Re: CVS commit: src/tests/util

[David Holland <dholland-sourcechanges%netbsd.org@localhost>]

On Mon, Jun 14, 2010 at 06:57:21PM +0300, Antti Kantee wrote:
 > > So I was meaning to ask: why does "anita test" not install /usr/share,
 > 
 > Dunno.  I'm guessing "it's not necessary to fullfill anita's mission".

Well, I guess, but I would have expected it to install everything by
default, as otherwise there could in theory be a problem with the sets
it leaves off...

 > Maybe eventually we'll have configuration file support for selecting sets,
 > but volunteer-project-etc-yaddayadda.

right

 > > and what else is it randomly missing that other tests might
 > > unknowingly depend on?
 > 
 > First of all, tests should be deterministic, so using something such as
 > "words" which might change from underneath the test is not recommended.
 > Admittedtly in this case the probability that words would shrink so much
 > as to make the test non-effective is quite low, but since deterministic
 > input can be generated just as easily, there is no excuse for not
 > doing so.

Granted.

 > Second, working on the definition of "randomly missing".  Stay tuned.

I think it's hiding somewhere near the definition of "random number".
Nine is a very random number. (http://www.dilbert.com/2001-10-25/)

-- 
David A. Holland
dholland%netbsd.org@localhost