95. Contract DSL

Spring Cloud Contract supports out of the box 2 types of DSL. One written in Groovy and one written in YAML .

If you decide to write the contract in Groovy, do not be alarmed if you have not used Groovy before. Knowledge of the language is not really needed, as the Contract DSL uses only a tiny subset of it (only literals, method calls and closures). Also, the DSL is statically typed, to make it programmer-readable without any knowledge of the DSL itself.

Remember that, inside the Groovy contract file, you have to provide the fully qualified name to the Contract class and make static imports, such as org.springframework.cloud.spec.Contract.make { … } . You can also provide an import to the Contract class: import org.springframework.cloud.spec.Contract and then call Contract.make { … } .

Spring Cloud Contract supports defining multiple contracts in a single file.

The following is a complete example of a Groovy contract definition:

org.springframework.cloud.contract.spec.Contract.make {
	request {
		method 'PUT'
		url '/api/12'
		headers {
			header 'Content-Type': 'application/vnd.org.springframework.cloud.contract.verifier.twitter-places-analyzer.v1+json'
		}
		body '''\
		[{
			"created_at": "Sat Jul 26 09:38:57 +0000 2014",
			"id": 492967299297845248,
			"id_str": "492967299297845248",
			"text": "Gonna see you at Warsaw",
			"place":
			{
				"attributes":{},
				"bounding_box":
				{
					"coordinates":
						[[
							[-77.119759,38.791645],
							[-76.909393,38.791645],
							[-76.909393,38.995548],
							[-77.119759,38.995548]
						]],
					"type":"Polygon"
				},
				"country":"United States",
				"country_code":"US",
				"full_name":"Washington, DC",
				"id":"01fbe706f872cb32",
				"name":"Washington",
				"place_type":"city",
				"url": "http://api.twitter.com/1/geo/id/01fbe706f872cb32.json"
			}
		}]
	'''
	}
	response {
		status OK()
	}
}

The following is a complete example of a YAML contract definition:

description: Some description
name: some name
priority: 8
ignored: true
request:
  url: /foo
  queryParameters:
    a: b
    b: c
  method: PUT
  headers:
    foo: bar
    fooReq: baz
  body:
    foo: bar
  matchers:
    body:
      - path: $.foo
        type: by_regex
        value: bar
    headers:
      - key: foo
        regex: bar
response:
  status: 200
  headers:
    foo2: bar
    foo3: foo33
    fooRes: baz
  body:
    foo2: bar
    foo3: baz
    nullValue: null
  matchers:
    body:
      - path: $.foo2
        type: by_regex
        value: bar
      - path: $.foo3
        type: by_command
        value: executeMe($it)
      - path: $.nullValue
        type: by_null
        value: null
    headers:
      - key: foo2
        regex: bar
      - key: foo3
        command: andMeToo($it)

You can compile contracts to stubs mapping using standalone maven command: mvn org.springframework.cloud:spring-cloud-contract-maven-plugin:convert

95.1 Limitations

Spring Cloud Contract Verifier does not properly support XML. Please use JSON or help us implement this feature.

The support for verifying the size of JSON arrays is experimental. If you want to turn it on, please set the value of the following system property to true : spring.cloud.contract.verifier.assert.size . By default, this feature is set to false . You can also provide the assertJsonSize property in the plugin configuration.

Because JSON structure can have any form, it can be impossible to parse it properly when using the Groovy DSL and the value(consumer(…), producer(…)) notation in GString . That is why you should use the Groovy Map notation.

95.2 Common Top-Level elements

The following sections describe the most common top-level elements:

95.2.1 Description

You can add a description to your contract. The description is arbitrary text. The following code shows an example:

Groovy DSL.

org.springframework.cloud.contract.spec.Contract.make {
			description('''
given:
	An input
when:
	Sth happens
then:
	Output
''')
		}

YAML.

description: Some description
name: some name
priority: 8
ignored: true
request:
  url: /foo
  queryParameters:
    a: b
    b: c
  method: PUT
  headers:
    foo: bar
    fooReq: baz
  body:
    foo: bar
  matchers:
    body:
      - path: $.foo
        type: by_regex
        value: bar
    headers:
      - key: foo
        regex: bar
response:
  status: 200
  headers:
    foo2: bar
    foo3: foo33
    fooRes: baz
  body:
    foo2: bar
    foo3: baz
    nullValue: null
  matchers:
    body:
      - path: $.foo2
        type: by_regex
        value: bar
      - path: $.foo3
        type: by_command
        value: executeMe($it)
      - path: $.nullValue
        type: by_null
        value: null
    headers:
      - key: foo2
        regex: bar
      - key: foo3
        command: andMeToo($it)

95.2.2 Name

You can provide a name for your contract. Assume that you provided the following name: should register a user . If you do so, the name of the autogenerated test is validate_should_register_a_user . Also, the name of the stub in a WireMock stub is should_register_a_user.json .

