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Update documentation SynchronizationContext in FakeTimeProvider (#5665)
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* Update documentation SynchronizationContext in FakeTimeProvider

* Fix lint error

* Update documentation
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amadeuszl authored Nov 19, 2024
1 parent 8b9dc1d commit 9b61daa
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45 changes: 19 additions & 26 deletions src/Libraries/Microsoft.Extensions.TimeProvider.Testing/README.md
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -42,18 +42,18 @@ timeProvider.Advance(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(5));
myComponent.CheckState();
```

## Use ConfigureAwait(true) with FakeTimeProvider.Advance
## SynchronizationContext in xUnit Tests

The Advance method is used to simulate the passage of time. This can be useful in tests where you need to control the timing of asynchronous operations.
When awaiting a task in a test that uses `FakeTimeProvider`, it's important to use `ConfigureAwait(true)`.
### xUnit v2

Here's an example:
Some testing libraries such as xUnit v2 provide custom `SynchronizationContext` for running tests. xUnit v2, for instance, provides `AsyncTestSyncContext` that allows to properly manage asynchronous operations withing the test execution. However, it brings an issue when we test asynchronous code that uses `ConfigureAwait(false)` in combination with class like `FakeTimeProvider`. In such cases, the xUnit context may lose track of the continuation, causing the test to become unresponsive, whether the test itself is asynchronous or not.

```cs
await provider.Delay(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(delay)).ConfigureAwait(true);
To prevent this issue, remove the xUnit context for tests dependent on `FakeTimeProvider` by setting the synchronization context to `null`:
```
SynchronizationContext.SetSynchronizationContext(null)
```

This ensures that the continuation of the awaited task (i.e., the code that comes after the await statement) runs in the original context.
The `Advance` method is used to simulate the passage of time. Below is an example how to create a test for a code that uses `ConfigureAwait(false)` that ensures that the continuation of the awaited task (i.e., the code that comes after the await statement) works correctly.

For a more realistic example, consider the following test using Polly:

Expand All @@ -79,35 +79,21 @@ public class SomeService(TimeProvider timeProvider)

public async Task<int> PollyRetry(double taskDelay, double cancellationSeconds)
{
CancellationTokenSource cts = new(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(cancellationSeconds), timeProvider);
Tries = 0;

// get a context from the pool and return it when done
var context = ResilienceContextPool.Shared.Get(
// ensure execution continues on captured context
continueOnCapturedContext: true,
cancellationToken: cts.Token);

var result = await _retryPipeline.ExecuteAsync(
return await _retryPipeline.ExecuteAsync(
async _ =>
{
Tries++;

// Simulate a task that takes some time to complete
await Task.Delay(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(taskDelay), timeProvider).ConfigureAwait(true);

if (Tries <= 2)
// With xUnit Context this would fail.
await timeProvider.Delay(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(taskDelay)).ConfigureAwait(false);
if (Tries < 2)
{
throw new InvalidOperationException();
}

return Tries;
},
context);

ResilienceContextPool.Shared.Return(context);

return result;
CancellationToken.None);
}
}

Expand All @@ -118,6 +104,9 @@ public class SomeServiceTests
[Fact]
public void PollyRetry_ShouldHave2Tries()
{
// Arrange
// Remove xUnit Context for this test
SynchronizationContext.SetSynchronizationContext(null);
var timeProvider = new FakeTimeProvider();
var someService = new SomeService(timeProvider);

Expand All @@ -138,6 +127,10 @@ public class SomeServiceTests
}
```

### xUnit v3

`AsyncTestSyncContext` has been removed more [here](https://xunit.net/docs/getting-started/v3/migration) so described issue is no longer a problem.

## Feedback & Contributing

We welcome feedback and contributions in [our GitHub repo](https://github.com/dotnet/extensions).
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Threading;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using Microsoft.Extensions.Time.Testing;
using Xunit;

namespace Microsoft.Extensions.Time.Testing.Test;
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -442,6 +441,7 @@ public void ShouldResetGateUnderLock_PreventingContextSwitching_AffectionOnTimer
public void SimulateRetryPolicy()
{
// Arrange
SynchronizationContext.SetSynchronizationContext(null);
var retries = 42;
var tries = 0;
var taskDelay = 0.5;
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -469,7 +469,7 @@ async Task<int> simulatedPollyRetry()
catch (InvalidOperationException)
{
// ConfigureAwait(true) is required to ensure that tasks continue on the captured context
await provider.Delay(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(delay)).ConfigureAwait(true);
await provider.Delay(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(delay)).ConfigureAwait(false);
}
}
}
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