---
title: "Subplot"
author: The Subplot project
bindings:
- subplot.yaml
- lib/runcmd.yaml
- lib/files.yaml
impls:
python:
- subplot.py
- lib/files.py
- lib/runcmd.py
rust:
- subplotlib/subplot-rust-support.rs
classes:
- json
...
# Introduction
Subplot is software to help capture and communicate acceptance
criteria for software and systems, and how they are verified, in a way
that's understood by all project stakeholders. The current document
contains the acceptance criteria for Subplot itself, and its
architecture.
The acceptance criteria are expressed as _scenarios_, which roughly
correspond to use cases. The scenario as accompanied by explanatory
text to explain things to the reader. Scenarios use a given/when/then
sequence of steps, where each step is implemented by code provided by
the developers of the system under test. This is very similar to the
[Cucumber][] tool, but with more emphasis on producing a standalone
document.
[Cucumber]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cucumber_(software)
## Acceptance criteria and acceptance tests
We define the various concepts relevant to Subplot as follows:
* **Acceptance criteria**: What the stakeholders require of the system
for them to be happy with it and use it.
* **Stakeholder**: Someone with a keen interest in the success of a
system. They might be a paying client, someone who uses the system,
or someone involved in developing the system. Depending on the
system and project, some stakeholders may have a bigger say than
others.
* **Acceptance test**: How stakeholders verify that the system
fulfills the acceptance criteria, in an automated way. Some criteria
may not be possible to verify automatically.
* **Scenario**: In Subplot, the acceptance criteria are written as
freeform prose, with diagrams, etc. The scenarios, which are
embedded blocks of Subplot scenario language, capture the mechanisms
of verifying that criteria are met - the acceptance tests - showing
step by step how to determine that the software system is acceptable
to the stakeholders.
## A basic workflow for using Subplot
We recommend the following initial approach to using Subplot, which
you can vary based on your particular needs and circumstances.
1. Start with a small acceptance document that you think expresses
some useful requirements.
2. Write some acceptance criteria and have them agreed among the
stakeholders.
3. Write scenarios to verify that the criteria are met, and have those
scenarios agreed by the stakeholders.
4. Write bindings and test functions, so that as the code is written
it can be tested against the acceptance criteria.
5. Iterate on this in short cycles to maximise discussion and
stakeholder buy-in.
You definitely want to keep the subplot document source code in
version control. You certainly need to have people who can write
technical text that's aimed at all your stakeholders.
## Subplot architecture
Subplot reads an input document, in Markdown, and generates a typeset
output document, as PDF or HTML, for all stakeholders to understand.
Subplot also generates a test program, in Python, that verifies the
acceptance criteria are met, for developers and testers and auditors
to verify the system under test meets its acceptance criteria. The
generated program uses code written by the Subplot user to implement
the verification steps. The graph below illustrates this and shows how
data flows through the system.
```dot
digraph "architecture" {
md [label="foo.md \n (document, Markdown)"];
md [shape=box];
bindings [label="foo.yaml \n (bindings, YAML)"];
bindings [shape=box];
impl [label="step implementations, \n (Bash, Python, or Rust)"]
impl [shape=box];
subplot [label="Subplot"];
subplot [shape=ellipse];
pdf [label="foo.pdf \n PDF (generated)"]
pdf [shape=note];
html [label="foo.html \n HTML (generated)"]
html [shape=note];
testprog [label="test program\n(generated)"]
testprog [shape=note];
report [label="Test report"]
report [shape=note];
md -> subplot;
bindings -> subplot;
impl -> subplot;
subplot -> pdf;
subplot -> html;
subplot -> testprog;
testprog -> report;
}
```
[Pandoc]: https://pandoc.org/
Subplot uses the [Pandoc][] software for generating PDF and HTML
output documents. In fact, any output format supported by Pandoc can
be requested by the user. Depending on the output format, Pandoc may
use, for example, LaTeX. Subplot interprets parts of the Markdown
input file itself.
Subplot actually consists mainly of two separate programs:
**subplot docgen** for generating output documents, and **subplot codegen** for
generating the test program. There are a couple of additional tools
(**subplot metadata** for reporting meta data about a Subplot document, and
**subplot-filter** for doing the document generation as a Pandoc filter).
Thus a more detailed architecture view is shown below.
```dot
digraph "architecture2" {
md [label="foo.md \n (document, Markdown)"];
md [shape=box];
bindings [label="foo.yaml \n (bindings, YAML)"];
bindings [shape=box];
impl [label="step implementations, \n (Bash, Python, or Rust)"]
impl [shape=box];
docgen [label="subplot docgen"];
docgen [shape=ellipse];
codegen [label="subplot codegen"];
codegen [shape=ellipse];
pdf [label="foo.pdf \n PDF (generated)"]
pdf [shape=note];
html [label="foo.html \n HTML (generated)"]
html [shape=note];
testprog [label="test program\n(generated)"]
testprog [shape=note];
report [label="Test report"]
report [shape=note];
md -> docgen;
bindings -> docgen;
md -> codegen;
bindings -> codegen;
impl -> codegen;
docgen -> pdf;
docgen -> html;
codegen -> testprog;
testprog -> report;
}
```
## A fairy tale of acceptance testing
The king was upset. This naturally meant the whole court was in a
tizzy and chattering excitedly at each other, while trying to avoid
the royal wrath.
"Who will rid me of this troublesome chore?" shouted the king, and
quaffed a flagon of wine. "And no killing of priests, this time!"
The grand hall's doors were thrown open. The grand wizard stood in the
doorway, robe, hat, and staff everything, but quite still. After the
court became silent, the wizard strode confidently to stand before the
king.
"What ails you, my lord?"
The king looked upon the wizard, and took a deep breath. It does not
do to shout at wizards, for they control dragons, and even kings are
tasty morsels to the great beasts.
"I am tired of choosing what to wear every day. Can't you do
something?"
The wizard stoked his long, grey beard. He turned around, looked at the
magnificent outfits worn by members of the court. He turned back, and
looked at the king.
"I believe I can fix this. Just to be clear, your beef is with having
to choose clothing, yes?"
"Yes", said the king, "that's what I said. When will you be done?"
The wizard raised his staff and brought it back down again, with a
loud bang.
"Done" said the wizard, smugly.
The king was amazed and started smiling, until he noticed that
everyone, including himself, was wearing identical burlap sacks and
nothing on their feet. His voice was high, whiny, like that of a
little child.
"Oh no, that's not at all what I wanted! Change it back! Change it
back now!"
The morale of this story is to be clear and precise in your acceptance
criteria, or you might get something other than what you really, really
wanted.
## Motivation for Subplot
Keeping track of requirements and acceptance criteria is necessary for
all but the simplest of software projects. Having all stakeholders in
a project agree to them is crucial, as is that all agree how it is
verified that the software meets the acceptance criteria. Subplot
provides a way for documenting the shared understanding of what the
acceptance criteria are and how they can be checked automatically.
Stakeholders in a project may include:
* those who pay for the work to be done; this may be the employer of
the developers for in-house projects ("*customer*")
* those who use the resulting systems, whether they pay for it or not
("*user*")
* those who install and configure the systems and keep them functional
("*sysadmin*")
* those who support the users ("*support*")
* those who test the project for acceptability ("*tester*")
* those who develop the system in the first place ("*developer*")
The above list is incomplete and simplistic, but suffices as an
example.
All stakeholders need to understand the acceptance criteria, and how
the system is evaluated against the criteria. In the simplest case,
the customer and the developer need to both understand and agree so
that the developer knows when the job is done, and the customer knows
when they need to pay their bill.
However, even when the various stakeholder roles all fall upon the
same person, or only on people who act as developers, the Subplot
tooling can be useful. A developer would understand acceptance
criteria expressed only in code, but doing so may take time and energy
that are not always available. The Subplot approach aims to encourage
hiding unnecessary detail and documenting things in a way that is easy
to understand with little effort.
Unfortunately, this does mean that for a Subplot output document to
be good and helpful, writing it will require effort and skill. No tool
can replace that.
## Using this document to verify Subplot works
This document ("subplot") can be used to verify Subplot itself from
its source tree or an installed Subplot. The default is to test
Subplot from the source tree, and the `./check` script does that. You
can run this in the source tree to build Subplot and then verify it
using itself:
~~~sh
$ cargo build -q
$ cargo run --bin subplot codegen -- subplot.md -o test.py
$ python3 test.py
... much output
OK, all scenarios finished successfully
$
~~~
To test an installed Subplot, generate the test program, and tell the
test program where Subplot is installed. Again, in the Subplot source
tree:
~~~sh
$ cargo build -q
$ cargo run --bin subplot codegen -- subplot.md -o test.py
$ python3 test.py --env SUBPLOT_DIR=/usr/local/bin
... much output
OK, all scenarios finished successfully
$
~~~
You can do this with an installed Subplot as well:
~~~sh
$ cargo clean
$ /usr/local/bin/subplot codegen subplot.md -o test.py
$ python3 test.py --env SUBPLOT_DIR=/usr/local/bin
... much output
OK, all scenarios finished successfully
$
~~~
The generated test program is self-standing, and can be run from
anywhere. However, to generate it you need to be in the Subplot
source tree. You can move it elsewhere after generating it, you if you
prefer.
# Requirements
This chapter lists requirements for Subplot. These requirements are
not meant to be automatically verifiable. For specific, automatically
testable acceptance criteria, see the later [chapter with acceptance
tests for Subplot](#acceptance).
