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OSS Report: google/googletest


GoogleTest Faces Compiler Compatibility Challenges Amid Active Development

GoogleTest, a leading C++ testing framework, is experiencing notable challenges with compiler compatibility, particularly with MSVC and LCC, as evidenced by recent issues and pull requests. This activity underscores the project's commitment to maintaining broad usability across diverse environments.

GoogleTest, developed by Google, is a comprehensive testing framework that combines unit testing and mocking capabilities. It is widely used in both internal and external high-profile projects.

Recent Activity

Recent issues and pull requests highlight ongoing efforts to address compatibility problems and enhance documentation. Notable issues include #4610, which deals with MSVC warnings related to ASSERT_EQ and ASSERT_NE, and #4606, which involves syntax errors with static_cast. These issues indicate persistent challenges in ensuring seamless integration with various compilers.

Development Team and Recent Activity

  1. Derek Mauro (derekmauro)

    • 12 days ago: Automated code change.
    • 40 days ago: Updated main to version 1.15.2 patch release.
    • 42 days ago: Removed auto-detection of Python toolchain from MODULE.bazel.
    • 56 days ago: Updated dependency versions for release preparation.
  2. Abseil Team

    • 12 days ago: Automated code change.
    • Various improvements and bug fixes over the past months.
  3. Aaron Jacobs (jacobsa)

    • 49 days ago: Enhanced gmock-actions for custom conversions.
    • 49 days ago: Ran clang-format for consistency.
  4. Krzysztof Kosiński (tweenk)

    • 151 days ago: Modified example in primer to align with Testing FAQ.
  5. Lawrence Wolf-Sonkin (lwolfsonkin)

    • 159 days ago: Refactored GoogleTest for standard library features.

The team is actively addressing user issues and enhancing compatibility, with a focus on automated changes to improve efficiency.

Of Note

Quantified Reports

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Recent GitHub Issues Activity

Timespan Opened Closed Comments Labeled Milestones
7 Days 1 0 0 1 1
30 Days 10 0 1 8 1
90 Days 23 6 9 19 1
1 Year 92 66 103 65 1
All Time 2236 1960 - - -

Like all software activity quantification, these numbers are imperfect but sometimes useful. Comments, Labels, and Milestones refer to those issues opened in the timespan in question.

Quantify commits



Quantified Commit Activity Over 30 Days

Developer Avatar Branches PRs Commits Files Changes
Abseil Team 1 0/0/0 1 1 2
None (segsch) 0 1/0/0 0 0 0
Reinhard (octave-user) 0 1/0/0 0 0 0
Igor Molchanov (makise-homura) 0 1/0/0 0 0 0

PRs: created by that dev and opened/merged/closed-unmerged during the period

Detailed Reports

Report On: Fetch issues



Recent Activity Analysis

The GoogleTest repository has seen a significant amount of recent activity, with 276 open issues currently reported. The latest issues highlight various bugs, enhancements, and feature requests, indicating an active engagement from the community. Notably, there are recurring themes around compatibility with different compilers and platforms, particularly related to exception handling and threading.

Several issues have been raised regarding the handling of exceptions in tests, especially with respect to EXPECT_CALL and EXPECT_NONFATAL_FAILURE, suggesting that users are encountering challenges when integrating GoogleTest into their projects. Additionally, there are discussions about improving documentation clarity and addressing specific bugs that arise under certain conditions, such as with locale settings or when using certain compiler flags.

Issue Details

Recent Issues

  1. Issue #4610: [Bug]: ASSERT_EQ / ASSERT_NE causes MSVC 4388 / 4389 warnings

    • Priority: High
    • Status: Open
    • Created: 2 days ago
    • Updated: N/A
  2. Issue #4608: Document the arguments number limit of 15 in documentation

    • Priority: Enhancement
    • Status: Open
    • Created: 8 days ago
    • Updated: 1 day ago
  3. Issue #4606: [Bug]: error C2059: syntax error: 'static_cast'

    • Priority: High
    • Status: Open
    • Created: 13 days ago
    • Updated: N/A
  4. Issue #4605: [Bug]: GTEST_INTERNAL_HAVE_CPP_ATTRIBUTE is not accounting for the standard in which attribute is introduced

    • Priority: Medium
    • Status: Open
    • Created: 15 days ago
    • Updated: N/A
  5. Issue #4604: What to #include, namespaces not obvious from the documentation

    • Priority: Medium
    • Status: Open
    • Created: 15 days ago
    • Updated: N/A
  6. Issue #4603: [Bug]: Fix build warnings and errors on LCC (eLbrus C/C++ compiler)

    • Priority: High
    • Status: Open
    • Created: 19 days ago
    • Updated: N/A
  7. Issue #4600: Make death tests more portable, including signals on Windows.

