How to test a unexported (private) function in go (golang)?

Question

I was interested in creating unit test for "unexported (private) functions" in go. However, its basically really hard to create unit tests form them in the test package because I have to make them "public". Which in the end, defeats the whole point of them being private. The point is that these helper function help modularize and now that they are modular, it would be nice to be able to create unit tests for them without making them available to everyone except the testing package, nice they are not functions that should be accessed or used by anyone else except the testing suite or the actual package itself.

Any suggestions? Is it possible to only export to its own package and 1 additional package or something of that sort in go?

Answer 1

create a test file within the package

library_test.go

package mypkg  func TestPrivateStruct(t *testing.T){   pf := private{ "Private Field" }   .... } 

library.go

package mypkg  type private struct {   privateField string } 

go test mypkg -v will run your Tests with your private struct

Answer 2

First, you can have both types of tests in the same location as your package by using the package name for internal tests (eg mypkg) and using the same package name with "_test" appended for "external" tests (eg mypkg_test). Both types of tests must be in files whose name ends in "_test.go".

BUT, the whole point of unit tests is to test the "external interface" (ie public functions) to your package. That is unit tests should always be "white box" tests (see White Box Testing). That way you can refactor your code and your tests won't break.

Of course, sometimes you want to check internal consistency, which is not possible through the "external interface". For that I have found assertions invaluable. Another possibility would be to add public "diagnostic" function(s) with names that indicate that they are not for normal use.