pytest, data validation, Great Expectations, and quality assurance for data systems
Scanned 9/12/2026
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---
name: testing-quality
description: pytest, data validation, Great Expectations, and quality assurance for data systems
sasmp_version: "1.3.0"
bonded_agent: 02-backend-developer
bond_type: SECONDARY_BOND
skill_version: "2.0.0"
last_updated: "2025-01"
complexity: intermediate
estimated_mastery_hours: 80
prerequisites: [python-programming]
unlocks: [cicd-pipelines, data-engineering]
---
# Testing & Data Quality
Production testing strategies with pytest, data validation, and quality frameworks.
## Quick Start
```python
import pytest
from unittest.mock import Mock, patch
import pandas as pd
# Fixtures for test data
@pytest.fixture
def sample_dataframe():
return pd.DataFrame({
"id": [1, 2, 3],
"name": ["Alice", "Bob", "Charlie"],
"amount": [100.0, 200.0, 300.0]
})
@pytest.fixture
def mock_database():
with patch("app.db.connection") as mock:
mock.query.return_value = [{"id": 1, "value": 100}]
yield mock
# Unit test with AAA pattern
class TestDataTransformer:
def test_calculates_total_correctly(self, sample_dataframe):
# Arrange
transformer = DataTransformer()
# Act
result = transformer.calculate_total(sample_dataframe)
# Assert
assert result == 600.0
def test_handles_empty_dataframe(self):
# Arrange
empty_df = pd.DataFrame()
transformer = DataTransformer()
# Act & Assert
with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Empty dataframe"):
transformer.calculate_total(empty_df)
@pytest.mark.parametrize("input_val,expected", [
(100, 110),
(0, 0),
(-50, -55),
])
def test_apply_tax(self, input_val, expected):
result = apply_tax(input_val, rate=0.10)
assert result == expected
```
## Core Concepts
### 1. Data Validation with Pydantic
```python
from pydantic import BaseModel, Field, field_validator
from datetime import datetime
from typing import Optional
class DataRecord(BaseModel):
id: str = Field(..., min_length=1)
amount: float = Field(..., ge=0)
timestamp: datetime
category: Optional[str] = None
@field_validator("id")
@classmethod
def validate_id_format(cls, v):
if not v.startswith("REC-"):
raise ValueError("ID must start with 'REC-'")
return v
@field_validator("amount")
@classmethod
def round_amount(cls, v):
return round(v, 2)
# Validation
def process_records(raw_data: list[dict]) -> list[DataRecord]:
valid_records = []
for item in raw_data:
try:
record = DataRecord(**item)
valid_records.append(record)
except ValidationError as e:
logger.warning(f"Invalid record: {e}")
return valid_records
```
### 2. Great Expectations
```python
import great_expectations as gx
from great_expectations.checkpoint import Checkpoint
# Initialize context
context = gx.get_context()
# Create expectations
validator = context.sources.pandas_default.read_csv("data/orders.csv")
# Column expectations
validator.expect_column_to_exist("order_id")
validator.expect_column_values_to_not_be_null("order_id")
validator.expect_column_values_to_be_unique("order_id")
# Value expectations
validator.expect_column_values_to_be_between("amount", min_value=0, max_value=10000)
validator.expect_column_values_to_be_in_set("status", ["pending", "completed", "cancelled"])
# Pattern matching
validator.expect_column_values_to_match_regex("email", r"^[\w\.-]+@[\w\.-]+\.\w+$")
# Run validation
results = validator.validate()
if not results.success:
failed_expectations = [r for r in results.results if not r.success]
raise DataQualityError(f"Validation failed: {failed_expectations}")
```
### 3. Integration Testing
```python
import pytest
from testcontainers.postgres import PostgresContainer
from sqlalchemy import create_engine
@pytest.fixture(scope="module")
def postgres_container():
"""Spin up real Postgres for integration tests."""