Each requirement here is given a unique mnemonic id for easier
reference in discussions.
**UnderstandableTests**
: Acceptance tests should be possible to express in a way that's
easily understood by all stakeholders, including those who are
not software developers.
_Done_ but requires the Subplot document to be written with care.
**EasyToWriteDocs**
: The markup language for writing documentation should be easy to
write.
_Done_ by using Markdown.
**AidsComprehension**
: The formatted human-readable documentation should use good layout
and typography to enhance comprehension.
_In progress_ — typesetting via Pandoc works, but may need
review and improvement.
**CodeSeparately**
: The code to implement the acceptance criteria should not be
embedded in the documentation source, but be in separate files.
This makes it easier to edit without specialised tooling.
_Done_ by keeping scenario step implementations in a separate
file.
**AnyProgammingLanguage**
: The developers implementing the acceptance tests should be free to
use a language they're familiar and comfortable with. Subplot
should not require them to use a specific language.
_Not done_ — only Python supported at the moment.
**FastTestExecution**
: Executing the acceptance tests should be fast.
_Not done_ — the generated Python test program is simplistic
and linear.
**NoDeployment**
: The acceptance test tooling should assume the system under test is
already deployed and available. Deploying is too big of a problem
space to bring into the scope of acceptance testing, and there are
already good tools for deployment.
_Done_ by virtue of letting those who implement the scenario steps
worry about it.
**MachineParseableResults**
: The tests should produce a machine parseable result that can be
archived, post-processed, and analyzed in ways that are of
interest to the project using Subplot. For example, to see trends
in how long tests take, how often tests fail, to find regressions,
and to find tests that don't provide value.
_Not done_ — the generated test program is simplistic.
# Subplot input language
Subplot reads three input files, each in a different format:
* The document file, which uses the Markdown dialects understood by
Pandoc.
* The bindings file, in YAML.
* The functions file, in Bash or Python.
Subplot interprets marked parts of the input document
specially. It does this via the Pandoc abstract syntax tree, rather
than text manipulation, and thus anything that Pandoc understands is
understood by Subplot. We will not specify Pandoc's dialect of
Markdown here, only the parts Subplot pays attention to.
## Scenario language
The scenarios are core to Subplot. They express what the detailed
acceptance criteria are and how they're verified. The scenarios are
meant to be understood by both all human stakeholders and the Subplot
software. As such, they are expressed in a somewhat stilted language
that resembles English, but is just formal enough that it can also be
understood by a computer.
A scenario is a sequence of steps. A step can be setup to prepare for
an action, an action, or an examination of the effect an action had.
For example, a scenario to verify that a backup system works might
look like the following:
~~~~~~{.markdown .numberLines}
~~~scenario
given a backup server
when I make a backup
and I restore the backup
then the restored data is identical to the original data
~~~
~~~~~~
This is not magic. The three kinds of steps are each identified by the
first word in the step.
* `given` means it's a step to set up the environment for the scenario
* `when` means it's a step with the action that the scenario verifies
* `then` means it's a step to examine the results of the action
The `and` keyword is special in that it means the step is the same
kind as the previous step. In the example, on line 4, it means the
step is a `when` step.
Each step is implemented by a bit of code, provided by the author of
the subplot document. The step is _bound_ to the code via a binding
file, via the text of the step: if the text is like this, then call
that function. Bindings files are described in detail shortly below.
The three kinds of steps exist to make scenarios easier to understand
by humans. Subplot itself does not actually care if a step is setup,
action, or examination, but it's easier for humans reading the
scenario, or writing the corresponding code, if each step only does
the kind of work that is implied by the kind of step it's bound to.
### Using Subplot's language effectively
Your subplot scenarios will be best understood when they use the subplot
language in a consistent fashion, within and even across *different* projects.
As with programming languages, it's possible to place your own style on your
subplots. Indeed, there is no inherent internal implementation difference between
how `given`, `when` and `then` steps are processed (other than that `given`
steps often also have cleanup functions associated with them).
Nonetheless we have some recommendations about using the Subplot language,
which reflect how we use it in Subplot and related projects.
When you are formulating your scenarios, it is common to try and use phraseology
along the lines of _if this happens then that is the case_ but this is not
language which works well with subplot. Scenarios describe what will happen in
the success case. As such we don't construct scenarios which say _if foo happens
then the case fails_, instead we say _when I do the thing then foo does not happen_.
This is a subtle but critical shift in the construction of your test cases which
will mean that they map more effectively to scenarios.
Scenarios work best when they describe how some entity (human or otherwise)
actually goes about successfully achieving their goal. They start out by setting
the scene for the goal (`given`) they go on to describe the actions/activity
undertaken in order for the goal to be achieved (`when`) and they describe how
the entity knows that the goal has been achieved (`then`). By writing in this
active goal-oriented fashion, your scenarios will flow better and be easier for
all stakeholders to understand.
In general you should use `given` statements where you do not wish to go into
the detail of what it means for the statement to have been run, you simply wish
to inform the reader that some precondition is met. These statements are often
best along the lines of `given a setup which works` or `given a development enviroment`
or somesuch.
The `when` statements are best used to denote **active** steps. These are
the steps which your putative actors or personae use to achieve their goals.
These often work best in the form `when I do the thing` or
`when the user does the thing`.
The `then` statements are the crux of the scenario, they are the **validation**
steps. These are the steps which tell the reader of the scenario how the actor
knows that their action (the `when` steps) has had the desired outcome. This
could be of the form `then some output is present` or `then it exits successfully`.
With all that in mind, a good scenario looks like
```
given the necessary starting conditions
when I do the required actions
then the desired outcome is achieved
```
Given all that, however, it's worth considering some pitfalls to avoid when
writing your scenarios.
It's best to avoid overly precise or overly technical details in your scenario
language (unless that's necessary to properly describe your goal etc.) So
it's best to say things like `then the output file is valid JSON` rather than
`then the output file contains {"foo": "bar", "baz": 7}`. Obviously if the
actual values are important then again, statements such as `then the output file
has a key "foo" which contains the value "bar"` or similar.
Try not to change "person" or voice in your scenarios unless there are multiple
entities involved in telling your stories. For example, if you have a scenario
statement of `when I run fooprogram` do not also have statements in the passive
such as `when fooprogram is run`. It's reasonable to switch between `when` and
`then` statements (`then the output is good`) but try not to have multiple
`then` statements which switch it up, such as `then I have an output file`,
`and the output file is ok`.
If you're likely to copy-paste your scenario statements around, do not use `and`
as a scenario keyword, even though it's valid to do so. Instead start all your
scenario statements with the correct `given`, `when`, or `then`. The typesetter
will deal with formatting that nicely for you.
## Document markup
[Pandoc]: https://pandoc.org/
Subplot uses [Pandoc][], the universal document converter, to parse
the Markdown file, and thus understands the variants of Markdown that
Pandoc supports. This includes traditional Markdown, CommonMark, and
GitHub-flavored Markdown.
[fenced code blocks]: https://pandoc.org/MANUAL.html#fenced-code-blocks
Subplot extends Markdown by treating certain certain tags for [fenced
code blocks][] specially. A scenario, for example, would look like
this:
~~~~~~{.markdown .numberLines}
```scenario
given a standard setup
when peace happens
then everything is OK
```
~~~~~~
The `scenario` tag on the code block is recognized by Subplot, which
will typeset the scenario (in output documents) or generate code (for
the test program) accordingly. Scenario blocks do not need to be
complete scenario. Subplot will collect all the snippets into one
block for the test program. Snippets under the same heading belong
together; the next heading of the same or a higher level ends the
scenario.
For embedding test data files in the Markdown document, Subplot
understands the `file` tag:
~~~~~~~~markdown
~~~{#filename .file}
This data is accessible to the test program as 'filename'.
~~~
~~~~~~~~
The `.file` attribute is necessary, as is the identifier, here
`#filename`. The generated test program can access the data using the
identifier (without the #). The mechanism used is generic to Pandoc,
and can be used to affect the typesetting by adding more attributes.
For example, Pandoc can typeset the data in the code block using
syntax highlighting, if the language is specified: `.markdown`,
`.yaml`, or `.python`, for example.
Subplot also understands the `dot` and `roadmap` tags, and can use the
Graphviz dot program, or the [roadmap][] Rust crate, to produce
graphs. These can useful for describing things visually.
When typesetting files, Subplot will automatically number the lines in
the file so that documentation prose can refer to sections of embedded
files without needing convoluted expressions of positions. However if
you do not want that, you can annotate the file with `.noNumberLines`.
For example…
~~~~~~~~markdown
~~~{#numbered-lines.txt .file}
This file has numbered lines.
This is line number three.
~~~
~~~{#not-numbered-lines.txt .file .noNumberLines}
This file does not have numbered lines.
This is still line number three, but would it be obvious?
~~~
~~~~~~~~
…renders as:
~~~{#numbered-lines.txt .file}
This file has numbered lines.
This is line number three.
~~~
~~~{#not-numbered-lines.txt .file .noNumberLines}
This file does not have numbered lines.
This is still line number three, but would it be obvious?
~~~
[roadmap]: https://crates.io/search?q=roadmap
### Use embedded file
This scenario makes sure the sample files are used in a scenario so
that they don't cause warnings.
