272 }
273 ```
274
275 Google Test groups the test results by test cases, so logically-related tests
276 should be in the same test case; in other words, the first argument to their
277 `TEST()` should be the same. In the above example, we have two tests,
278 `HandlesZeroInput` and `HandlesPositiveInput`, that belong to the same test
279 case `FactorialTest`.
280
281 _Availability_: Linux, Windows, Mac.
282
283 # Test Fixtures: Using the Same Data Configuration for Multiple Tests #
284
285 If you find yourself writing two or more tests that operate on similar data,
286 you can use a _test fixture_. It allows you to reuse the same configuration of
287 objects for several different tests.
288
289 To create a fixture, just:
290 1. Derive a class from `::testing::Test` . Start its body with `protected:` or `public:` as we'll want to access fixture members from sub-classes.
291 1. Inside the class, declare any objects you plan to use.
292 1. If necessary, write a default constructor or `SetUp()` function to prepare the objects for each test. A common mistake is to spell `SetUp()` as `Setup()` with a small `u` - don't let that happen to you.
293 1. If necessary, write a destructor or `TearDown()` function to release any resources you allocated in `SetUp()` . To learn when you should use the constructor/destructor and when you should use `SetUp()/TearDown()`, read this [FAQ entry](faq.md#should-i-use-the-constructordestructor-of-the-test-fixture-or-the-set-uptear-down-function).
294 1. If needed, define subroutines for your tests to share.
295
296 When using a fixture, use `TEST_F()` instead of `TEST()` as it allows you to
297 access objects and subroutines in the test fixture:
298 ```
299 TEST_F(test_case_name, test_name) {
300 ... test body ...
301 }
302 ```
303
304 Like `TEST()`, the first argument is the test case name, but for `TEST_F()`
305 this must be the name of the test fixture class. You've probably guessed: `_F`
306 is for fixture.
307
308 Unfortunately, the C++ macro system does not allow us to create a single macro
309 that can handle both types of tests. Using the wrong macro causes a compiler
310 error.
311
312 Also, you must first define a test fixture class before using it in a
313 `TEST_F()`, or you'll get the compiler error "`virtual outside class
314 declaration`".
315
316 For each test defined with `TEST_F()`, Google Test will:
317 1. Create a _fresh_ test fixture at runtime
318 1. Immediately initialize it via `SetUp()`
319 1. Run the test
320 1. Clean up by calling `TearDown()`
321 1. Delete the test fixture. Note that different tests in the same test case have different test fixture objects, and Google Test always deletes a test fixture before it creates the next one. Google Test does not reuse the same test fixture for multiple tests. Any changes one test makes to the fixture do not affect other tests.
322
323 As an example, let's write tests for a FIFO queue class named `Queue`, which
324 has the following interface:
325 ```
326 template <typename E> // E is the element type.
327 class Queue {
328 public:
329 Queue();
330 void Enqueue(const E& element);
331 E* Dequeue(); // Returns NULL if the queue is empty.
332 size_t size() const;
333 ...
334 };
335 ```
336
337 First, define a fixture class. By convention, you should give it the name
338 `FooTest` where `Foo` is the class being tested.
339 ```
340 class QueueTest : public ::testing::Test {
341 protected:
342 virtual void SetUp() {
343 q1_.Enqueue(1);
344 q2_.Enqueue(2);
345 q2_.Enqueue(3);
346 }
347
348 // virtual void TearDown() {}
349
350 Queue<int> q0_;
351 Queue<int> q1_;
352 Queue<int> q2_;
353 };
354 ```
355
356 In this case, `TearDown()` is not needed since we don't have to clean up after
357 each test, other than what's already done by the destructor.
