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Codeception VS PEST

Compare Codeception VS PEST and see what are their differences

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Codeception logo Codeception

Codeception is a new full-stack testing PHP framework.

PEST logo PEST

An elegant PHP testing framework with a focus on simplicity
  • Codeception Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-08-03
  • PEST Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-03

Codeception features and specs

  • Unified Testing Framework
    Codeception allows you to write tests for unit, functional, and acceptance testing in one framework, offering a consistent interface and reducing the need to switch between tools.
  • BDD Support
    Codeception supports Behavior Driven Development (BDD) which enables writing human-readable test scenarios, making it easier for non-developers to understand test cases.
  • Modular Architecture
    Codeceptionโ€™s modular architecture makes it highly extensible and customizable, allowing the reuse of modules and integration with popular frameworks like Symfony, Laravel, and Yii.
  • Comprehensive Suite of Helpers
    It offers a wide range of helper modules for various tasks and integrations, such as interacting with web pages and SOAP/REST APIs, which simplifies the setup of tests.
  • Active Community and Documentation
    Codeception has an active community and comprehensive documentation, which provides support and examples for most use cases.

Possible disadvantages of Codeception

  • Complex Setup for Beginners
    The flexibility and feature set of Codeception might be overwhelming for newcomers, requiring more time to understand and correctly set up the environment.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    Codeceptionโ€™s comprehensive range of functionalities and modularity may result in a steeper learning curve compared to simpler testing frameworks.
  • Overhead for Small Projects
    For small projects, Codeception might be an overkill due to its complex configuration and multitude of features, which might not all be needed.
  • Heavy Dependency on PHP
    As Codeception is a PHP-based testing framework, teams using multiple languages or technologies might require separate solutions for non-PHP environments.
  • Performance Overhead
    Running complete acceptance tests through browsers can lead to performance overhead, especially for large test suites, possibly requiring more infrastructure and time.

PEST features and specs

  • Simplicity
    PEST offers a simple and intuitive API that is easy to learn and use, making it accessible even for beginners in PHP testing.
  • Concise Syntax
    It provides a minimalist and elegant syntax, allowing developers to write clean and concise test cases without boilerplate code.
  • Expectation API
    PEST includes a powerful Expectation API, which enhances assertions with a fluent interface, improving readability and expressiveness.
  • Community and Ecosystem
    Backed by an active community, PEST benefits from a growing ecosystem of plugins and integrations, extending its capabilities.
  • Integration with PHPUnit
    PEST is built on top of PHPUnit, allowing for seamless integration and the option to run existing PHPUnit test suites with PEST.

Possible disadvantages of PEST

  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While basic usage is straightforward, mastering advanced features and integrations of PEST can require a deeper understanding.
  • Less Extensive Documentation
    Compared to more established testing frameworks, PEST might have less comprehensive documentation available, which could hinder learning.
  • Smaller Community Compared to PHPUnit
    Being relatively new compared to PHPUnit, PEST has a smaller community, potentially affecting the availability of support and resources.
  • Potential Compatibility Issues
    As PEST evolves, there may be occasional compatibility issues or bugs that need rapid updates and fixes.
  • Limited Built-in Features
    While its simplicity is a strength, PEST might lack some advanced built-in features offered by more complex testing frameworks.

Codeception videos

Our First Acceptance Test [6/24] Codeception & Symfony2

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to Run Codeception Tests [5/24] Codeception & Symfony2
  • Review - Bootstrapping Codeception [2/24] Codeception & Symfony2

PEST videos

THE PEST BAD MOVIE REVIEW | Double Toasted

More videos:

  • Review - The Pest - Nostalgia Critic
  • Review - PESTIE review | DIY Pest Control Like a PRO | House to Home Update

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Codeception and PEST)
Automated Testing
100 100%
0% 0
Productivity
0 0%
100% 100
Browser Testing
100 100%
0% 0
Developer Tools
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, PEST should be more popular than Codeception. It has been mentiond 21 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Codeception mentions (8)

  • Any pro-tips for writing automated tests with Selenium PHP?
    Personal experience: - donโ€™t use Behat unless you really needed a โ€œstory tellingโ€, it has a intermediate layer Gherkin that youโ€™ll need to code. You can write โ€œGiven/When/Thenโ€ steps but youโ€™ll also need to write โ€œphp codeโ€ that will interpret this step. - using real browser be prepared for instability - any interaction with JavaScript can broken/delay execution - be prepared that this tests are call functional... Source: over 3 years ago
  • PHPUnit, do i need to learn it?
    Codeception: https://codeception.com/. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Advice for an older symfony 4.4 project
    I would say to check out Codeception. Codeceptions has modules for Symfony and database generally. Long and short of it is that if you want you can run api tests that go into the controllers and rollback the database afterwards. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Automating Tests using CodeceptJS and Testomat.io: First Steps
    There are enough blog posts about Jest or Cypress already, so let me introduce Codecept. It comes in two flavors. There is Codeception for PHP, and there is CodeceptJS for JavaScript which we will be using here. - Source: dev.to / about 4 years ago
  • Testing PHP Applications
    There are many tools you can use for this purpose, but one I particularly like is CodeCeption. What I like most about it is that it's a unified tool that can be used to perform several types of tests, acceptance being one of them. - Source: dev.to / about 4 years ago
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PEST mentions (21)

  • Copy-Pasting HTTP Fakes by Hand? Laravel Http Automock Can Do It For You
    Requires PHP 8.2+, Laravel 11+, and Pest Works only with Laravel's HTTP client. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • 19+ Laravel Best Practices for Developers in 2024
    Laravel also has out-of-the-box testing tools like Pest and PHPUnit and functionalities to enable expressive testing. It also supports executing automated testing sessions that are more precise than manual ones. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • How to build a Laravel app using TDD that won't hurt you in the future
    For test-driven workflow we need a testing framework. Laravel already has PHPUnit built in, but we replaced it with PestPHP from Nuno Maduro. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Late Night Refactors #1: Composer Packages
    Thatโ€™s why the next step in my workflow is Pestโ€”a modern, elegant testing framework for Laravel built by the legend, Nuno Maduro. Letโ€™s talk about how testing ensures my app isnโ€™t just "correct" in theory, but actually works as expected. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Embracing the Future of Web Development with Laravel, PestPHP, Livewire and Vue.js
    Testing was previously a significant challenge for me until I discovered PestPHP. Its simplicity and expressive syntax transformed a tedious task into a valuable and efficient part of the development process. With PestPHP, ensuring the reliability of my code has never been easier or more efficient. It provides a safety net that catches bugs before they become problems, allowing me to concentrate on building and... - Source: dev.to / about 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Codeception and PEST, you can also consider the following products

PHPUnit - Application and Data, Build, Test, Deploy, and Testing Frameworks

TestMu AI (Formerly LambdaTest) - Worldโ€™s first full-stack Agentic AI Quality Engineering platform.

Laravel - A PHP Framework For Web Artisans

CrossBrowserTesting - Browser Testing made simple! Run automated, visual, and manual tests on 1500+ real browsers and mobile devices. Test more browsers, in less time.

Leaf PHP - Create clean, simple but powerful web apps and APIs quickly.

TestingWhiz - TestingWhiz is a codeless test automation tool for software, mobile and web.