~~~scenario
given file numbered-lines.txt
given file not-numbered-lines.txt
~~~
## Document metadata
Pandoc supports, and Subplot makes use of, a [YAML metadata block][] in a
Markdown document. This can and should be used to set the document
title, authors, date (version), and can be used to control some of the
typesetting. Crucially for Subplot, the bindings and functions files
are named in the metadata block, rather than Subplot deriving them
from the input file name.
[YAML metadata block]: https://pandoc.org/MANUAL.html#extension-yaml_metadata_block
As an example, the metadata block for the Subplot document might look
as follows. The `---` before and `...` after the block are mandatory:
they are how Pandoc recongizes the block.
~~~{.yaml .numberLines}
---
title: "Subplot"
author: The Subplot project
date: work in progress
bindings:
- subplot.yaml
impls:
python:
- subplot.py
...
~~~
There can be more than one bindings or functions file: use a YAML
list.
## Bindings file
The bindings file binds scenario steps to code functions that
implement the steps. The YAML file is a list of objects (also known as
dicts or hashmaps or key/value pairs), specifying a step kind (given,
when, then), a pattern matching the text of the step and
optionally capturing interesting parts of the text. Each binding may contain
a type map which tells subplot the types of the captures in the patterns so
that they can be validated to some extent, and a binding will list some number
of implementations, each of which is specified by the name of the language
(template) it is for, and then the name of a function that implements the step,
optionally with the name of a function to call to clean up a scenario which
includes that step.
There are some flexibilities in bindings, futher details can be found below:
1. Patterns can be simple or full-blown Perl-compatible regular
expresssions ([PCRE][]).
2. Bindings _may_ have type maps. Without a type map, all captures are
considered to be short strings (words).
3. Bindings _may_ have as many or as few implementations as needed. A zero
`impl` binding will work for `docgen` but will fail to `codegen`. This can
permit document authors to prepare bindings without knowing how an engineer
might implement it.
~~~{.yaml .numberLines}
- given: "a standard setup"
impl:
python:
function: create_standard_setup
- when: "{thing} happens"
impl:
python:
function: make_thing_happen
types:
thing: word
- when: "I say (?P<sentence>.+) with a smile"
regex: true
impl:
python:
function: speak
- then: "everything is OK"
impl:
python:
function: check_everything_is_ok
~~~
In the example above, there are four bindings and they all provide Python
implementation functions:
* A binding for a "given a standard setup" step. The binding captures
no part of the text, and causes the `create_standard_setup` function
to be called.
* A binding for a "when" step consisting of one word followed by
"happens". For example, "peace", as in "then peace happens". The
word is captured as "thing", and given to the `make_thing_happen`
function as an argument when it is called.
* A binding for a "when" followed by "I say", an arbitrary sentence,
and then "with a smile", as in "when I say good morning to you with
a smile". The function `speak` is then called with capture named
"sentence" as "good morning to you".
* A binding for a "then everything is OK" step, which captures nothing,
and calls the `check_everything_is_ok` function.
### Simple patterns
The simple patterns are of the form `{name}` and match a single word
consisting of printable characters. This can be varied by adding a
suffix, such as `{name:text}` which matches any text. The following
kinds of simple patterns are supported:
* `{name}` or `{name:word}` – a single word. As a special case, the
form `{name:file}` is also supported. It is also a single word, but has the
added constraint that it must match an embedded file's name.
* `{name:text}` – any text
* `{name:int}` – any whole number, including negative
* `{name:uint}` – any unsigned whole number
* `{name:number}` – any number
A pattern uses simple patterns by default, or if the `regex` field is
set to false. To use regular expressions, `regex` must be set to true.
Subplot complains if typical regular expression characters are used,
when simple patterns are expected, unless `regex` is explicitly set to
false.
### Regular expression patterns
Regular expression patterns are used only if the binding `regex` field
is set to `true`.
The regular expressions use [PCRE][] syntax as implemented by the Rust
[regex][] crate. The `(?P<name>pattern)` syntax is used to capture
parts of the step. The captured parts are given to the bound function
as arguments, when it's called.
[PCRE]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perl_Compatible_Regular_Expressions
[regex]: https://crates.io/crates/regex
### The type map
Bindings may also contain a type map. This is a dictionary called `types`
and contains a key-value mapping from capture name to the type of the capture.
Valid types are listed above in the simple patterns section. In addition to
simple patterns, the type map can be used for regular expression bindings as
well.
When using simple patterns, if the capture is given a type in the type map, and
also in the pattern, then the types must match, otherwise subplot will refuse to
load the binding.
Typically the type map is used by the code generators to, for example, distinguish
between `"12"` and `12` (i.e. between a string and what should be a number). This
permits the generated test suites to use native language types directly. The
`file` type, if used, must refer to an embedded file in the document; subplot docgen
will emit a warning if the file is not found, and subplot codegen will emit an error.
### The implementation map
Bindings can contain an `impl` map which connects the binding with zero or more
language templates. If a binding has no `impl` entries then it can still be
used to `docgen` a PDF or HTML document from a subplot document. This permits a
workflow where requirements owners / architects design the validations for a
project and then engineers implement the step functions to permit the
validations to work.
Shipped with subplot are a number of libraries such as `files` or `runcmd` and
these libraries are polyglot in that they provide bindings for all supported
templates provided by subplot.
Here is an example of a binding from one of those libraries:
```yaml
- given: file {embedded_file}
impl:
rust:
function: subplotlib::steplibrary::files::create_from_embedded
python:
function: files_create_from_embedded
types:
embedded_file: file
```
### Embedded file name didn't match
```scenario
given file badfilename.md
and file b.yaml
and file f.py
and an installed subplot
when I run subplot docgen --merciful badfilename.md -o foo.pdf
then file foo.pdf exists
when I try to run subplot codegen --run badfilename.md -o test.py
then command fails
```
~~~{#badfilename.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: Bad filenames in matched steps do not permit codegen
bindings: [b.yaml]
impls:
python: [f.py]
...
# Bad filename
```scenario
given file missing.md
```
~~~
## Functions file
Functions implementing steps are supported in Bash and Python. The
language is chosen by setting the `template` field in the document
YAML metadata to `bash` or `python`.
The functions files are not parsed by Subplot at all. Subplot merely
copies them to the output. All parsing and validation of the file is
done by the programming language being used.
The conventions for calling step functions vary by language. All
languages support a "dict" abstraction of some sort. This is most
importantly used to implement a "context" to store state in a
controlled manner between calls to step functions. A step function can
set a key to a value in the context, or retrieve the value for a key.
Typically, a "when" step does something, and records the results into
the context, and a "then" step checks the results by inspecting the
context. This decouples functions from each other, and avoids having
them use global variables for state.
### Bash
The step functions are called without any arguments.
The context is managed using shell functions provided by the Bash
template:
- `ctx_set key value`
- `ctx_get key`
Captured values from scenario steps are passed in via another dict and
accessed using another function:
- `cap_get key`
Similarly, there's a dict for the contents of embedded data files:
- `files_get filename`
The template provides assertion functions: `assert_eq`, `assert_contains`.
Example:
~~~sh
_run()
{
if "$@" < /dev/null > stdout 2> stderr
then
ctx_set exit 0
else
ctx_set exit "$?"
fi
ctx_set stdout "$(cat stdout)"
ctx_set stderr "$(cat stderr)"
}
run_echo_without_args()
{
_run echo
}
run_echo_with_args()
{
args="$(cap_get args)"
_run echo "$args"
}
exit_code_is()
{
actual_exit="$(ctx_get exit)"
wanted_exit="$(cap_get exit_code)"
assert_eq "$actual_exit" "$wanted_exit"
}
stdout_is_a_newline()
{
stdout="$(ctx_get stdout)"
assert_eq "$stdout" "$(printf '\n')"
}
stdout_is_text()
{
stdout="$(ctx_get stdout)"
text="$(cap_get text)"
assert_contains "$stdout" "$text"
}
stderr_is_empty()
{
stderr="$(ctx_get stderr)"
assert_eq "$stderr" ""
}
~~~
### Python
The context is implemented by a dict-like class.
The step functions are called with a `ctx` argument that has the
current state of the context, and each capture from a step as a
keyword argument. The keyword argument name is the same as the capture
name in the pattern in the bindings file.
The contents of embedded files are accessed using a function:
- `get_file(filename)`
Example:
~~~python
import json
def exit_code_is(ctx, wanted=None):
assert_eq(ctx.get("exit"), wanted)
def json_output_matches_file(ctx, filename=None):
actual = json.loads(ctx["stdout"])
expected = json.load(open(filename))
assert_dict_eq(actual, expected)
def file_ends_in_zero_newlines(ctx, filename=None):
content = open(filename, "r").read()
assert_ne(content[-1], "\n")
~~~
## Comparing the scenario runners
Currently Subplot ships with three scenario runner templates. The
Bash, Python, and Rust templates. The first two are fully self-contained
and have a set of features dictated by the Subplot version. The
latter is tied to how Cargo runs tests. Given that, this comparison
is only considered correct against the version of Rust at the time of
publishing a Subplot release. Newer versions of Rust may introduce
additional functionality which we do not list here. Finally, we do
not list features here which are considered fundamental, such as
"runs all the scenarios" or "supports embedded files" since no template
would be considered for release if it did not do these things. These
are the differentiation points.