You must ensure that the name does not contain any characters that make the generated test not compile. Also, remember that, if you provide the same name for multiple contracts, your autogenerated tests fail to compile and your generated stubs override each other.

Groovy DSL.

org.springframework.cloud.contract.spec.Contract.make {
	name("some_special_name")
}

YAML.

name: some name

95.2.3 Ignoring Contracts

If you want to ignore a contract, you can either set a value of ignored contracts in the plugin configuration or set the ignored property on the contract itself:

Groovy DSL.

org.springframework.cloud.contract.spec.Contract.make {
	ignored()
}

YAML.

ignored: true

95.2.4 Passing Values from Files

Starting with version 1.2.0 , you can pass values from files. Assume that you have the following resources in our project.

└── src
 └── test
   └── resources
     └── contracts
             ├── readFromFile.groovy
             ├── request.json
             └── response.json

Further assume that your contract is as follows:

Groovy DSL.

import org.springframework.cloud.contract.spec.Contract

Contract.make {
	request {
		method('PUT')
		headers {
			contentType(applicationJson())
		}
		body(file("request.json"))
		url("/1")
	}
	response {
		status OK()
		body(file("response.json"))
		headers {
			contentType(textPlain())
		}
	}
}

YAML.

request:
  method: GET
  url: /foo
  bodyFromFile: request.json
response:
  status: 200
  bodyFromFile: response.json

Further assume that the JSON files is as follows:

request.json

{ "status" : "REQUEST" }

response.json

{ "status" : "RESPONSE" }

When test or stub generation takes place, the contents of the file is passed to the body of a request or a response. The name of the file needs to be a file with location relative to the folder in which the contract lays.

95.2.5 HTTP Top-Level Elements

The following methods can be called in the top-level closure of a contract definition. request and response are mandatory. priority is optional.

Groovy DSL.

org.springframework.cloud.contract.spec.Contract.make {
	// Definition of HTTP request part of the contract
	// (this can be a valid request or invalid depending
	// on type of contract being specified).
	request {
		//...
	}

	// Definition of HTTP response part of the contract
	// (a service implementing this contract should respond
	// with following response after receiving request
	// specified in "request" part above).
	response {
		//...
	}

	// Contract priority, which can be used for overriding
	// contracts (1 is highest). Priority is optional.
	priority 1
}

YAML.

priority: 8
request:
...
response:
...

If you want to make your contract have a higher value of priority you need to pass a lower number to the priority tag / method. E.g. priority with value 5 has higher priority than priority with value 10 .

95.3 Request

The HTTP protocol requires only method and url to be specified in a request. The same information is mandatory in request definition of the Contract.

Groovy DSL.

org.springframework.cloud.contract.spec.Contract.make {
	request {
		// HTTP request method (GET/POST/PUT/DELETE).
		method 'GET'

		// Path component of request URL is specified as follows.
		urlPath('/users')
	}

	response {
		//...
	}
}

YAML.

method: PUT
url: /foo

It is possible to specify an absolute rather than relative url , but using urlPath is the recommended way, as doing so makes the tests host-independent .

Groovy DSL.

org.springframework.cloud.contract.spec.Contract.make {
	request {
		method 'GET'

		// Specifying `url` and `urlPath` in one contract is illegal.
		url('http://localhost:8888/users')
	}

	response {
		//...
	}
}

YAML.

request:
  method: PUT
  urlPath: /foo

request may contain query parameters .

