How to automatically create postgis database for Django testing?

Question

I'm trying to test my Django apps which run on a PostGIS database, by following the info in the Django testing docs.

Normally I create a new database by copying a template:

(as user postgres)

createdb -T template_postgis -O lizard test_geodjango2

When I run ./manage.py test, I get the following message:

Creating test database... Got an error creating the test database: permission denied to create database

Type 'yes' if you would like to try deleting the test database 'test_geodjango2', or 'no' to > cancel:

What's the best way to let the system create the database?

Answer 1

As S.Lott mentioned, use the standard test command.

Using geodjango with postgis you'll need to add the following to your settings for the spatial templates to be created properly.

settings.py

POSTGIS_SQL_PATH = 'C:\\Program Files\\PostgreSQL\\8.3\\share\\contrib'
TEST_RUNNER='django.contrib.gis.tests.run_tests'

console

manage.py test

Described here: http://geodjango.org/docs/testing.html?highlight=testing#testing-geodjango-apps

I haven't looked into it yet, but when I do this I get prompted for the database password when it attempts to install the necessary sql.

Answer 2

It may be that your DATABASE_USER doesn't have permissions to create a new database/schema.

---

Edit

If you read the source for the Django test command, you'll see that it always creates a test database. Further, it modifies your settings to reference this test database.

See this: http://docs.djangoproject.com/en/dev/topics/testing/#id1

What you should do is use fixtures. Here's how we do it.

1. From your template database, create a "fixture". Use the manage.py dumpdata command to create a JSON file with all of your template data. [Hint, the --indent=2 option gives you readable JSON that you can edit and modify.]

2. Put this in a fixtures directory under your application.

3. Reference the fixtures file in your TestCase class definition. This will load the fixture prior to running the test.

   class AnimalTestCase(TestCase):
       fixtures = ['mammals.json', 'birds']
       def testFluffyAnimals(self):
            etc.
   

The fixtures replace your template database. You don't need the template anymore once you have the fixtures.