```
| Isolation model | Subprocess | Subprocess | Threads |
| Parallelism | None | None | Threading |
| Passing environment variables | CLI | CLI | Prefixed env vars |
| Execution order | Fixed order | Randomised | Fixed order plus threading peturbation |
| Run specific scenarios | Simple substring check | Simple substring check | Either exact _or_ simple substring check |
| Diagnostic logging | Writes to stdout/stderr per normal shell | Supports comprehensive log file | Writes captured output to stdout/stderr on failure |
| Stop-on-failure | Stops on first failure | Stops on first failure unless told not to | Runs all tests unless told not to |
| Data dir integration | Cleans up only on full success | Cleans up each scenario unless told to save it | Cleans up each scenario with no option to save failure state |
```
# Acceptance criteria for Subplot {#acceptance}
Add the acceptance criteria test scenarios for Subplot here.
## Test data shared between scenarios
The 'smoke-test' scenarios below test Subplot by running it against specific input
files. This section specifies the bindings and functions files, which
are generated and cleaned up on the fly.
They're separate from the scenarios so that the scenarios are shorter
and clearer, but also so that the input files do not need to be
duplicated for each scenario.
~~~~{#simple.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: Test scenario
bindings: [b.yaml]
impls:
python: [f.py]
...
# Simple
This is the simplest possible test scenario
```scenario
given precondition foo
when I do bar
then bar was done
```
~~~~
~~~{#b.yaml .file .yaml .numberLines}
- given: precondition foo
impl:
python:
function: precond_foo
bash:
function: precond_foo
- when: I do bar
impl:
python:
function: do_bar
bash:
function: do_bar
- when: I do foobar
impl:
python:
function: do_foobar
bash:
function: do_foobar
- then: bar was done
impl:
python:
function: bar_was_done
bash:
function: bar_was_done
- then: foobar was done
impl:
python:
function: foobar_was_done
bash:
function: foobar_was_done
- given: file {filename}
impl:
python:
function: provide_file
bash:
function: provide_file
types:
filename: file
~~~
~~~{#f.py .file .python .numberLines}
def precond_foo(ctx):
ctx['bar_done'] = False
ctx['foobar_done'] = False
def do_bar(ctx):
ctx['bar_done'] = True
def bar_was_done(ctx):
assert_eq(ctx['bar_done'], True)
def do_foobar(ctx):
ctx['foobar_done'] = True
def foobar_was_done(ctx):
assert_eq(ctx['foobar_done'], True)
~~~
### Smoke test
The scenario below uses the input files defined above to run some tests
to verify that Subplot can build a PDF and an HTML document, and
execute a simple scenario successfully. The test is based on
generating the test program from an input file, running the test
program, and examining the output.
~~~scenario
given file simple.md
and file b.yaml
and file f.py
and an installed subplot
when I run subplot docgen simple.md -o simple.pdf
then file simple.pdf exists
when I run subplot docgen simple.md -o simple.html
then file simple.html exists
when I run subplot codegen --run simple.md -o test.py
then scenario "Simple" was run
and step "given precondition foo" was run
and step "when I do bar" was run
and step "then bar was done" was run
and command is successful
~~~
## No scenarios means codegen fails
If you attempt to `subplot codegen` on a document which contains no scenarios, the
tool will fail to execute with a reasonable error message.
~~~scenario
given file noscenarios.md
and an installed subplot
when I try to run subplot codegen noscenarios.md -o test.py
then command fails
and stderr contains "no scenarios were found"
~~~
~~~{#noscenarios.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: No scenarios in here
impls: { python: [] }
...
# This is a title
But there are no scenarios in this file, and thus nothing can be generated in a test suite.
~~~
## Keywords
Subplot supports the keywords **given**, **when**, and **then**, and
the aliases **and** and **but**. The aliases stand for the same
(effective) keyword as the previous step in the scenario. This chapter
has scenarios to check the keywords and aliases in various
combinations.
### All the keywords
~~~scenario
given file allkeywords.md
and file b.yaml
and file f.py
and an installed subplot
when I run subplot docgen allkeywords.md -o foo.pdf
then file foo.pdf exists
when I run subplot codegen --run allkeywords.md -o test.py
then scenario "All keywords" was run
and step "given precondition foo" was run
and step "when I do bar" was run
and step "then bar was done" was run
and command is successful
~~~
~~~{#allkeywords.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: All the keywords scenario
bindings: [b.yaml]
impls:
python: [f.py]
...
# All keywords
This uses all the keywords.
```scenario
given precondition foo
when I do bar
and I do foobar
then bar was done
but foobar was done
```
~~~
### Keyword aliases in output
We support **and** and **but** in input lines, and we always render
scenarios in output so they are used when they are allowed. This
scenario verifies that this happens.
~~~scenario
given file aliases.md
given file b.yaml
given file f.py
given an installed subplot
when I run subplot docgen --merciful aliases.md -o aliases.html
then command is successful
then file aliases.html matches regex /given<[^>]*> precondition foo/
then file aliases.html matches regex /when<[^>]*> I do bar/
then file aliases.html matches regex /and<[^>]*> I do foobar/
then file aliases.html matches regex /then<[^>]*> bar was done/
then file aliases.html matches regex /and<[^>]*> foobar was done/
~~~
~~~{#aliases.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: Keyword aliases
bindings: [b.yaml]
functions: [f.py]
...
# Aliases
```scenario
given precondition foo
when I do bar
when I do foobar
then bar was done
then foobar was done
```
~~~
### Misuse of continuation keywords
When continuation keywords (`and` and `but`) are used, they have to not be
the first keyword in a scenario. Any such scenario will fail to parse because
subplot will be unable to determine what kind of keyword they are meant to
be continuing.
~~~scenario
given file continuationmisuse.md
and file b.yaml
and file f.py
and an installed subplot
when I run subplot docgen continuationmisuse.md -o foo.pdf
then file foo.pdf exists
when I try to run subplot codegen --run continuationmisuse.md -o test.py
then command fails
~~~
~~~{#continuationmisuse.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: Continuation keyword misuse
bindings: [b.yaml]
impls:
python: [f.py]
...
# Continuation keyword misuse
This scenario should fail to parse because we misuse a
continuation keyword at the start.
```scenario
and precondition foo
when I do bar
then bar was done
```
~~~
## Title markup
It is OK to use markup in document titles, in the YAML metadata
section. This scenario verifies that all markup works.
~~~scenario
given file title-markup.md
given an installed subplot
when I run subplot docgen title-markup.md -o foo.pdf
then file foo.pdf exists
~~~
~~~~{#title-markup.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: This _uses_ ~~all~~ **most** inline `markup`
subtitle: H~2~O is not 2^10^
impls: { python: [] }
...
# Introduction
~~~~
## Empty lines in scenarios
This scenario verifies that empty lines in scenarios are ignored.
~~~scenario
given file emptylines.md
and file b.yaml
and file f.py
and an installed subplot
when I run subplot docgen emptylines.md -o emptylines.pdf
then file emptylines.pdf exists
when I run subplot docgen emptylines.md -o emptylines.html
then file emptylines.html exists
when I run subplot codegen --run emptylines.md -o test.py
then scenario "Simple" was run
and step "given precondition foo" was run
and step "when I do bar" was run
and step "then bar was done" was run
and command is successful
~~~
~~~~{#emptylines.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: Test scenario
bindings: [b.yaml]
impls:
python: [f.py]
...
# Simple
This is the simplest possible test scenario
```scenario
given precondition foo
when I do bar
then bar was done
```
~~~~
## Automatic cleanup in scenarios
A binding can define a cleanup function, which gets called at the end
of the scenario in reverse order for the successful steps. If a step
fails, all the cleanups for the successful steps are still called. We
test this for every language template we support.
~~~{#cleanup.yaml .file .yaml .numberLines}
- given: foo
impl:
python:
function: foo
cleanup: foo_cleanup
bash:
function: foo
cleanup: foo_cleanup
- given: bar
impl:
python:
function: bar
cleanup: bar_cleanup
bash:
function: bar
cleanup: bar_cleanup
- given: failure
impl:
python:
function: failure
cleanup: failure_cleanup
bash:
function: failure
cleanup: failure_cleanup
~~~
~~~{#cleanup.py .file .python .numberLines}
def foo(ctx):
pass
def foo_cleanup(ctx):
pass
def bar(ctx):
pass
def bar_cleanup(ctx):
pass
def failure(ctx):
assert 0
def failure_cleanup(ctx):
pass
~~~
~~~{#cleanup.sh .file .bash .numberLines}
foo() {
true
}
foo_cleanup() {
true
}
bar() {
true
}
bar_cleanup() {
true
}
failure() {
return 1
}
failure_cleanup() {
true
}
~~~
### Cleanup functions gets called on success (Python)
~~~scenario
given file cleanup-success-python.md
and file cleanup.yaml
and file cleanup.py
and an installed subplot
when I run subplot codegen --run cleanup-success-python.md -o test.py
then scenario "Cleanup" was run
and step "given foo" was run, and then step "given bar"
and cleanup for "given bar" was run, and then for "given foo"
and command is successful
~~~
~~~~~{#cleanup-success-python.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: Cleanup
bindings: [cleanup.yaml]
impls:
python: [cleanup.py]
...
# Cleanup
~~~scenario
given foo
given bar
~~~
~~~~~
### Cleanup functions get called on failure (Python)
~~~scenario
given file cleanup-fail-python.md
and file cleanup.yaml
and file cleanup.py
and an installed subplot
when I try to run subplot codegen --run cleanup-fail-python.md -o test.py
then scenario "Cleanup" was run
and step "given foo" was run, and then step "given bar"
and cleanup for "given bar" was run, and then for "given foo"
and cleanup for "given failure" was not run
and command fails
~~~
~~~~~{#cleanup-fail-python.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: Cleanup
bindings: [cleanup.yaml]
impls:
python: [cleanup.py]
...
