Setting up a simple test with Cabal

With the Cabal build and packaging system for Haskell, add a simple test program to your build with a couple of easy steps.

First, add the following to your project’s cabal file:

Build-Type: Custom

...

flag test
  description: Build test program.
  default:     False

Executable test
  hs-source-dirs:  src, test
  other-modules:   MyModule1, MyModule2
  main-is:         Main.hs
  build-depends:   base
  if !flag(test)
    buildable:     False

When enabled (via cabal configure -ftest but otherwise off), this builds an extra program called test.

The custom build type gives you more flexibility in your setup script, so add code such as the following to Setup.hs:

main = defaultMainWithHooks hooks
  where hooks = simpleUserHooks { runTests = runTests' }

runTests' :: Args -> Bool -> PackageDescription -> LocalBuildInfo -> IO ()
runTests' _ _ _ lbi = system testprog >> return ()
  where testprog = (buildDir lbi) </> "test" </> "test"

When you run cabal test, it will kick off your test program whose source is in test/Main.hs.

This approach has a few drawbacks. Users must explicitly enable the test builds. Building the test program entails rebuilding the other libraries in your package. Installing from a -ftest configuration will also install your test program.