358
359 Now we'll write tests using `TEST_F()` and this fixture.
360 ```
361 TEST_F(QueueTest, IsEmptyInitially) {
362 EXPECT_EQ(0, q0_.size());
363 }
364
365 TEST_F(QueueTest, DequeueWorks) {
366 int* n = q0_.Dequeue();
367 EXPECT_EQ(NULL, n);
368
369 n = q1_.Dequeue();
370 ASSERT_TRUE(n != NULL);
371 EXPECT_EQ(1, *n);
372 EXPECT_EQ(0, q1_.size());
373 delete n;
374
375 n = q2_.Dequeue();
376 ASSERT_TRUE(n != NULL);
377 EXPECT_EQ(2, *n);
378 EXPECT_EQ(1, q2_.size());
379 delete n;
380 }
381 ```
382
383 The above uses both `ASSERT_*` and `EXPECT_*` assertions. The rule of thumb is
384 to use `EXPECT_*` when you want the test to continue to reveal more errors
385 after the assertion failure, and use `ASSERT_*` when continuing after failure
386 doesn't make sense. For example, the second assertion in the `Dequeue` test is
387 `ASSERT_TRUE(n != NULL)`, as we need to dereference the pointer `n` later,
388 which would lead to a segfault when `n` is `NULL`.
389
390 When these tests run, the following happens:
391 1. Google Test constructs a `QueueTest` object (let's call it `t1` ).
392 1. `t1.SetUp()` initializes `t1` .
393 1. The first test ( `IsEmptyInitially` ) runs on `t1` .
394 1. `t1.TearDown()` cleans up after the test finishes.
395 1. `t1` is destructed.
396 1. The above steps are repeated on another `QueueTest` object, this time running the `DequeueWorks` test.
397
398 _Availability_: Linux, Windows, Mac.
399
400 _Note_: Google Test automatically saves all _Google Test_ flags when a test
401 object is constructed, and restores them when it is destructed.
402
403 # Invoking the Tests #
404
405 `TEST()` and `TEST_F()` implicitly register their tests with Google Test. So, unlike with many other C++ testing frameworks, you don't have to re-list all your defined tests in order to run them.
406
407 After defining your tests, you can run them with `RUN_ALL_TESTS()` , which returns `0` if all the tests are successful, or `1` otherwise. Note that `RUN_ALL_TESTS()` runs _all tests_ in your link unit -- they can be from different test cases, or even different source files.
408
409 When invoked, the `RUN_ALL_TESTS()` macro:
410 1. Saves the state of all Google Test flags.
411 1. Creates a test fixture object for the first test.
412 1. Initializes it via `SetUp()`.
413 1. Runs the test on the fixture object.
414 1. Cleans up the fixture via `TearDown()`.
415 1. Deletes the fixture.
416 1. Restores the state of all Google Test flags.
417 1. Repeats the above steps for the next test, until all tests have run.
418
419 In addition, if the test fixture's constructor generates a fatal failure in
420 step 2, there is no point for step 3 - 5 and they are thus skipped. Similarly,
421 if step 3 generates a fatal failure, step 4 will be skipped.
422
423 _Important_: You must not ignore the return value of `RUN_ALL_TESTS()`, or `gcc`
424 will give you a compiler error. The rationale for this design is that the
425 automated testing service determines whether a test has passed based on its
426 exit code, not on its stdout/stderr output; thus your `main()` function must
427 return the value of `RUN_ALL_TESTS()`.
428
429 Also, you should call `RUN_ALL_TESTS()` only **once**. Calling it more than once
430 conflicts with some advanced Google Test features (e.g. thread-safe death
431 tests) and thus is not supported.
432
433 _Availability_: Linux, Windows, Mac.
434
435 # Writing the main() Function #
436
437 You can start from this boilerplate:
438 ```
439 #include "this/package/foo.h"
440 #include "gtest/gtest.h"
441
442 namespace {
443
444 // The fixture for testing class Foo.
445 class FooTest : public ::testing::Test {
446 protected:
447 // You can remove any or all of the following functions if its body
448 // is empty.
449
450 FooTest() {
451 // You can do set-up work for each test here.
452 }
453
454 virtual ~FooTest() {
455 // You can do clean-up work that doesn't throw exceptions here.
456 }
457
458 // If the constructor and destructor are not enough for setting up
459 // and cleaning up each test, you can define the following methods:
460
461 virtual void SetUp() {
462 // Code here will be called immediately after the constructor (right
463 // before each test).
