[Python-Dev] Coverage Analysis of Python Code (original) (raw)

Nick Monyatovsky mon at abaqus.com
Thu Mar 25 10:42:06 EST 2004

Hello,

I wonder if the technical experts in this group could answer the following question: it is possible to perform coverage analysis on python (py) code?

Let me describe why we are looking for this. We use Python internally, and by now people got quite fond of it. So fond in fact, that they would often prefer to code in Python rather than C++ whenever they can. Thus, the body of the Python code keeps growing and growing.

This is good, and this is bad. The bad part of it is that if there are errors in the Python code, we will only find them when the execution path goes through it. We use pychecker, but it still does not help us catch all the errors, and many of them sliop through and still show up at run-time. Obviously, the only defense that remains is the thorough testing. This part is mostly left at the discretion of individual programmers. Moreover, even if they are very careful about unit-testing individual functions, there are always unforseen permutations which can turn out fatal.

This is why we thought it would be really nice to have the ability to keep track of the coverage of the ever growing body of the Python code that we use. By this I mean only the .py/.pyc files. We have a fairly good technique for tracking coverage in C/C++.

If such a detailed coverage is not possible, is there a way, at least, to get a brief summary of what classes/methods/functions we have defined, where they are being defined and where they are being called from?

Any pointers will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you, -- Nick Monyatovsky -- mon at abaqus.com

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