    • Priority: Enhancement
    • Status: Open
    • Created: 20 days ago
    • Updated: N/A
  8. Issue #4599: [Bug]: PDBs not installed with Windows CMake build

    • Priority: High
    • Status: Open
    • Created: 22 days ago
    • Updated: N/A
  9. Issue #4598: gmock/gtest not built/installed

    • Priority: Medium
    • Status: Open
    • Created: 24 days ago
    • Updated: N/A
  10. Issue #4595: [Bug]: Death tests don't work with emscripten

    • Priority: High
    • Status: Open
    • Created: 28 days ago
    • Updated: 27 days ago

Important Observations

  • There is a noticeable focus on compiler compatibility issues, particularly with MSVC and various flags that affect behavior.
  • Several issues relate to documentation gaps that could lead to user confusion, especially regarding usage patterns and expected behaviors.
  • The presence of multiple bug reports concerning death tests suggests that this feature may require further refinement or clearer documentation on its limitations across different platforms.
  • The enhancement requests indicate a desire for improved usability and flexibility within the testing framework, particularly regarding how tests are reported and managed.

This analysis reflects a vibrant community actively working to improve GoogleTest while also highlighting areas where users face challenges or require additional support.

Report On: Fetch pull requests



Overview

The analysis of the pull requests (PRs) for the GoogleTest project reveals a total of 65 open PRs, with a variety of enhancements, fixes, and feature requests. The PRs cover a wide range of topics, including compiler support, documentation updates, and improvements to existing functionalities.

Summary of Pull Requests

  1. PR #4607: Fix build warnings and errors on LCC (eLbrus C/C++ compiler)

    • State: Open
    • Significance: Addresses compatibility issues with the LCC compiler by modifying CMake configurations and eliminating specific warnings. This is crucial for developers using this compiler.
  2. PR #4594: Update primer.md

    • State: Open
    • Significance: A minor documentation update to improve consistency by replacing NULL with nullptr. This aligns with modern C++ practices.
  3. PR #4593: Enable "make package" and "make package_source"

    • State: Open
    • Significance: Introduces packaging capabilities for easier distribution, which is beneficial for users wanting to include GoogleTest in Docker containers.
  4. PR #4590: Event Listener callback for scope enter/exit

    • State: Open
    • Significance: Adds new callbacks to enhance event listening capabilities during tests, improving the framework's extensibility.
  5. PR #4578: Added an error message when GetTempFileName fails

    • State: Open
    • Significance: Enhances error reporting to aid debugging when temporary file creation fails, addressing issue #4566.
  6. PR #4576: Add GTEST_HAS_ABSL support into gmock cmake for MSVC

    • State: Open
    • Significance: Ensures that GoogleMock links correctly with Abseil dependencies when built with MSVC, resolving potential build issues.
  7. PR #4571: Fix Windows compilation when _CRT_DECLARE_NONSTDC_NAMES=0

    • State: Open
    • Significance: Resolves compilation issues on Windows when certain flags are set, ensuring broader compatibility.
  8. PR #4553: Make SYSTEM argument optional in target_include_directories

    • State: Open
    • Significance: Provides flexibility in CMake configurations, aiding users who need to integrate GoogleTest into different build systems.
  9. PR #4550: Make FilePath::GetCurrentDir() not return trailing slash on Windows

    • State: Open
    • Significance: Fixes inconsistencies in directory path handling on Windows, improving cross-platform compatibility.
  10. PR #4539: Move googletest version variable into external CMake file

    • State: Open
    • Significance: Centralizes version management in CMake, simplifying maintenance and updates across projects that depend on GoogleTest.