Groovy DSL.

org.springframework.cloud.contract.spec.Contract.make {
	request {
		//...

		urlPath('/users') {

			// Each parameter is specified in form
			// `'paramName' : paramValue` where parameter value
			// may be a simple literal or one of matcher functions,
			// all of which are used in this example.
			queryParameters {

				// If a simple literal is used as value
				// default matcher function is used (equalTo)
				parameter 'limit': 100

				// `equalTo` function simply compares passed value
				// using identity operator (==).
				parameter 'filter': equalTo("email")

				// `containing` function matches strings
				// that contains passed substring.
				parameter 'gender': value(consumer(containing("[mf]")), producer('mf'))

				// `matching` function tests parameter
				// against passed regular expression.
				parameter 'offset': value(consumer(matching("[0-9]+")), producer(123))

				// `notMatching` functions tests if parameter
				// does not match passed regular expression.
				parameter 'loginStartsWith': value(consumer(notMatching(".{0,2}")), producer(3))
			}
		}

		//...
	}

	response {
		//...
	}
}

YAML.

request:
...
  queryParameters:
    a: b
    b: c
  headers:
    foo: bar
    fooReq: baz
  cookies:
    foo: bar
    fooReq: baz
  body:
    foo: bar
  matchers:
    body:
      - path: $.foo
        type: by_regex
        value: bar
    headers:
      - key: foo
        regex: bar
response:
  status: 200
  headers:
    foo2: bar
    foo3: foo33
    fooRes: baz
  body:
    foo2: bar
    foo3: baz
    nullValue: null
  matchers:
    body:
      - path: $.foo2
        type: by_regex
        value: bar
      - path: $.foo3
        type: by_command
        value: executeMe($it)
      - path: $.nullValue
        type: by_null
        value: null
    headers:
      - key: foo2
        regex: bar
      - key: foo3
        command: andMeToo($it)
    cookies:
      - key: foo2
        regex: bar
      - key: foo3
        predefined:

request may contain additional request headers , as shown in the following example:

Groovy DSL.

org.springframework.cloud.contract.spec.Contract.make {
	request {
		//...

		// Each header is added in form `'Header-Name' : 'Header-Value'`.
		// there are also some helper methods
		headers {
			header 'key': 'value'
			contentType(applicationJson())
		}

		//...
	}

	response {
		//...
	}
}

YAML.

request:
...
headers:
  foo: bar
  fooReq: baz

request may contain additional request cookies , as shown in the following example:

Groovy DSL.

org.springframework.cloud.contract.spec.Contract.make {
	request {
		//...

		// Each Cookies is added in form `'Cookie-Key' : 'Cookie-Value'`.
		// there are also some helper methods
		cookies {
			cookie 'key': 'value'
			cookie('another_key', 'another_value')
		}

		//...
	}

	response {
		//...
	}
}

YAML.

request:
...
cookies:
  foo: bar
  fooReq: baz

request may contain a request body :

Groovy DSL.

org.springframework.cloud.contract.spec.Contract.make {
	request {
		//...

		// Currently only JSON format of request body is supported.
		// Format will be determined from a header or body's content.
		body '''{ "login" : "john", "name": "John The Contract" }'''
	}

	response {
		//...
	}
}

YAML.

request:
...
body:
  foo: bar

request may contain multipart elements. To include multipart elements, use the multipart method/section, as shown in the following examples

Groovy DSL.

org.springframework.cloud.contract.spec.Contract contractDsl = org.springframework.cloud.contract.spec.Contract.make {
	request {
		method "PUT"
		url "/multipart"
		headers {
			contentType('multipart/form-data;boundary=AaB03x')
		}
		multipart(
				// key (parameter name), value (parameter value) pair
				formParameter: $(c(regex('".+"')), p('"formParameterValue"')),
				someBooleanParameter: $(c(regex(anyBoolean())), p('true')),
				// a named parameter (e.g. with `file` name) that represents file with
				// `name` and `content`. You can also call `named("fileName", "fileContent")`
				file: named(
						// name of the file
						name: $(c(regex(nonEmpty())), p('filename.csv')),
						// content of the file
						content: $(c(regex(nonEmpty())), p('file content')),
						// content type for the part
						contentType: $(c(regex(nonEmpty())), p('application/json')))
		)
	}
	response {
		status OK()
	}
}
org.springframework.cloud.contract.spec.Contract contractDsl = org.springframework.cloud.contract.spec.Contract.make {
	request {
		method "PUT"
		url "/multipart"
		headers {
			contentType('multipart/form-data;boundary=AaB03x')
		}
		multipart(
				file: named(
						name: value(stub(regex('.+')), test('file')),
						content: value(stub(regex('.+')), test([100, 117, 100, 97] as byte[]))
				)
		)
	}
	response {
		status 200
	}
}

YAML.

request:
  method: PUT
  url: /multipart
  headers:
    Content-Type: multipart/form-data;boundary=AaB03x
  multipart:
    params:
    # key (parameter name), value (parameter value) pair
      formParameter: '"formParameterValue"'
      someBooleanParameter: true
    named:
      - paramName: file
        fileName: filename.csv
        fileContent: file content
  matchers:
    multipart:
      params:
        - key: formParameter
          regex: ".+"
        - key: someBooleanParameter
          predefined: any_boolean
      named:
        - paramName: file
          fileName:
            predefined: non_empty
          fileContent:
            predefined: non_empty
response:
  status: 200

In the preceding example, we define parameters in either of two ways:

Groovy DSL

  • Directly, by using the map notation, where the value can be a dynamic property (such as formParameter: $(consumer(…), producer(…)) ).

