How do I use Nunit Debugger to test programs created by XNA? I tried to add the reference to Nunit.Framework to the project and add "Using Nunit.Framework" to source code but I got an error message saying that Nunit.Framework can't be found after trying to build a game.

Hrmp, I justed started writing a tutorial on using NUnit for XNA projects, but it's far from finished :)

Did you install NUnit using the provided installer (eg. placed the NUnit assemblies in the GAC)?
When you run one of the NUnit TestRunners (either GUI or Console), does it start up properly?

Btw, I can wholeheartedly recommend TestDriven.NET, it's an addin for Visual Studio (also works in the Express Editions) that will allow you to run your tests directly in VC# Express, optionally even running the test in der Debugger to see what's going wrong if a test fails!

-Markus-

Try creating a fresh project and then add a new class to it containing this code:

using NUnit.Framework;

namespace NUnitTest
{
    [TestFixture]
    public class TestClass
    {
        [Test]
        public void MyTest()
        {
            Assert.AreEqual(4, 4);
        }
    }
}

Right-click on the project name in the Solution Explorer, then select 'Add Reference...' Next, select 'nunit.framework' from the list of assemblies. (If you haven't installed NUnit using the installer, then you'll have to go to the 'Browse' tab and navigate to where you unzipped the NUnit package to, then select the framework DLL directly from the bin folder.)

After you've done this, you should notice that [TestFixture] and [Test] in the above code have been coloured in and the using statement no longer has its red squiggles.

Now you can build the project. Then open up NUnit (using either the Start Menu entry if you used the installer, or going to nunit.exe in the bin directory if you manually unzipped), and open up your solution file, your project file or your freshly-built EXE from within the GUI program. Press the green arrow to run the single test. Barring any strange quantum effects, it should pass.

The unfortunate thing about running NUnit with Visual Studio Express is that you can't attach to the NUnit GUI to debug into your unit tests. As noted above, you'll need to install TestDriven.NET or another add-in to get this functionality. TestDriven.NET is available for free - but for personal use only - here: http://www.testdriven.net/download_release.aspx?LicenceType=Personal

Hopefully Microsoft will integrate some of their unit testing tools (from VS Team System) in a future release, as it's excellent programming practice. A profiler would be damn useful too.

I installed TestDriven.NET and tried to build a game using "Run Tests" but I got this error message:

Couldn't find member with name 'TestCarPhysicsOnPlane' and XML name 'M:RacingGame.GameLogic.CarPhysics.TestCarPhysicsOnPlane'

Does the simple case I posted above work though?

Without seeing your code and test classes it's difficult to say what the problem is. Do any of your unit tests run?

The sample case work. Please download "Racing Game Simple" code from this link: http://www.wrox.com/WileyCDA/WroxTitle/productCd-0470126779,descCd-download_code.html

if the sample case works, try building it up, bit by bit, closer to your current implementation, so you can isolate where it stops working?

or attach a debugger.

If the sample builds and the simple test case builds, then it's likely that either your reference to the NUnit framework DLL isn't correct or that the unit tests aren't set up correctly.

I'll download the sample tonight and give it a whirl. Sounds interesting :)

Until then, have you tried putting a breakpoint in the code that's failing, then using the debugger to see where the issue lies? If the unit test itself is failing, then you'll have to use the TestDriven.NET add-in feature of right-clicking on the code file, then selecting Test With -> Debugger.

It may be worth starting off with a much simpler example though.

OK, I downloaded the project this evening.

The authors are using their own testing framework, which is explained in the RacingGame.UnitTests class description. There is a comment made to the effect that NUnit and the TestDriven.NET add-in weren't working with their version of GSE, so that may explain why they chose to roll their own solution.

To get their unit tests to run:

1. Open up UnitTests.cs in the editor.
   
2. In the #region RacingGame Unit Tests area comment out the existing Program.StartGame() line and uncomment the line that relates to the test you want to run (I tried PostScreenGlow.TestPostScreenGlow()). You can uncomment multiple lines at once, which will execute the tests consecutively.
   
3. Run the project. Do not use TestDriven.NET to do this, just press F5 or click the green arrow in the main toolbar.
   

FuriousDave, Thanks for helping me.