Fixture improvements

Just found out via the Rails Envy podcast about improvements to the much-derided Rails fixture implementation, recently added into the trunk.

This addresses some of the problems that FixtureReplacement set out to cure. I’ll be sticking with FixtureReplacement, however, because:

• All test data is conveniently located in a single file, example_data.rb (depending on how much test data you need this may be a plus or a minus)
• The convenience methods (create_model and new_model) allow you to create new test data on the fly; as such:
  • You have more flexibility; you’re not limited to a pre-determined set of fixtures set in stone before your test run
  • You can create/tweak your test data closer to where it is actually used, making for much more readable specs
  • The selective overriding capability allows you to make the attributes that are relevant to a particular situation really stand out (see this example)
  • FixtureReplacement is great for experimenting in the script/console

I think there’s room for both "Foxy Fixtures" (ugh) and something like FixtureReplacement in core Rails. I’d like to see the latter merged in some day.