  • By using the named(…) method that lets you set a named parameter. A named parameter can set a name and content . You can call it either via a method with two arguments, such as named("fileName", "fileContent") , or via a map notation, such as named(name: "fileName", content: "fileContent") .

YAML

  • The multipart parameters are set via multipart.params section

  • The named parameters (the fileName and fileContent for a given parameter name) can be set via the multipart.named section. That section contains the paramName (name of the parameter), fileName (name of the file), fileContent (content of the file) fields

  • The dynamic bits can be set via the matchers.multipart section

  • for parameters use the params section that can accept regex or a predefined regular expression

  • for named params use the named section where first you define the parameter name via paramName and then you can pass the parametrization of either fileName or fileContent via regex or a predefined regular expression

From this contract, the generated test is as follows:

// given:
 MockMvcRequestSpecification request = given()
   .header("Content-Type", "multipart/form-data;boundary=AaB03x")
   .param("formParameter", "\"formParameterValue\"")
   .param("someBooleanParameter", "true")
   .multiPart("file", "filename.csv", "file content".getBytes());

// when:
 ResponseOptions response = given().spec(request)
   .put("/multipart");

// then:
 assertThat(response.statusCode()).isEqualTo(200);

The WireMock stub is as follows:

'''
{
  "request" : {
	"url" : "/multipart",
	"method" : "PUT",
	"headers" : {
	  "Content-Type" : {
		"matches" : "multipart/form-data;boundary=AaB03x.*"
	  }
	},
	"bodyPatterns" : [ {
		"matches" : ".*--(.*)\\r\\nContent-Disposition: form-data; name=\\"formParameter\\"\\r\\n(Content-Type: .*\\r\\n)?(Content-Transfer-Encoding: .*\\r\\n)?(Content-Length: \\\\d+\\r\\n)?\\r\\n\\".+\\"\\r\\n--\\\\1.*"
  		}, {
    			"matches" : ".*--(.*)\\r\\nContent-Disposition: form-data; name=\\"someBooleanParameter\\"\\r\\n(Content-Type: .*\\r\\n)?(Content-Transfer-Encoding: .*\\r\\n)?(Content-Length: \\\\d+\\r\\n)?\\r\\n(true|false)\\r\\n--\\\\1.*"
  		}, {
	  "matches" : ".*--(.*)\\r\\nContent-Disposition: form-data; name=\\"file\\"; filename=\\"[\\\\S\\\\s]+\\"\\r\\n(Content-Type: .*\\r\\n)?(Content-Transfer-Encoding: .*\\r\\n)?(Content-Length: \\\\d+\\r\\n)?\\r\\n[\\\\S\\\\s]+\\r\\n--\\\\1.*"
	} ]
  },
  "response" : {
	"status" : 200,
	"transformers" : [ "response-template", "foo-transformer" ]
  }
}
	'''

95.4 Response

The response must contain an HTTP status code and may contain other information. The following code shows an example:

Groovy DSL.

org.springframework.cloud.contract.spec.Contract.make {
	request {
		//...
	}
	response {
		// Status code sent by the server
		// in response to request specified above.
		status OK()
	}
}

YAML.

response:
...
status: 200

Besides status, the response may contain headers , cookies and a body , both of which are specified the same way as in the request (see the previous paragraph).

Via the Groovy DSL you can reference the org.springframework.cloud.contract.spec.internal.HttpStatus methods to provide a meaningful status instead of a digit. E.g. you can call OK() for a status 200 or BAD_REQUEST() for 400 .

95.5 Dynamic properties

The contract can contain some dynamic properties: timestamps, IDs, and so on. You do not want to force the consumers to stub their clocks to always return the same value of time so that it gets matched by the stub.

For Groovy DSL you can provide the dynamic parts in your contracts in two ways: pass them directly in the body or set them in a separate section called bodyMatchers .

Before 2.0.0 these were set using testMatchers and stubMatchers , check out the migration guide for more information.