# Cleanup
~~~scenario
given foo
given bar
given failure
~~~
~~~~~
### Cleanup functions gets called on success (Bash)
~~~scenario
given file cleanup-success-bash.md
and file cleanup.yaml
and file cleanup.sh
and an installed subplot
when I run subplot codegen --run cleanup-success-bash.md -o test.sh
then scenario "Cleanup" was run
and step "given foo" was run, and then step "given bar"
and cleanup for "given bar" was run, and then for "given foo"
and command is successful
~~~
~~~~~{#cleanup-success-bash.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: Cleanup
bindings: [cleanup.yaml]
impls:
bash: [cleanup.sh]
...
# Cleanup
~~~scenario
given foo
given bar
~~~
~~~~~
### Cleanup functions get called on failure (Bash)
If a step fails, all the cleanups for the preceding steps are still
called, in reverse order.
~~~scenario
given file cleanup-fail-bash.md
and file cleanup.yaml
and file cleanup.sh
and an installed subplot
when I try to run subplot codegen --run cleanup-fail-bash.md -o test.sh
then scenario "Cleanup" was run
and step "given foo" was run, and then step "given bar"
and cleanup for "given bar" was run, and then for "given foo"
and cleanup for "given failure" was not run
and command fails
~~~
~~~~~{#cleanup-fail-bash.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: Cleanup
bindings: [cleanup.yaml]
impls:
bash: [cleanup.sh]
...
# Cleanup
~~~scenario
given foo
given bar
given failure
~~~
~~~~~
## Temporary files in scenarios in Python
The Python template for generating test programs supports the
`--save-on-failure` option. If the test program fails, it produces a
dump of the data directories of all the scenarios it has run. Any
temporary files created by the scenario using the usual mechanisms
need to be in that dump. For this to happen, the test runner must set
the `TMPDIR` environment variable to point at the data directory. This
scenario verifies that it happens.
~~~scenario
given file tmpdir.md
and file tmpdir.yaml
and file tmpdir.py
and an installed subplot
when I run subplot codegen --run tmpdir.md -o test.py
then command is successful
and scenario "TMPDIR" was run
and step "then TMPDIR is set" was run
~~~
~~~~{#tmpdir.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: TMPDIR
bindings: [tmpdir.yaml]
impls:
python: [tmpdir.py]
...
# TMPDIR
~~~scenario
then TMPDIR is set
~~~
~~~~
~~~{#tmpdir.yaml .file .yaml .numberLines}
- then: TMPDIR is set
impl:
python:
function: tmpdir_is_set
~~~
~~~{#tmpdir.py .file .python .numberLines}
import os
def tmpdir_is_set(ctx):
assert_eq(os.environ.get("TMPDIR"), os.getcwd())
~~~
## Capturing parts of steps for functions
A scenario step binding can capture parts of a scenario step, to be
passed to the function implementing the step as an argument. Captures
can be done using regular expressions or "simple patterns".
### Capture using simple patterns
~~~scenario
given file simplepattern.md
and file simplepattern.yaml
and file capture.py
and an installed subplot
when I run subplot codegen --run simplepattern.md -o test.py
then scenario "Simple pattern" was run
and step "given I am Tomjon" was run
and stdout contains "function got argument name as Tomjon"
and command is successful
~~~
~~~~{#simplepattern.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: Simple pattern capture
bindings: [simplepattern.yaml]
impls:
python: [capture.py]
...
# Simple pattern
~~~scenario
given I am Tomjon
~~~
~~~~
~~~{#simplepattern.yaml .file .yaml .numberLines}
- given: I am {name}
impl:
python:
function: func
~~~
~~~{#capture.py .file .python .numberLines}
def func(ctx, name=None):
print('function got argument name as', name)
~~~
### Simple patterns with regex metacharacters: forbidden case
Help users to avoid accidental regular expression versus simple pattern
confusion. The rule is that a simple pattern mustn't contain regular
expression meta characters unless the rule is explicitly marked as not
being a regular expression pattern.
~~~scenario
given file confusedpattern.md
and file confusedpattern.yaml
and file capture.py
and an installed subplot
when I try to run subplot codegen --run confusedpattern.md -o test.py
then command fails
and stderr contains "simple pattern contains regex"
~~~
~~~~{#confusedpattern.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: Simple pattern capture
bindings: [confusedpattern.yaml]
impls:
python: [capture.py]
...
# Simple pattern
~~~scenario
given I* am Tomjon
~~~
~~~~
~~~{#confusedpattern.yaml .file .yaml .numberLines}
- given: I* am {name}
impl:
python:
function: func
~~~
### Simple patterns with regex metacharacters: allowed case
~~~scenario
given file confusedbutok.md
and file confusedbutok.yaml
and file capture.py
and an installed subplot
when I run subplot codegen --run confusedbutok.md -o test.py
then command is successful
~~~
~~~~{#confusedbutok.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: Simple pattern capture
bindings: [confusedbutok.yaml]
impls:
python: [capture.py]
...
# Simple pattern
~~~scenario
given I* am Tomjon
~~~
~~~~
~~~{#confusedbutok.yaml .file .yaml .numberLines}
- given: I* am {name}
impl:
python:
function: func
regex: false
~~~
### Capture using regular expressions
~~~scenario
given file regex.md
and file regex.yaml
and file capture.py
and an installed subplot
when I run subplot codegen --run regex.md -o test.py
then scenario "Regex" was run
and step "given I am Tomjon" was run
and stdout contains "function got argument name as Tomjon"
and command is successful
~~~
~~~~{#regex.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: Regex capture
bindings: [regex.yaml]
impls:
python: [capture.py]
...
# Regex
~~~scenario
given I am Tomjon
~~~
~~~~
~~~{#regex.yaml .file .yaml .numberLines}
- given: I am (?P<name>\S+)
impl:
python:
function: func
regex: true
~~~
## Recall values for use in later steps
It's sometimes useful to use a value remembered in a previous step.
For example, if one step creates a resource with a random number as
its name, a later step should be able to use it. This happens in
enough projects that Subplot's Python template has support for it.
The Python template has a `Context` class, with methods
`remember_value`, `recall_value`, and `expand_values`. These values
are distinct from the other values that can be stored in a context.
Only explicitly remembered values may be recalled or expanded so that
expansions don't accidentally refer to values meant for another
purpose.
~~~scenario
given file values.md
and file values.yaml
and file values.py
and an installed subplot
when I run subplot codegen values.md -o test.py
when I run python3 test.py
then command is successful
~~~
~~~~~~{#values.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: Values
bindings: [values.yaml]
impls:
python: [values.py]
...
# Values
~~~scenario
when I remember foo as bar
then expanded "${foo}" is bar
~~~
~~~~~~
~~~{#values.yaml .file .yaml .numberLines}
- when: I remember {name} as {value}
impl:
python:
function: remember
- then: expanded "{actual}" is {expected}
impl:
python:
function: check
~~~
~~~{#values.py .file .python .numberLines}
def remember(ctx, name=None, value=None):
ctx.remember_value(name, value)
def check(ctx, expected=None, actual=None):
assert_eq(ctx.expand_values(actual), expected)
~~~
## Set environment variables in generated test programs
The generated test programs run each scenario with a fixed, almost
empty set of environment variables. This is so that tests are more
repeatable and less dependent on any values accidentally set by the
developers.
However, sometimes it's helpful for the user to be able to set
environment variables for the scenarios. For example, if the scenarios
test locally built binaries that may be installed anywhere, the
installation directory should be added to the PATH variable so that
scenarios can invoke the scripts easily.
The scenario in this section verifies that the Python test program
generated by `subplot codegen` accepts the option `--env NAME=VALUE`.
There is currently no equivalent functionality for the generated Bash
test program. Patches for that are welcome.
~~~scenario
given file env.md
and file env.yaml
and file env.py
and an installed subplot
when I run subplot codegen env.md -o test.py
when I try to run python3 test.py
then command fails
when I try to run python3 test.py --env FOO=foo
then command fails
when I try to run python3 test.py --env FOO=bar
then command is successful
~~~
~~~~~~{#env.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: Environment variables
bindings: [env.yaml]
impls:
python: [env.py]
...
# Test
~~~scenario
then environment variable FOO is set to "bar"
~~~
~~~~~~
~~~{#env.yaml .file .yaml .numberLines}
- then: environment variable {name} is set to "{value:text}"
impl:
python:
function: is_set_to
~~~
~~~{#env.py .file .python .numberLines}
import os, sys
def is_set_to(ctx, name=None, value=None):
sys.stderr.write(f"{name}={os.environ.get(name)!r}\n")
assert os.environ.get(name) == value
~~~
## Avoid changing typesetting output file needlessly
### Avoid typesetting if output is newer than source files
This scenario make sure that if docgen generates the bitwise identical
output to the existing output file, it doesn't actually write it to
the output file, including its timestamp. This avoids triggering
programs that monitor the output file for changes.
