Merge branch '976-disable-assert-checks' into 'master'

Document difference between g_assert() and g_assert_*() wrt G_DISABLE_ASSERT

Closes #976

See merge request GNOME/glib!174

glib/gtestutils.c

@@ -87,14 +87,18 @@
  * creates a test suite called "misc" with a single test case named
  * "assertions", which consists of running the test_assertions function.
  *
- * In addition to the traditional g_assert(), the test framework provides
+ * In addition to the traditional g_assert_true(), the test framework provides
  * an extended set of assertions for comparisons: g_assert_cmpfloat(),
  * g_assert_cmpfloat_with_epsilon(), g_assert_cmpint(), g_assert_cmpuint(),
  * g_assert_cmphex(), g_assert_cmpstr(), and g_assert_cmpmem(). The
- * advantage of these variants over plain g_assert() is that the assertion
+ * advantage of these variants over plain g_assert_true() is that the assertion
  * messages can be more elaborate, and include the values of the compared
  * entities.
  *
+ * Note that g_assert() should not be used in unit tests, since it is a no-op
+ * when compiling with `G_DISABLE_ASSERT`. Use g_assert() in production code,
+ * and g_assert_true() in unit tests.
+ *
  * A full example of creating a test suite with two tests using fixtures:
  * |[<!-- language="C" -->
  * #include <glib.h>
@@ -473,7 +477,10 @@
  *
  * The macro can be turned off in final releases of code by defining
  * `G_DISABLE_ASSERT` when compiling the application, so code must
- * not depend on any side effects from @expr.
+ * not depend on any side effects from @expr. Similarly, it must not be used
+ * in unit tests, otherwise the unit tests will be ineffective if compiled with
+ * `G_DISABLE_ASSERT`. Use g_assert_true() and related macros in unit tests
+ * instead.
  */
 
 /**
@@ -484,7 +491,8 @@
  * application is terminated.
  *
  * The macro can be turned off in final releases of code by defining
- * `G_DISABLE_ASSERT` when compiling the application.
+ * `G_DISABLE_ASSERT` when compiling the application. Hence, it should not be
+ * used in unit tests, where assertions should always be effective.
  */
 
 /**
@@ -497,6 +505,10 @@
  * an error message is logged and the application is either
  * terminated or the testcase marked as failed.
  *
+ * Note that unlike g_assert(), this macro is unaffected by whether
+ * `G_DISABLE_ASSERT` is defined. Hence it should only be used in tests and,
+ * conversely, g_assert() should not be used in tests.
+ *
  * See g_test_set_nonfatal_assertions().
  *
  * Since: 2.38
@@ -512,6 +524,10 @@
  * an error message is logged and the application is either
  * terminated or the testcase marked as failed.
  *
+ * Note that unlike g_assert(), this macro is unaffected by whether
+ * `G_DISABLE_ASSERT` is defined. Hence it should only be used in tests and,
+ * conversely, g_assert() should not be used in tests.
+ *
  * See g_test_set_nonfatal_assertions().
  *
  * Since: 2.38
@@ -527,6 +543,10 @@
  * an error message is logged and the application is either
  * terminated or the testcase marked as failed.
  *
+ * Note that unlike g_assert(), this macro is unaffected by whether
+ * `G_DISABLE_ASSERT` is defined. Hence it should only be used in tests and,
+ * conversely, g_assert() should not be used in tests.
+ *
  * See g_test_set_nonfatal_assertions().
  *
  * Since: 2.38
@@ -542,6 +562,10 @@
  * an error message is logged and the application is either
  * terminated or the testcase marked as failed.
  *
+ * Note that unlike g_assert(), this macro is unaffected by whether
+ * `G_DISABLE_ASSERT` is defined. Hence it should only be used in tests and,
+ * conversely, g_assert() should not be used in tests.
+ *
  * See g_test_set_nonfatal_assertions().
  *
  * Since: 2.40
@@ -1250,9 +1274,9 @@ parse_args (gint    *argc_p,
  * Since: 2.16
  */
 void
-g_test_init (int    *argc,
-             char ***argv,
-             ...)
+(g_test_init) (int    *argc,
+               char ***argv,
+               ...)
 {
   static char seedstr[4 + 4 * 8 + 1];
   va_list args;

glib/gtestutils.h

@@ -147,6 +147,29 @@ GLIB_AVAILABLE_IN_ALL
 void    g_test_init                     (int            *argc,
                                          char         ***argv,
                                          ...) G_GNUC_NULL_TERMINATED;
+
+/* While we discourage its use, g_assert() is often used in unit tests
+ * (especially in legacy code). g_assert_*() should really be used instead.
+ * g_assert() can be disabled at client program compile time, which can render
+ * tests useless. Highlight that to the user. */
+#ifdef G_DISABLE_ASSERT
+#if defined(G_HAVE_ISO_VARARGS)
+#define g_test_init(argc, argv, ...) \
+  G_STMT_START { \
+    g_printerr ("Tests were compiled with G_DISABLE_ASSERT and are likely no-ops. Aborting.\n"); \
+    exit (1); \
+  } G_STMT_END
+#elif defined(G_HAVE_GNUC_VARARGS)
+#define g_test_init(argc, argv...) \
+  G_STMT_START { \
+    g_printerr ("Tests were compiled with G_DISABLE_ASSERT and are likely no-ops. Aborting.\n"); \
+    exit (1); \
+  } G_STMT_END
+#else  /* no varargs */
+  /* do nothing */
+#endif  /* varargs support */
+#endif  /* G_DISABLE_ASSERT */
+
 /* query testing framework config */
 #define g_test_initialized()            (g_test_config_vars->test_initialized)
 #define g_test_quick()                  (g_test_config_vars->test_quick)