For YAML you can only use the matchers section.

95.5.1 Dynamic properties inside the body

This section is valid only for Groovy DSL. Check out the Section 95.5.7, “Dynamic Properties in the Matchers Sections” section for YAML examples of a similar feature.

You can set the properties inside the body either with the value method or, if you use the Groovy map notation, with $() . The following example shows how to set dynamic properties with the value method:

value(consumer(...), producer(...))
value(c(...), p(...))
value(stub(...), test(...))
value(client(...), server(...))

The following example shows how to set dynamic properties with $() :

$(consumer(...), producer(...))
$(c(...), p(...))
$(stub(...), test(...))
$(client(...), server(...))

Both approaches work equally well. stub and client methods are aliases over the consumer method. Subsequent sections take a closer look at what you can do with those values.

95.5.2 Regular expressions

This section is valid only for Groovy DSL. Check out the Section 95.5.7, “Dynamic Properties in the Matchers Sections” section for YAML examples of a similar feature.

You can use regular expressions to write your requests in Contract DSL. Doing so is particularly useful when you want to indicate that a given response should be provided for requests that follow a given pattern. Also, you can use regular expressions when you need to use patterns and not exact values both for your test and your server side tests.

The following example shows how to use regular expressions to write a request:

org.springframework.cloud.contract.spec.Contract.make {
	request {
		method('GET')
		url $(consumer(~/\/[0-9]{2}/), producer('/12'))
	}
	response {
		status OK()
		body(
				id: $(anyNumber()),
				surname: $(
						consumer('Kowalsky'),
						producer(regex('[a-zA-Z]+'))
				),
				name: 'Jan',
				created: $(consumer('2014-02-02 12:23:43'), producer(execute('currentDate(it)'))),
				correlationId: value(consumer('5d1f9fef-e0dc-4f3d-a7e4-72d2220dd827'),
						producer(regex('[a-fA-F0-9]{8}-[a-fA-F0-9]{4}-[a-fA-F0-9]{4}-[a-fA-F0-9]{4}-[a-fA-F0-9]{12}'))
				)
		)
		headers {
			header 'Content-Type': 'text/plain'
		}
	}
}

You can also provide only one side of the communication with a regular expression. If you do so, then the contract engine automatically provides the generated string that matches the provided regular expression. The following code shows an example:

org.springframework.cloud.contract.spec.Contract.make {
	request {
		method 'PUT'
		url value(consumer(regex('/foo/[0-9]{5}')))
		body([
			requestElement: $(consumer(regex('[0-9]{5}')))
		])
		headers {
			header('header', $(consumer(regex('application\\/vnd\\.fraud\\.v1\\+json;.*'))))
		}
	}
	response {
		status OK()
		body([
			responseElement: $(producer(regex('[0-9]{7}')))
		])
		headers {
			contentType("application/vnd.fraud.v1+json")
		}
	}
}

In the preceding example, the opposite side of the communication has the respective data generated for request and response.

Spring Cloud Contract comes with a series of predefined regular expressions that you can use in your contracts, as shown in the following example:

protected static final Pattern TRUE_OR_FALSE = Pattern.compile(/(true|false)/)
protected static final Pattern ALPHA_NUMERIC = Pattern.compile('[a-zA-Z0-9]+')
protected static final Pattern ONLY_ALPHA_UNICODE = Pattern.compile(/[\p{L}]*/)
protected static final Pattern NUMBER = Pattern.compile('-?(\\d*\\.\\d+|\\d+)')
protected static final Pattern INTEGER = Pattern.compile('-?(\\d+)')
protected static final Pattern POSITIVE_INT = Pattern.compile('([1-9]\\d*)')
protected static final Pattern DOUBLE = Pattern.compile('-?(\\d*\\.\\d+)')
protected static final Pattern HEX = Pattern.compile('[a-fA-F0-9]+')
protected static final Pattern IP_ADDRESS = Pattern.compile('([01]?\\d\\d?|2[0-4]\\d|25[0-5])\\.([01]?\\d\\d?|2[0-4]\\d|25[0-5])\\.([01]?\\d\\d?|2[0-4]\\d|25[0-5])\\.([01]?\\d\\d?|2[0-4]\\d|25[0-5])')
protected static final Pattern HOSTNAME_PATTERN = Pattern.compile('((http[s]?|ftp):/)/?([^:/\\s]+)(:[0-9]{1,5})?')
protected static final Pattern EMAIL = Pattern.compile('[a-zA-Z0-9._%+-][emailprotected][a-zA-Z0-9.-]+\\.[a-zA-Z]{2,6}')
protected static final Pattern URL = UrlHelper.URL
protected static final Pattern HTTPS_URL = UrlHelper.HTTPS_URL
protected static final Pattern UUID = Pattern.compile('[a-f0-9]{8}-[a-f0-9]{4}-[a-f0-9]{4}-[a-f0-9]{4}-[a-f0-9]{12}')
protected static final Pattern ANY_DATE = Pattern.compile('(\\d\\d\\d\\d)-(0[1-9]|1[012])-(0[1-9]|[12][0-9]|3[01])')
protected static final Pattern ANY_DATE_TIME = Pattern.compile('([0-9]{4})-(1[0-2]|0[1-9])-(3[01]|0[1-9]|[12][0-9])T(2[0-3]|[01][0-9]):([0-5][0-9]):([0-5][0-9])')
protected static final Pattern ANY_TIME = Pattern.compile('(2[0-3]|[01][0-9]):([0-5][0-9]):([0-5][0-9])')
protected static final Pattern NON_EMPTY = Pattern.compile(/[\S\s]+/)
protected static final Pattern NON_BLANK = Pattern.compile(/^\s*\S[\S\s]*/)
protected static final Pattern ISO8601_WITH_OFFSET = Pattern.compile(/([0-9]{4})-(1[0-2]|0[1-9])-(3[01]|0[1-9]|[12][0-9])T(2[0-3]|[01][0-9]):([0-5][0-9]):([0-5][0-9])(\.\d{3})?(Z|[+-][01]\d:[0-5]\d)/)

protected static Pattern anyOf(String... values){
	return Pattern.compile(values.collect({"^$it\$"}).join("|"))
}

Pattern onlyAlphaUnicode() {
	return ONLY_ALPHA_UNICODE
}

Pattern alphaNumeric() {
	return ALPHA_NUMERIC
}

Pattern number() {
	return NUMBER
}

Pattern positiveInt() {
	return POSITIVE_INT
}

Pattern anyBoolean() {
	return TRUE_OR_FALSE
}

Pattern anInteger() {
	return INTEGER
}

Pattern aDouble() {
	return DOUBLE
}

Pattern ipAddress() {
	return IP_ADDRESS
}

Pattern hostname() {
	return HOSTNAME_PATTERN
}

Pattern email() {
	return EMAIL
}

Pattern url() {
	return URL
}

Pattern httpsUrl() {
	return HTTPS_URL
}

Pattern uuid(){
	return UUID
}

Pattern isoDate() {
	return ANY_DATE
}

Pattern isoDateTime() {
	return ANY_DATE_TIME
}

Pattern isoTime() {
	return ANY_TIME
}

Pattern iso8601WithOffset() {
	return ISO8601_WITH_OFFSET
}

Pattern nonEmpty() {
	return NON_EMPTY
}

Pattern nonBlank() {
	return NON_BLANK
}

In your contract, you can use it as shown in the following example:

Contract dslWithOptionalsInString = Contract.make {
	priority 1
	request {
		method POST()
		url '/users/password'
		headers {
			contentType(applicationJson())
		}
		body(
				email: $(consumer(optional(regex(email()))), producer('[emailprotected]')),
				callback_url: $(consumer(regex(hostname())), producer('http://partners.com'))
		)
	}
	response {
		status 404
		headers {
			contentType(applicationJson())
		}
		body(
				code: value(consumer("123123"), producer(optional("123123"))),
				message: "User not found by email = [${value(producer(regex(email())), consumer('[emailprotected]'))}]"
		)
	}
}

95.5.3 Passing Optional Parameters

This section is valid only for Groovy DSL. Check out the Section 95.5.7, “Dynamic Properties in the Matchers Sections” section for YAML examples of a similar feature.

It is possible to provide optional parameters in your contract. However, you can provide optional parameters only for the following:

  • STUB side of the Request

  • TEST side of the Response

The following example shows how to provide optional parameters:

org.springframework.cloud.contract.spec.Contract.make {
	priority 1
	request {
		method 'POST'
		url '/users/password'
		headers {
			contentType(applicationJson())
		}
		body(
				email: $(consumer(optional(regex(email()))), producer('[emailprotected]')),
				callback_url: $(consumer(regex(hostname())), producer('http://partners.com'))
		)
	}
	response {
		status 404
		headers {
			header 'Content-Type': 'application/json'
		}
		body(
				code: value(consumer("123123"), producer(optional("123123")))
		)
	}
}

By wrapping a part of the body with the optional() method, you create a regular expression that must be present 0 or more times.