Analysis of Pull Requests

The current landscape of open pull requests for GoogleTest reflects a diverse set of contributions aimed at enhancing the functionality and usability of the testing framework. The most notable themes include:

  1. Compiler Compatibility and Build Improvements: Several PRs focus on improving compatibility with various compilers (e.g., LCC, MSVC) and build systems (e.g., CMake). For instance, PR #4607 addresses specific issues related to the LCC compiler, while PR #4576 ensures that GoogleMock can link correctly with Abseil dependencies under MSVC. These contributions are vital as they expand the usability of GoogleTest across different environments and setups.

  2. Documentation Enhancements: There is a clear emphasis on improving documentation within the project. PRs like #4594 and #4539 highlight efforts to ensure that users have access to clear and up-to-date information regarding usage and configuration options. This is essential for fostering community engagement and lowering the barrier to entry for new users.

  3. Error Handling and Reporting Improvements: Enhancements in error reporting are evident in PRs such as #4578 and #4554, which aim to provide more informative messages during failures or unexpected behavior. This focus on better diagnostics can significantly aid developers in troubleshooting issues more effectively.

  4. Feature Additions and Extensions: New features are being introduced through various PRs, such as event listener callbacks (PR #4590) and packaging capabilities (PR #4593). These additions not only enhance the existing functionality but also align with modern development practices by providing more tools for developers to utilize within their testing frameworks.

  5. Community Engagement and Contribution Patterns: Many of the recent contributions appear to come from first-time contributors, as indicated by comments about signing Contributor License Agreements (CLAs). This influx suggests a healthy level of interest in the project from the community, which is crucial for its ongoing development and improvement.

However, some anomalies warrant attention:

  • The presence of multiple open PRs without significant activity or discussion may indicate areas where contributors are facing challenges or where maintainers need to provide more guidance.
  • The lack of merges in some older PRs could reflect either a backlog in review processes or potential misalignment with project priorities.

In conclusion, while there is a robust flow of contributions aimed at enhancing GoogleTest's capabilities and usability, attention should be given to maintaining engagement with contributors and ensuring timely reviews of incoming pull requests to sustain momentum within the project.

Report On: Fetch commits



Repo Commits Analysis

Development Team and Recent Activity

Team Members and Activities

  1. Derek Mauro (derekmauro)

    • Recent Commits:
    • 12 days ago: Automated code change.
    • 40 days ago: Updated main to point to version 1.15.2 patch release.
    • 42 days ago: Removed auto-detection of Python toolchain from MODULE.bazel, addressing a downstream user issue and providing a workaround for Windows path length limitations.
    • 56 days ago: Updated dependency versions in preparation for release.
    • Collaboration: Primarily working independently on updates and fixes.
  2. Abseil Team

    • Recent Commits:
    • 12 days ago: Automated code change.
    • Various commits over the past months focused on improvements and bug fixes in the testing framework.
    • Collaboration: Engaged in multiple changes across files, indicating teamwork but no specific individual collaboration noted.
  3. Aaron Jacobs (jacobsa)

    • Recent Commits:
    • 49 days ago: Enhanced gmock-actions to convert DoAll to OnceAction via custom conversions.
    • 49 days ago: Ran clang-format for code consistency.
    • Collaboration: Primarily working independently.
  4. Krzysztof Kosiński (tweenk)

    • Recent Commits:
    • 151 days ago: Modified example in the primer to align with Testing FAQ.
    • Collaboration: Limited recent activity.
  5. Lawrence Wolf-Sonkin (lwolfsonkin)

    • Recent Commits:
    • 159 days ago: Refactored GoogleTest to use standard library features instead of custom implementations.
    • Collaboration: Limited recent activity.

Patterns and Themes

  • Active Maintenance: The team is actively maintaining the repository with regular updates, bug fixes, and enhancements, particularly focusing on compatibility and usability improvements.
  • Feature Updates: Recent commits indicate a focus on updating dependencies and addressing user issues, particularly related to Python toolchain detection and Windows compatibility.
  • Automated Changes: There is a noticeable trend towards automated code changes, suggesting an emphasis on improving development efficiency and reducing manual errors.
  • Independent Contributions: Most developers appear to be working independently rather than in collaborative pairs or groups, with few mentions of joint efforts on specific features or fixes.

Conclusions

The development team is engaged in ongoing maintenance and improvement of the GoogleTest framework, with a strong emphasis on addressing user needs and enhancing compatibility across platforms. The activity reflects a commitment to keeping the project up-to-date with modern C++ standards while ensuring robust functionality for users.