WireMock for Java Developers

Your course outline provides a comprehensive overview of the topics that will be covered, from introducing WireMock and its purpose, to hands-on exercises on setting up the workspace, building REST clients with Spring WebClient, configuring WireMock, and running tests with both JUnit4 and JUnit5 in a Spring Boot context.

Here are some additional points you might consider including or emphasizing in your course:

1. Why WireMock?

   • Emphasize the importance of stubbing out external dependencies to ensure predictable tests without relying on the actual services.
   • Highlight how WireMock can be used for both development and testing phases.

2. WireMock vs Mocking Libraries

   • Clearly define what WireMock is (a record/playback service virtualization tool) and how it differs from mocking libraries like Mockito (which focus on unit tests).
   • Discuss the scenarios best suited for using WireMock versus other testing tools.

3. Setting Up the Workspace

   • Provide clear instructions on setting up the development environment with all necessary dependencies.
   • Mention version control systems like Git and how they integrate with your workspace.

4. Building REST Clients Using Spring WebClient

   • Explain the advantages of using Spring WebClient over other clients.
   • Provide code examples to illustrate how to configure and use Spring WebClient for various HTTP methods.

5. Setting Up WireMock

   • Detail the steps to include WireMock in the project, including adding dependencies and initializing the stubbing server.

6. Build Stubs Using WireMock

   • Show how to create endpoints that simulate different HTTP responses and status codes.
   • Illustrate with examples for each HTTP method and response type.

7. Verifying the Stubs

   • Teach how to use WireMock's verification capabilities to ensure stubs are triggered as expected.

8. Simulating Server/Fault Responses

   • Show how to simulate both server-side errors (e.g., 5xx) and client-side faults (e.g., network issues).

9. Simulating Latency

   • Explain the importance of testing against slow or unresponsive services and how to simulate these conditions.

10. Selective Proxying

    • Clarify what selective proxying is and provide examples where it's beneficial, such as when you want to test a subset of endpoints without starting the entire server.

11. Running WireMock on JUnit4 and Spring Boot

    • Provide code examples for setting up WireMock within both JUnit4 and Spring Boot contexts.
    • Discuss the differences in setup and configuration between these two environments.

12. Running WireMock with Spring Boot and JUnit5

    • Given that JUnit5 is the newer testing framework, ensure that the integration of WireMock with JUnit5 is covered thoroughly.
    • Provide examples of how to write parameterized tests using JUnit5.

By covering these points, you'll provide a robust learning experience for your students. Remember to include practical examples and step-by-step instructions where possible to enhance the learning process. Good luck with your course!