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doc: expand common module material in test guide
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Provide a little more information about the `common` module. This
doesn't really provide much that wasn't already there, but hopefully
makes some things a bit more explicit for first-time readers.
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Trott committed Dec 14, 2016
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19 changes: 11 additions & 8 deletions doc/guides/writing-tests.md
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Expand Up @@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ Tests can be added for multiple reasons:
- When fixing regressions and bugs.
- When expanding test coverage.


## Test structure

Let's analyze this very basic test from the Node.js test suite:
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -55,17 +54,22 @@ Let's analyze this very basic test from the Node.js test suite:
const common = require('../common');
```

These two lines are mandatory and should be included on every test.
The `common` module is a helper module that provides useful tools for the tests.
If for some reason, no functionality from `common` is used, it should still be
included like this:
The first line enables strict mode. All tests should be in strict mode unless
the nature of the test requires that the test run without it.

The second line loads the `common` module. The `common` module is a helper
module that provides useful tools for the tests.

Even if no functions or other properties exported by `common` are used in a
test, the `common` module should still be included. This is because the `common`
module includes code that will cause tests to fail if variables are leaked into
the global space. In situations where no functions or other properties exported
by `common` are used, it can be included without assigning it to an identifier:

```javascript
require('../common');
```

Why? It checks for leaks of globals.

**Lines 4-5**

```javascript
Expand All @@ -76,7 +80,6 @@ Why? It checks for leaks of globals.
A test should start with a comment containing a brief description of what it is
designed to test.


**Lines 7-8**

```javascript
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