~~~scenario
given file simple.md
and file b.yaml
and file f.py
and an installed subplot
when I run subplot docgen simple.md -o simple.pdf
then file simple.pdf exists
when I remember metadata for file simple.pdf
and I wait until 1 second has passed
and I run subplot docgen simple.md -o simple.pdf
then file simple.pdf has same metadata as before
and only files simple.md, b.yaml, f.py, simple.pdf exist
~~~
### Do typeset if output is older than markdown
~~~scenario
given file simple.md
and file b.yaml
and file f.py
and an installed subplot
when I run subplot docgen simple.md -o simple.pdf
then file simple.pdf exists
when I remember metadata for file simple.pdf
and I wait until 1 second has passed
and I touch file simple.md
and I run subplot docgen simple.md -o simple.pdf
then file simple.pdf has changed from before
~~~
### Do typeset if output is older than functions
~~~scenario
given file simple.md
and file b.yaml
and file f.py
and an installed subplot
when I run subplot docgen simple.md -o simple.pdf
then file simple.pdf exists
when I remember metadata for file simple.pdf
and I wait until 1 second has passed
and I touch file f.py
and I run subplot docgen simple.md -o simple.pdf
then file simple.pdf has changed from before
~~~
### Do typeset if output is older than bindings
~~~scenario
given file simple.md
and file b.yaml
and file f.py
and an installed subplot
when I run subplot docgen simple.md -o simple.pdf
then file simple.pdf exists
when I remember metadata for file simple.pdf
and I wait until 1 second has passed
and I touch file b.yaml
and I run subplot docgen simple.md -o simple.pdf
then file simple.pdf has changed from before
~~~
## Document structure
Subplot uses chapters and sections to keep together scenario snippets
that form a complete scenario. The lowest level heading before a
snippet starts a scenario and is the name of the scenario. If there are
subheadings, they divide the description of the scenario into parts,
but don't start a new scenario. The next heading at the same or a
higher level starts a new scenario.
### Lowest level heading is name of scenario
~~~scenario
given file scenarioislowest.md
and file b.yaml
and file f.py
and an installed subplot
when I run subplot codegen --run scenarioislowest.md -o test.py
then scenario "heading 1.1.1" was run
and command is successful
~~~
~~~~{#scenarioislowest.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: Test scenario
bindings: [b.yaml]
impls:
python: [f.py]
...
# heading 1
## heading 1.1
### heading 1.1.1
```scenario
given precondition foo
```
~~~~
### Subheadings don't start new scenario
~~~scenario
given file subisnotnewscenario.md
and file b.yaml
and file f.py
and an installed subplot
when I run subplot codegen --run subisnotnewscenario.md -o test.py
then scenario "heading 1.1a" was run
and command is successful
~~~
~~~~{#subisnotnewscenario.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: Test scenario
bindings: [b.yaml]
impls:
python: [f.py]
...
# heading 1
## heading 1.1a
```scenario
given precondition foo
```
### heading 1.1.1
### heading 1.1.2
~~~~
### Next heading at same level starts new scenario
~~~scenario
given file samelevelisnewscenario.md
and file b.yaml
and file f.py
and an installed subplot
when I run subplot codegen --run samelevelisnewscenario.md -o test.py
then scenario "heading 1.1.1" was run
and scenario "heading 1.1.2" was run
and command is successful
~~~
~~~~{#samelevelisnewscenario.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: Test scenario
bindings: [b.yaml]
impls:
python: [f.py]
...
# heading 1
## heading 1.1
### heading 1.1.1
```scenario
given precondition foo
```
### heading 1.1.2
```scenario
given precondition foo
```
~~~~
### Next heading at higher level starts new scenario
~~~scenario
given file higherisnewscenario.md
and file b.yaml
and file f.py
and an installed subplot
when I run subplot codegen --run higherisnewscenario.md -o test.py
then scenario "heading 1.1.1" was run
and scenario "heading 1.2" was run
and command is successful
~~~
~~~~{#higherisnewscenario.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: Test scenario
bindings: [b.yaml]
impls:
python: [f.py]
...
# heading 1
## heading 1.1
### heading 1.1.1
```scenario
given precondition foo
```
## heading 1.2
```scenario
given precondition foo
```
~~~~
### Document titles
The document and code generators require a document title, because
it's a common user error to not have one, and Subplot should help make
good documents. The Pandoc filter, however, mustn't require a document
title, because it's used for things like formatting websites using
ikiwiki, and ikiwiki has a different way of specifying page titles.
#### Document generator gives an error if input document lacks title
~~~scenario
given file notitle.md
and an installed subplot
when I try to run subplot docgen notitle.md -o foo.md
then command fails
~~~
~~~{#notitle.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
bindings: [b.yaml]
functions: [f.py]
...
# Introduction
This is a very simple Markdown file without a YAML metadata block,
and thus also no document title.
```scenario
given precondition foo
when I do bar
then bar was done
~~~
#### Code generator gives an error if input document lacks title
~~~scenario
given file notitle.md
and an installed subplot
when I try to run subplot codegen --run notitle.md -o test.py
then command fails
~~~
#### Subplot accepts title and headings with inline markup
Markdown allows using any inline markup in document titles and chapter
and section headings. Verify that Subplot accepts them.
~~~scenario
given file fancytitle.md
and file b.yaml
and file f.py
and an installed subplot
when I try to run subplot docgen fancytitle.md -o foo.md
then command is successful
when I try to run subplot codegen fancytitle.md -o foo.md
then command is successful
~~~
~~~~~~{#fancytitle.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: Plain *emph* **strong** ~~strikeout~~ superscript^10^ subscript~10~
bindings: [b.yaml]
impls:
python: [f.py]
...
# `code` [smallcaps]{.smallcaps} $$2^10$$
## "double quoted"
## 'single quoted'
## <b>raw inline</b>
## <span>span</span>
## 
## footnote
This is a very simple Markdown file that uses every kind of inline
markup in the title and chapter heading.
To satisfy codegen, we *MUST* have a scenario here
~~~~scenario
when I do bar
then bar was done
~~~~
~~~~~~
## Running only chosen scenarios
To make the edit-test loop more convenient for the test programs
generated by Subplot, we allow the user to specify patterns for
scenarios to run. Default is to run all scenarios.
### Running only chosen scenarios with Python
This verifies that the generated Python test program can run only
chosen scenarios.
~~~scenario
given file twoscenarios-python.md
and file b.yaml
and file f.py
and an installed subplot
when I run subplot codegen twoscenarios-python.md -o test.py
and I run python3 test.py on
then scenario "One" was run
and scenario "Two" was not run
and command is successful
~~~
~~~{#twoscenarios-python.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: Test scenario
bindings: [b.yaml]
impls:
python: [f.py]
...
# One
```scenario
given precondition foo
when I do bar
then bar was done
```
# Two
```scenario
given precondition foo
when I do bar
then bar was done
```
~~~
### Running only chosen scenarios with Bash
This verifies that the generated Bash test program can run only
chosen scenarios.
~~~scenario
given file twoscenarios-bash.md
and file b.yaml
and file f.sh
and an installed subplot
when I run subplot codegen twoscenarios-bash.md -o test.sh
and I run bash test.sh on
then scenario "One" was run
and scenario "Two" was not run
and command is successful
~~~
~~~{#twoscenarios-bash.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: Test scenario
bindings: [b.yaml]
impls:
bash: [f.sh]
...
# One
```scenario
given precondition foo
when I do bar
then bar was done
```
# Two
```scenario
given precondition foo
when I do bar
then bar was done
```
~~~
~~~{#f.sh .file .bash .numberLines}
precond_foo() {
ctx_set bar_done 0
ctx_set foobar_done 0
}
do_bar() {
ctx_set bar_done 1
}
do_foobar() {
ctx_set foobar_done 1
}
bar_was_done() {
actual="$(ctx_get bar_done)"
assert_eq "$actual" 1
}
foobar_was_done() {
actual="$(ctx_get foobar_done)"
assert_eq "$actual" 1
}
~~~
## Document metadata
Some document metadata should end up in the typeset document,
especially the title, authors. The document date is more complicated,
to cater to different use cases:
* a work-in-progress document needs a new date for each revision
- maintaining the `date` metadata field manually is quite tedious,
so Subplot provides it automatically using the document source
file modification time
- some people would prefer a `git describe` or similar method for
indicating the document revision, so Subplot allows the date to be
specified via the command line
* a finished, reviewed, officially stamped document needs a fixed date
- Subplot allows this to be written as the `date` metadata field
The rules for what Subplot uses as the date or document revision
information are, then:
* if there is `date` metadata field, that is used
* otherwise, if the user gives the `--date` command line option, that
is used
* otherwise, the markdown file's modification time is used
### Date given in metadata
This scenario tests that the `date` field in metadata is used if
specified.
~~~scenario
given file metadate.md
and an installed subplot
when I run subplot docgen metadate.md -o metadate.html
then file metadate.html exists
and file metadate.html contains "<title>The Fabulous Title</title>"
and file metadate.html contains "Alfred Pennyworth"
and file metadate.html contains "Geoffrey Butler"
and file metadate.html contains "WIP"
~~~
~~~{#metadate.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: The Fabulous Title
author:
- Alfred Pennyworth
- Geoffrey Butler
date: WIP
...
# Introduction
This is a test document. That's all.
~~~
### Date given on command line
This scenario tests that the `--date` command line option is used.
~~~scenario
given file dateless.md
and an installed subplot
when I run subplot docgen dateless.md -o dateoption.html --date=FANCYDATE
then file dateoption.html exists
and file dateoption.html contains "<title>The Fabulous Title</title>"
and file dateoption.html contains "Alfred Pennyworth"
and file dateoption.html contains "Geoffrey Butler"
and file dateoption.html contains "FANCYDATE"
~~~
~~~{#dateless.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: The Fabulous Title
author:
- Alfred Pennyworth
- Geoffrey Butler
...
