Automatically Reload the Browser for Javascript Tests

Fast tests mean a fast feedback loop when doing TDD. Let’s make our tests fast with Guard.

describe 'A suite', ->
  it 'contains spec with an expectation', ->
    expect(true).toBe(true)

Gemfile:

source 'https://rubygems.org'

gem 'jasmine'
gem 'guard'
gem 'guard-coffeescript'
gem 'guard-livereload'

Guardfile:

guard :coffeescript, output: 'javascripts' do
  watch(%r{^src/(.*)\.coffee})
end

guard :coffeescript, output: 'spec/javascripts' do
  watch(%r{^spec/src/(.*)\.coffee})
end

guard 'livereload' do
  watch(%r{^spec/javascripts/.*/(.*)\.js})
  watch(%r{^spec/javascripts/(.*)\.js})
  watch(%r{^javascripts/.*/(.*)\.js})
  watch(%r{^javascripts/(.*)\.js})
end

This compiles CoffeeScript, watches our specs or Javascript files for changes, and reloads our browser automatically.

Start a jasmine server:

rake jasmine

Visit localhost:8888. See the results of the specs.

Change the specs or Javascript files and the browser will automatically reload.