See this plunkr for a live example: http://plnkr.co/edit/djQPW7g4HIuxDIm4K8RC
In the code below, the line var promise = serviceThatReturnsPromise(); is run during module configuration time, but I want to mock out the promise that is returned by the service.
Ideally I'd use the $q service to create the mock promise, but I can't do that because serviceThatReturnsPromise() is executed during module configuration time, before I can get access to $q. What's the best way to resolve this chicken and egg problem?
var app = angular.module('plunker', []);
app.factory('serviceUnderTest', function (serviceThatReturnsPromise) {
// We mock out serviceThatReturnsPromise in the test
var promise = serviceThatReturnsPromise();
return function() {
return 4;
};
});
describe('Mocking a promise', function() {
var deferredForMock, service;
beforeEach(module('plunker'));
beforeEach(module(function($provide) {
$provide.factory('serviceThatReturnsPromise', function() {
return function() {
// deferredForMock will be undefined because this is called
// when `serviceUnderTest` is $invoked (i.e. at module configuration),
// but we don't define deferredForMock until the inject() below because
// we need the $q service to create it. How to solve this chicken and
// egg problem?
return deferredForMock.promise;
}
});
}));
beforeEach(inject(function($q, serviceUnderTest) {
service = serviceUnderTest;
deferredForMock = $q.defer();
}));
it('This test won\'t even run', function() {
// we won't even get here because the serviceUnderTest
// service will fail during module configuration
expect(service()).toBe(4);
});
});
I'm not sure I like the solution much, but here it is:
http://plnkr.co/edit/uBwsJxJRjS1qqsKIx5j7?p=preview
You need to ensure that you don't instantiate "serviceUnderTest" until after you've set-up everything. Therefore, I've split the second beforeEach into two separate pieces: the first instantiates and uses $q, the second instantiates and uses serviceUnderTest.
I've also had to include the $rootScope, because Angular's promises are designed to work within a $apply() method.
Hope that helps.