Markdown reports as either text or markdown tables.
Two fun plugins discussed.

Links:

• pytest-md-report
• pytest-md
• Top pytest Plugins

Learn pytest

• pytest is the number one test framework for Python.
• Learn the basics super fast with Hello, pytest!
• Then later you can become a pytest expert with The Complete pytest Course
• Both courses are at courses.pythontest.com

This episode is a replay of a 2021 interview I did with Michael Foord.
We lost Michael in January, and I'd like to revisit this interview as a tribute.

Michael Foord was a pivotal figure in the Python community and the creator of the mock library that's now unittest.mock.
But he did so much more as well.
His contributions continue to resonate within the developer community.
This interview is just a small peek at his influence.

In this episode

• Introduction to Michael Foord
• The Mock Library Origins
• Mocking and Testing Philosophy
• Career Path and Consulting
• Understanding Mocking
• The Power of Patch
• Testing Strategies and Design
• Mocking External Dependencies
• Teaching Testing and Mocking

python.org has put up an "In memoriam" page for Michael Foord, and many people have shared stories and memories.

Links:

• In memoriam: Michael Foord 1974-2025
• 30 best practices for software development and testing

pytest-mock is currently the #3 pytest plugin.
pytest-mock is a wrapper around unittest.mock.

In this episode:

• Why the pytest-mock plugin is awesome
• What is mocking, patching, and monkey patching
• What, if any, is the difference between mock, fake, spy, stub.
• Why we might need these in testing
• Some history of mock in Python and how mock became unittest.mock
• From unittest.mock
  • patch.object
  • patch.object with autospec
  • using these as context managers
• pytest-mock:
  • The mocker fixture
  • Cleanup in teardown
  • Using mocker.patch, mocker.spy, and mocker.stub
  • Why it's awesome and why you might want to use it over straight unittest.mock

Links:

• top pytest plugins list
• pytest-mock documentation
• unittest.mock
• Podcast episode discussing unittest.mock with Michael Foord
• monkeypatch

Learn pytest

• pytest is the number one test framework for Python.
• Learn the basics super fast with Hello, pytest!
• Then later you can become a pytest expert with The Complete pytest Course
• Both courses are at courses.pythontest.com