464 }
465
466 virtual void TearDown() {
467 // Code here will be called immediately after each test (right
468 // before the destructor).
469 }
470
471 // Objects declared here can be used by all tests in the test case for Foo.
472 };
473
474 // Tests that the Foo::Bar() method does Abc.
475 TEST_F(FooTest, MethodBarDoesAbc) {
476 const string input_filepath = "this/package/testdata/myinputfile.dat";
477 const string output_filepath = "this/package/testdata/myoutputfile.dat";
478 Foo f;
479 EXPECT_EQ(0, f.Bar(input_filepath, output_filepath));
480 }
481
482 // Tests that Foo does Xyz.
483 TEST_F(FooTest, DoesXyz) {
484 // Exercises the Xyz feature of Foo.
485 }
486
487 } // namespace
488
489 int main(int argc, char **argv) {
490 ::testing::InitGoogleTest(&argc, argv);
491 return RUN_ALL_TESTS();
492 }
493 ```
494
495 The `::testing::InitGoogleTest()` function parses the command line for Google
496 Test flags, and removes all recognized flags. This allows the user to control a
497 test program's behavior via various flags, which we'll cover in [AdvancedGuide](advanced.md).
498 You must call this function before calling `RUN_ALL_TESTS()`, or the flags
499 won't be properly initialized.
500
501 On Windows, `InitGoogleTest()` also works with wide strings, so it can be used
502 in programs compiled in `UNICODE` mode as well.
503
504 But maybe you think that writing all those main() functions is too much work? We agree with you completely and that's why Google Test provides a basic implementation of main(). If it fits your needs, then just link your test with gtest\_main library and you are good to go.
505
506 ## Important note for Visual C++ users ##
507 If you put your tests into a library and your `main()` function is in a different library or in your .exe file, those tests will not run. The reason is a [bug](https://connect.microsoft.com/feedback/viewfeedback.aspx?FeedbackID=244410&siteid=210) in Visual C++. When you define your tests, Google Test creates certain static objects to register them. These objects are not referenced from elsewhere but their constructors are still supposed to run. When Visual C++ linker sees that nothing in the library is referenced from other places it throws the library out. You have to reference your library with tests from your main program to keep the linker from discarding it. Here is how to do it. Somewhere in your library code declare a function:
508 ```
509 __declspec(dllexport) int PullInMyLibrary() { return 0; }
510 ```
511 If you put your tests in a static library (not DLL) then `__declspec(dllexport)` is not required. Now, in your main program, write a code that invokes that function:
512 ```
513 int PullInMyLibrary();
514 static int dummy = PullInMyLibrary();
515 ```
516 This will keep your tests referenced and will make them register themselves at startup.
517
518 In addition, if you define your tests in a static library, add `/OPT:NOREF` to your main program linker options. If you use MSVC++ IDE, go to your .exe project properties/Configuration Properties/Linker/Optimization and set References setting to `Keep Unreferenced Data (/OPT:NOREF)`. This will keep Visual C++ linker from discarding individual symbols generated by your tests from the final executable.
519
520 There is one more pitfall, though. If you use Google Test as a static library (that's how it is defined in gtest.vcproj) your tests must also reside in a static library. If you have to have them in a DLL, you _must_ change Google Test to build into a DLL as well. Otherwise your tests will not run correctly or will not run at all. The general conclusion here is: make your life easier - do not write your tests in libraries!
521
522 # Where to Go from Here #
523
524 Congratulations! You've learned the Google Test basics. You can start writing
525 and running Google Test tests, read some [samples](samples.md), or continue with
526 [AdvancedGuide](advanced.md), which describes many more useful Google Test features.
527
528 # Known Limitations #
529
530 Google Test is designed to be thread-safe. The implementation is
531 thread-safe on systems where the `pthreads` library is available. It
532 is currently _unsafe_ to use Google Test assertions from two threads
533 concurrently on other systems (e.g. Windows). In most tests this is
534 not an issue as usually the assertions are done in the main thread. If
535 you want to help, you can volunteer to implement the necessary
536 synchronization primitives in `gtest-port.h` for your platform.