If you use Spock for, the following test would be generated from the previous example:

"""
 given:
  def request = given()
    .header("Content-Type", "application/json")
    .body('''{"email":"[emailprotected]","callback_url":"http://partners.com"}''')

 when:
  def response = given().spec(request)
    .post("/users/password")

 then:
  response.statusCode == 404
  response.header('Content-Type')  == 'application/json'
 and:
  DocumentContext parsedJson = JsonPath.parse(response.body.asString())
  assertThatJson(parsedJson).field("['code']").matches("(123123)?")
"""

The following stub would also be generated:

'''
{
  "request" : {
	"url" : "/users/password",
	"method" : "POST",
	"bodyPatterns" : [ {
	  "matchesJsonPath" : "$[?(@.['email'] =~ /([a-zA-Z0-9._%+-][emailprotected][a-zA-Z0-9.-]+\\\\.[a-zA-Z]{2,6})?/)]"
	}, {
	  "matchesJsonPath" : "$[?(@.['callback_url'] =~ /((http[s]?|ftp):\\\\/)\\\\/?([^:\\\\/\\\\s]+)(:[0-9]{1,5})?/)]"
	} ],
	"headers" : {
	  "Content-Type" : {
		"equalTo" : "application/json"
	  }
	}
  },
  "response" : {
	"status" : 404,
	"body" : "{\\"code\\":\\"123123\\",\\"message\\":\\"User not found by email == [[email protected]]\\"}",
	"headers" : {
	  "Content-Type" : "application/json"
	}
  },
  "priority" : 1
}
'''

95.5.4 Executing Custom Methods on the Server Side

This section is valid only for Groovy DSL. Check out the Section 95.5.7, “Dynamic Properties in the Matchers Sections” section for YAML examples of a similar feature.

You can define a method call that executes on the server side during the test. Such a method can be added to the class defined as "baseClassForTests" in the configuration. The following code shows an example of the contract portion of the test case:

org.springframework.cloud.contract.spec.Contract.make {
	request {
		method 'PUT'
		url $(consumer(regex('^/api/[0-9]{2}$')), producer('/api/12'))
		headers {
			header 'Content-Type': 'application/json'
		}
		body '''\
				[{
					"text": "Gonna see you at Warsaw"
				}]
			'''
	}
	response {
		body (
				path: $(consumer('/api/12'), producer(regex('^/api/[0-9]{2}$'))),
				correlationId: $(consumer('1223456'), producer(execute('isProperCorrelationId($it)')))
		)
		status OK()
	}
}

The following code shows the base class portion of the test case:

abstract class BaseMockMvcSpec extends Specification {

	def setup() {
		RestAssuredMockMvc.standaloneSetup(new PairIdController())
	}

	void isProperCorrelationId(Integer correlationId) {
		assert correlationId == 123456
	}

	void isEmpty(String value) {
		assert value == null
	}

}

You cannot use both a String and execute to perform concatenation. For example, calling header('Authorization', 'Bearer ' + execute('authToken()')) leads to improper results. Instead, call header('Authorization', execute('authToken()')) and ensure that the authToken() method returns everything you need.

The type of the object read from the JSON can be one of the following, depending on the JSON path:

  • String : If you point to a String value in the JSON.

  • JSONArray : If you point to a List in the JSON.

  • Map : If you point to a Map in the JSON.

  • Number : If you point to Integer , Double etc. in the JSON.

  • Boolean : If you point to a Boolean in the JSON.

In the request part of the contract, you can specify that the body should be taken from a method.

You must provide both the consumer and the producer side. The execute part is applied for the whole body - not for parts of it.

The following example shows how to read an object from JSON:

Contract contractDsl = Contract.make {
	request {
		method 'GET'
		url '/something'
		body(
				$(c("foo"), p(execute("hashCode()")))
		)
	}
	response {
		status OK()
	}
}

The preceding example results in calling the hashCode() method in the request body. It should resemble the following code:

// given:
 MockMvcRequestSpecification request = given()
   .body(hashCode());

// when:
 ResponseOptions response = given().spec(request)
   .get("/something");

// then:
 assertThat(response.statusCode()).isEqualTo(200);

95.5.5 Referencing the Request from the Response

The best situation is to provide fixed values, but sometimes you need to reference a request in your response.