# Introduction
This is a test document. It has no date metadata.
~~~
### No date anywhere
This scenario tests the case of no metadata `date` and no command line
option, either. The date in the typeset document shall come from the
modification time of the input file, and shall have the date in ISO
8601 format, with time to the minute.
~~~scenario
given file dateless.md
and file dateless.md has modification time 2020-02-26 07:53:17
and an installed subplot
when I run subplot docgen dateless.md -o mtime.html
then file mtime.html exists
and file mtime.html contains "<title>The Fabulous Title</title>"
and file mtime.html contains "Alfred Pennyworth"
and file mtime.html contains "Geoffrey Butler"
and file mtime.html contains "2020-02-26 07:53"
~~~
### Missing bindings file
If a bindings file is missing, the error message should name the
missing file.
~~~scenario
given file missing-binding.md
and an installed subplot
when I try to run subplot docgen missing-binding.md -o foo.html
then command fails
and stderr contains ": missing-binding.yaml:"
~~~
~~~{#missing-binding.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: Missing binding
bindings: [missing-binding.yaml]
...
~~~
### Missing functions file
If a functions file is missing, the error message should name the
missing file.
~~~scenario
given file missing-functions.md
and file b.yaml
and an installed subplot
when I try to run subplot codegen --run missing-functions.md -o foo.py
then command fails
and stderr contains ": missing-functions.py:"
~~~
~~~{#missing-functions.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: Missing functions
bindings: [b.yaml]
impls:
python: [missing-functions.py]
...
~~~
### Extracting metadata from a document
The **subplot metadata** program extracts metadata from a document. It is
useful to see the scenarios, for example. For example, given a
document like this:
subplot metadata would extract this information from the **simple.md** example:
~~~
title: Test scenario
bindings: [b.yaml]
impls:
python: [f.py]
scenario Simple
~~~
This scenario check subplot metadata works. Note that it requires the bindings
or functions files.
~~~scenario
given file images.md
and file b.yaml
and file other.yaml
and file f.py
and file other.py
and file foo.bib
and file bar.bib
and file expected.json
and an installed subplot
when I run subplot metadata images.md
then stdout contains "source: images.md"
and stdout contains "source: b.yaml"
and stdout contains "source: other.yaml"
and stdout contains "source: f.py"
and stdout contains "source: other.py"
and stdout contains "source: foo.bib"
and stdout contains "source: bar.bib"
and stdout contains "source: image.gif"
and stdout contains "bindings: b.yaml"
and stdout contains "bindings: other.yaml"
and stdout contains "functions[python]: f.py"
when I run subplot metadata images.md -o json
then JSON output matches expected.json
~~~
~~~{#images.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: Document refers to external images
bindings:
- b.yaml
- other.yaml
impls:
python:
- f.py
- other.py
bibliography: [foo.bib, bar.bib]
...
~~~
~~~{#other.yaml .file .yaml .numberLines}
[]
~~~
~~~{#other.py .file .python .numberLines}
~~~
~~~{#foo.bib .file .numberLines}
@book{foo2020,
author = "James Random",
title = "The Foo book",
publisher = "The Internet",
year = 2020,
address = "World Wide Web",
}
~~~
~~~{#bar.bib .file .numberLines}
@book{foo2020,
author = "James Random",
title = "The Bar book",
publisher = "The Internet",
year = 2020,
address = "World Wide Web",
}
~~~
~~~{#expected.json .file .json}
{
"title": "Document refers to external images",
"sources": [
"b.yaml",
"bar.bib",
"f.py",
"foo.bib",
"image.gif",
"images.md",
"other.py",
"other.yaml"
],
"binding_files": [
"b.yaml",
"other.yaml"
],
"impls": {
"python": [
"f.py",
"other.py"
]
},
"bibliographies": [
"bar.bib",
"foo.bib"
],
"files": [],
"scenarios": []
}
~~~
## Embedded files
Subplot allows data files to be embedded in the input document. This
is handy for small test files and the like.
Handling of a newline character on the last line is tricky. Pandoc
doesn't include a newline on the last line. Sometimes one is
needed—but sometimes it's not wanted. A newline can be added by
having an empty line at the end, but that is subtle and easy to miss.
Subplot helps the situation by allowing a `add-newline=` class to be added
to the code blocks, with one of three allowed cases:
* no `add-newline` class—default handling: same as `add-newline=auto`
* `add-newline=auto`—add a newline, if one isn't there
* `add-newline=no`—never add a newline, but keep one if it's there
* `add-newline=yes`—always add a newline, even if one is already
there
The scenarios below test the various cases.
### Extract embedded file
This scenario checks that an embedded file can be extracted, and used
in a subplot.
~~~scenario
given file embedded.md
and an installed subplot
when I run subplot docgen --merciful embedded.md -o foo.html
then file foo.html exists
and file foo.html matches regex /embedded\.txt/
~~~
~~~~~~~{#embedded.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: One embedded file
...
~~~{#embedded.txt .file}
This is the embedded file.
~~~
~~~~~~~
### Extract embedded file, by default add missing newline
This scenario checks the default handling: add a newline if one is
missing.
~~~scenario
given file default-without-newline.txt
then default-without-newline.txt ends in one newline
~~~
~~~{#default-without-newline.txt .file .numberLines}
This file does not end in a newline.
~~~
### Extract embedded file, by default do not add a second newline
This scenario checks the default handling: if content already ends in
a newline, do not add another newline.
~~~scenario
given file default-has-newline.txt
then default-has-newline.txt ends in one newline
~~~
~~~{#default-has-newline.txt .file .numberLines}
This file ends in a newline.
~~~
### Extract embedded file, automatically add missing newline
Explicitly request automatic newlines, when the file does not end in
one.
~~~scenario
given file auto-without-newline.txt
then auto-without-newline.txt ends in one newline
~~~
~~~{#auto-without-newline.txt .file add-newline=auto .numberLines}
This file does not end in a newline.
~~~
### Extract embedded file, do not automatically add second newline
Explicitly request automatic newlines, when the file already ends in
one.
~~~scenario
given file auto-has-newline.txt
then auto-has-newline.txt ends in one newline
~~~
~~~{#auto-has-newline.txt .file add-newline=auto .numberLines}
This file ends in a newline.
~~~
### Extract embedded file, explicitly add missing newline
Explicitly request automatic newlines, when the file doesn't end with
one.
~~~scenario
given file add-without-newline.txt
then add-without-newline.txt ends in one newline
~~~
~~~{#add-without-newline.txt .file add-newline=yes .numberLines}
This file does not end in a newline.
~~~
### Extract embedded file, explicitly add second newline
Explicitly request automatic newlines, when the file already ends with
one.
~~~scenario
given file add-has-newline.txt
then add-has-newline.txt ends in two newlines
~~~
~~~{#add-has-newline.txt .file add-newline=yes .numberLines}
This file ends in a newline.
~~~
### Extract embedded file, do not add missing newline
Explicitly ask for no newline to be added.
~~~scenario
given file no-adding-without-newline.txt
then no-adding-without-newline.txt does not end in a newline
~~~
~~~{#no-adding-without-newline.txt .file add-newline=no .numberLines}
This file does not end in a newline.
~~~
### Fail if the same filename is used twice
~~~scenario
given file onefiletwice.md
and an installed subplot
when I try to run subplot docgen onefiletwice.md -o onefiletwice.html
then command fails
and file onefiletwice.html does not exist
~~~
~~~~{#onefiletwice.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: Two embedded files with the same name
...
```{#filename .file}
This is the embedded file.
```
```{#filename .file}
This is another embedded file, and has the same name.
```
~~~~
### Fail if two filenames only differ in case
~~~scenario
given file casediff.md
and an installed subplot
when I try to run subplot docgen casediff.md -o casediff.html
then command fails
and file casediff.html does not exist
~~~
~~~~{#casediff.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: Two embedded files with names differing only in case
...
```{#filename .file}
This is the embedded file.
```
```{#FILENAME .file}
This is another embedded file, and has the same name in uppercase.
```
~~~~
### Fail if embedded file isn't used
This scenario checks that we get warnings, when using a subplot with
embedded files that aren't used.
~~~scenario
given file unusedfile.md
and an installed subplot
when I try to run subplot docgen --merciful unusedfile.md -o unusedfile.html
then command is successful
and file unusedfile.html exists
and stderr contains "thisisnotused.txt"
~~~
~~~~{#unusedfile.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: Embedded file is not used by a scenario
...
```{#thisisnotused.txt .file}
This is the embedded file.
```
~~~~
## Steps must match bindings
Subplot permits the binding author to define arbitrarily complex regular
expressions for binding matches. In order to ensure that associating steps
to bindings is both reliable and tractable, a step must match _exactly one_
binding.
```{#badbindings.yaml .file .yaml}
- given: a binding
impl:
python:
function: a_binding
- given: a (?:broken)? binding
impl:
python:
function: a_broken_binding
regex: true
- given: a capitalised Binding
impl:
python:
function: os.getcwd
case_sensitive: true
```
### Steps which do not match bindings do not work
~~~~{#nobinding.md .file .markdown}
---
title: No bindings available
bindings:
- badbindings.yaml
...
# Broken scenario because step has no binding
```scenario
given a missing binding
then nothing works
```
~~~~
```scenario
given file nobinding.md
and file badbindings.yaml
and an installed subplot
when I try to run subplot codegen --run nobinding.md -o test.py
then command fails
```
### Steps which do not case-sensitively match sensitive bindings do not work
~~~~{#casemismatch.md .file .markdown}
---
title: Case sensitivity mismatch
impls: { python: [] }
bindings:
- badbindings.yaml
...