with PostgresContainer("postgres:16-alpine") as postgres:
yield postgres
@pytest.fixture
def db_engine(postgres_container):
"""Create engine with test database."""
engine = create_engine(postgres_container.get_connection_url())
# Setup schema
with engine.connect() as conn:
conn.execute(text("CREATE TABLE users (id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY, name TEXT)"))
conn.commit()
yield engine
# Cleanup
engine.dispose()
class TestDatabaseOperations:
def test_insert_and_query(self, db_engine):
# Arrange
repo = UserRepository(db_engine)
# Act
repo.insert(User(name="Test User"))
users = repo.get_all()
# Assert
assert len(users) == 1
assert users[0].name == "Test User"
def test_transaction_rollback(self, db_engine):
repo = UserRepository(db_engine)
with pytest.raises(IntegrityError):
repo.insert(User(name=None)) # Violates constraint
# Verify rollback
assert repo.count() == 0
```
### 4. Mocking External Services
```python
from unittest.mock import Mock, patch, MagicMock
import responses
class TestAPIClient:
@responses.activate
def test_fetch_data_success(self):
# Mock HTTP response
responses.add(
responses.GET,
"https://api.example.com/data",
json={"items": [{"id": 1}]},
status=200
)
client = APIClient()
result = client.fetch_data()
assert len(result["items"]) == 1
@responses.activate
def test_handles_api_error(self):
responses.add(
responses.GET,
"https://api.example.com/data",
json={"error": "Server error"},
status=500
)
client = APIClient()
with pytest.raises(APIError):
client.fetch_data()
@patch("app.services.external_api")
def test_with_mock_service(self, mock_api):
mock_api.get_user.return_value = {"id": 1, "name": "Test"}
result = process_user_data(user_id=1)
mock_api.get_user.assert_called_once_with(1)
assert result["name"] == "Test"
```
## Tools & Technologies
| Tool | Purpose | Version (2025) |
|------|---------|----------------|
| **pytest** | Testing framework | 8.0+ |
| **Great Expectations** | Data validation | 0.18+ |
| **Pydantic** | Data validation | 2.5+ |
| **pytest-cov** | Code coverage | 4.1+ |
| **testcontainers** | Integration testing | 3.7+ |
| **responses** | HTTP mocking | 0.25+ |
| **hypothesis** | Property-based testing | 6.98+ |
## Troubleshooting Guide
| Issue | Symptoms | Root Cause | Fix |
|-------|----------|------------|-----|
| **Flaky Tests** | Random failures | Shared state, timing | Isolate tests, use fixtures |
| **Slow Tests** | Long test runs | No mocking, real I/O | Mock external services |
| **Low Coverage** | Uncovered code | Missing edge cases | Add parametrized tests |
| **Test Data Issues** | Inconsistent results | Hardcoded data | Use factories/fixtures |
## Best Practices
```python
# ✅ DO: Use fixtures for setup
@pytest.fixture
def client():
return TestClient(app)
# ✅ DO: Test edge cases
@pytest.mark.parametrize("input_data", [None, [], {}, ""])
def test_handles_empty_input(input_data):
assert process(input_data) == default_result
# ✅ DO: Name tests descriptively
def test_user_creation_fails_with_invalid_email():
...
# ✅ DO: Use marks for slow tests
@pytest.mark.slow
def test_full_pipeline():
...
# ❌ DON'T: Test implementation details
# ❌ DON'T: Share state between tests
# ❌ DON'T: Skip error path testing
```
## Resources
- [pytest Documentation](https://docs.pytest.org/)
- [Great Expectations](https://greatexpectations.io/)
- [Testing Python Applications](https://testdriven.io/)
---
**Skill Certification Checklist:**
- [ ] Can write unit tests with pytest
- [ ] Can use fixtures and parametrization
- [ ] Can implement data validation
- [ ] Can write integration tests
- [ ] Can mock external dependencies
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