# Broken scenario because step has a case mismatch with sensitive binding
```scenario
given a capitalised binding
```
~~~~
```scenario
given file casemismatch.md
and file badbindings.yaml
and an installed subplot
when I try to run subplot codegen --run casemismatch.md -o test.py
then command fails
```
### Steps which match more than one binding do not work
~~~~{#twobindings.md .file .markdown}
---
title: Two bindings match
bindings:
- twobindings.yaml
impls:
python: [a_function.py]
...
# Broken scenario because step has two possible bindings
```scenario
given a binding
```
~~~~
~~~{#twobindings.yaml .file .yaml}
- given: a {xyzzy}
impl:
python:
function: a_function
- given: a {plugh}
impl:
python:
function: a_function
~~~
~~~{#a_function.py .file .python}
def a_function(ctx):
assert 0
~~~
```scenario
given file twobindings.md
and file twobindings.yaml
given file a_function.py
and an installed subplot
when I try to run subplot codegen --run twobindings.md -o test.py
then command fails
then stderr contains "xyzzy"
then stderr contains "plugh"
```
### List embedded files
The `subplot metadata` command lists embedded files in its output.
~~~scenario
given file two-embedded.md
and an installed subplot
when I run subplot metadata --merciful two-embedded.md
then stdout contains "foo.txt"
and stdout contains "bar.yaml"
~~~
~~~~~~{#two-embedded.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: Two embedded files
...
~~~{#foo.txt .file}
~~~
~~~{#bar.yaml. .file}
~~~
~~~~~~
## Embedded graphs
Subplot allows embedding markup to generate graphs into the Markdown document.
### Pikchr
[Pikchr]: https://pikchr.org/
[Pikchr] is a diagramming library which implements a Pic-like diagram language.
It allows the conversion of textual descriptions of arbitrarily complex diagrams
into SVGs such as this one.
~~~pikchr
arrow right 200% "Markdown" "Source"
box rad 10px "Subplot" "Document Generator" "(subplot docgen)" fit
arrow right 200% "HTML+SVG/PDF" "Output"
arrow <-> down 70% from last box.s
box same "Pikchr" "Formatter" "(docs.rs/pikchr)" fit
~~~
The scenario checks that a graph is generated and embedded into the HTML output,
and is not referenced as an external image.
~~~scenario
given file pikchr.md
and an installed subplot
when I run pandoc --filter subplot-filter pikchr.md -o pikchr.html
then file pikchr.html matches regex /img src="data:image/svg\+xml;base64,/
~~~
The sample input file **pikchr.md**:
~~~~~~~~{#pikchr.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
This is an example markdown file that embeds a simple Pikchr diagram.
~~~pikchr
arrow right 200% "Markdown" "Source"
box rad 10px "Markdown" "Formatter" "(docs.rs/markdown)" fit
arrow right 200% "HTML+SVG" "Output"
arrow <-> down 70% from last box.s
box same "Pikchr" "Formatter" "(docs.rs/pikchr)" fit
~~~
~~~~~~~~
### Dot
[Graphviz]: http://www.graphviz.org/
Dot is a program from the [Graphviz][] suite to generate directed
graphs, such as this one.
~~~dot
digraph "example" {
thing -> other
}
~~~
The scenario checks that a graph is generated and embedded into the
HTML output, not referenced as an external image.
~~~scenario
given file dot.md
and file b.yaml
and an installed subplot
when I run pandoc --filter subplot-filter dot.md -o dot.html
then file dot.html matches regex /img src="data:image/svg\+xml;base64,/
~~~
The sample input file **dot.md**:
~~~~~~~~{#dot.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
This is an example Markdown file, which embeds a graph using dot markup.
~~~dot
digraph "example" {
thing -> other
}
~~~
~~~~~~~~
### PlantUML
[PlantUML]: https://plantuml.com/
[PlantUML][] is a program to generate various kinds of graphs for
describing software, such as this one:
~~~plantuml
@startuml
Alice -> Bob: Authentication Request
Bob --> Alice: Authentication Response
Alice -> Bob: Another authentication Request
Alice <-- Bob: Another authentication Response
@enduml
~~~
The scenario below checks that a graph is generated and embedded into
the HTML output, not referenced as an external image.
~~~scenario
given file plantuml.md
and file b.yaml
and an installed subplot
when I run pandoc --filter subplot-filter plantuml.md -o plantuml.html
then file plantuml.html matches regex /img src="data:image/svg\+xml;base64,/
~~~
The sample input file **plantuml.md**:
~~~~~~~~{#plantuml.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
This is an example Markdown file, which embeds a graph using
PlantUML markup.
~~~plantuml
@startuml
Alice -> Bob: Authentication Request
Bob --> Alice: Authentication Response
Alice -> Bob: Another authentication Request
Alice <-- Bob: Another authentication Response
@enduml
~~~
~~~~~~~~
### Roadmap
Subplot supports visual roadmaps using a YAML based markup language,
implemented by the [roadmap][] Rust library. The library converts the
roadmap into dot, and that gets rendered as SVG and embedded in the
output document by Subplot.
An example:
~~~roadmap
goal:
label: |
This is the end goal:
if we reach here, there
is nothing more to be
done in the project
depends:
- finished
- blocked
finished:
status: finished
label: |
This task is finished;
the arrow indicates what
follows this task (unless
it's blocked)
ready:
status: ready
label: |
This task is ready
to be done: it is not
blocked by anything
next:
status: next
label: |
This task is chosen
to be done next
blocked:
status: blocked
label: |
This task is blocked
and can't be done until
something happens
depends:
- ready
- next
~~~
This scenario checks that a graph is generated and embedded into the
HTML output, not referenced as an external image.
~~~scenario
given file roadmap.md
and file b.yaml
and an installed subplot
when I run pandoc --filter subplot-filter roadmap.md -o roadmap.html
then file roadmap.html matches regex /img src="data:image/svg\+xml;base64,/
~~~
The sample input file **roadmap.md**:
~~~~~~~~{#roadmap.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
This is an example Markdown file, which embeds a roadmap.
~~~roadmap
goal:
label: |
This is the end goal:
if we reach here, there
is nothing more to be
done in the project
depends:
- finished
- blocked
finished:
status: finished
label: |
This task is finished;
the arrow indicates what
follows this task (unless
it's blocked)
ready:
status: ready
label: |
This task is ready
to be done: it is not
blocked by anything
next:
status: next
label: |
This task is chosen
to be done next
blocked:
status: blocked
label: |
This task is blocked
and can't be done until
something happens
depends:
- ready
- next
~~~
~~~~~~~~
### Class name validation
When Subplot loads a document it will validate that the block classes
match a known set. Subplot has a built-in set which it treats as special,
and it knows some pandoc-specific classes and a number of file type classes.
If the author of a document wishes to use additional class names then they can
include a `classes` list in the document metadata which subplot will treat
as valid.
~~~scenario
given file unknown-class-name.md
and file known-class-name.md
and file b.yaml
and an installed subplot
when I try to run subplot docgen unknown-class-name.md -o unknown-class-name.html
then command fails
and file unknown-class-name.html does not exist
and stderr contains "Unknown classes found in the document: foobar"
when I run subplot docgen known-class-name.md -o known-class-name.html
then file known-class-name.html exists
~~~
~~~~~~~~{#unknown-class-name.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: A document with an unknown class name
...
```foobar
This content is foobarish
```
~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~{#known-class-name.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: A document with a previously unknown class name
classes:
- foobar
...
```foobar
This content is foobarish
```
~~~~~~~~
## Using as a Pandoc filter
Subplot can be used as a Pandoc _filter_, which means Pandoc can allow
Subplot to modify the document while it is being converted or typeset.
This can useful in a variety of ways, such as when using Pandoc to
improve Markdown processing in the [ikiwiki][] blog engine.
[ikiwiki]: http://ikiwiki.info/
The way filters work is that Pandoc parses the input document into an
abstract syntax tree, serializes that into JSON, gives that to the
filter (via the standard input), gets a modified abstract syntax tree
(again as JSON, via the filter's standard output).
Subplot supports this via the **subplot-filter** executable. It is built
using the same internal logic as Subplot's docgen. The interface is
merely different to be usable as a Pandoc filter.
This scenarios verifies that the filter works at all. More
importantly, it does that by feeding the filter a Markdown file that
does not have a YAML metadata block. For the ikiwiki use case, that's
what the input files are like.
~~~scenario
given file justdata.md
and an installed subplot
when I run pandoc --filter subplot-filter justdata.md -o justdata.html
then file justdata.html matches regex /does not have a YAML metadata/
~~~
The input file **justdata.md**:
~~~~~~~~{#justdata.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
This is an example Markdown file.
It does not have a YAML metadata block.
~~~~~~~~
## Extract embedded files
`subplot extract` extracts embedded files from a subplot file.
~~~scenario
given file embedded-file.md
and file expected.txt
and an installed subplot
when I run subplot extract --merciful embedded-file.md foo.txt -d .
then files foo.txt and expected.txt match
~~~
~~~~~~{#embedded-file.md .file .markdown .numberLines}
---
title: Embedded file
...
~~~{#foo.txt .file}
This is a test file.
~~~
~~~~~~
~~~{#expected.txt .file}
This is a test file.
~~~