If you’re writing contracts using Groovy DSL, you can use the fromRequest() method, which lets you reference a bunch of elements from the HTTP request. You can use the following options:

  • fromRequest().url() : Returns the request URL and query parameters.

  • fromRequest().query(String key) : Returns the first query parameter with a given name.

  • fromRequest().query(String key, int index) : Returns the nth query parameter with a given name.

  • fromRequest().path() : Returns the full path.

  • fromRequest().path(int index) : Returns the nth path element.

  • fromRequest().header(String key) : Returns the first header with a given name.

  • fromRequest().header(String key, int index) : Returns the nth header with a given name.

  • fromRequest().body() : Returns the full request body.

  • fromRequest().body(String jsonPath) : Returns the element from the request that matches the JSON Path.

If you’re using the YAML contract definition you have to use the Handlebars {{{ }}} notation with custom, Spring Cloud Contract functions to achieve this.

  • {{{ request.url }}} : Returns the request URL and query parameters.

  • {{{ request.query.key.[index] }}} : Returns the nth query parameter with a given name. E.g. for key foo , first entry {{{ request.query.foo.[0] }}}

  • {{{ request.path }}} : Returns the full path.

  • {{{ request.path.[index] }}} : Returns the nth path element. E.g. for first entry ``` {{{ request.path.[0] }}}

  • {{{ request.headers.key }}} : Returns the first header with a given name.

  • {{{ request.headers.key.[index] }}} : Returns the nth header with a given name.

  • {{{ request.body }}} : Returns the full request body.

  • {{{ jsonpath this 'your.json.path' }}} : Returns the element from the request that matches the JSON Path. E.g. for json path $.foo - {{{ jsonpath this '$.foo' }}}

Consider the following contract:

Groovy DSL.

Contract contractDsl = Contract.make {
	request {
		method 'GET'
		url('/api/v1/xxxx') {
			queryParameters {
				parameter("foo", "bar")
				parameter("foo", "bar2")
			}
		}
		headers {
			header(authorization(), "secret")
			header(authorization(), "secret2")
		}
		body(foo: "bar", baz: 5)
	}
	response {
		status OK()
		headers {
			header(authorization(), "foo ${fromRequest().header(authorization())} bar")
		}
		body(
				url: fromRequest().url(),
				path: fromRequest().path(),
				pathIndex: fromRequest().path(1),
				param: fromRequest().query("foo"),
				paramIndex: fromRequest().query("foo", 1),
				authorization: fromRequest().header("Authorization"),
				authorization2: fromRequest().header("Authorization", 1),
				fullBody: fromRequest().body(),
				responseFoo: fromRequest().body('$.foo'),
				responseBaz: fromRequest().body('$.baz'),
				responseBaz2: "Bla bla ${fromRequest().body('$.foo')} bla bla"
		)
	}
}
Contract contractDsl = Contract.make {
	request {
		method 'GET'
		url('/api/v1/xxxx') {
			queryParameters {
				parameter("foo", "bar")
				parameter("foo", "bar2")
			}
		}
		headers {
			header(authorization(), "secret")
			header(authorization(), "secret2")
		}
		body(foo: "bar", baz: 5)
	}
	response {
		status OK()
		headers {
			contentType(applicationJson())
		}
		body('''
				{
					"responseFoo": "{{{ jsonPath request.body '$.foo' }}}",
					"responseBaz": {{{ jsonPath request.body '$.baz' }}},
					"responseBaz2": "Bla bla {{{ jsonPath request.body '$.foo' }}} bla bla"
				}
		'''.toString())
	}
}

YAML.

request:
  method: GET
  url: /api/v1/xxxx
  queryParameters:
    foo:
      - bar
      - bar2
  headers:
    Authorization:
      - secret
      - secret2
  body:
    foo: bar
    baz: 5
response:
  status: 200
  headers:
    Authorization: "foo {{{ request.headers.Authorization.0 }}} bar"
  body:
    url: "{{{ request.url }}}"
    path: "{{{ request.path }}}"
    pathIndex: "{{{ request.path.1 }}}"
    param: "{{{ request.query.foo }}}"
    paramIndex: "{{{ request.query.foo.1 }}}"
    authorization: "{{{ request.headers.Authorization.0 }}}"
    authorization2: "{{{ request.headers.Authorization.1 }}"
    fullBody: "{{{ request.body }}}"
    responseFoo: "{{{ jsonpath this '$.foo' }}}"
    responseBaz: "{{{ jsonpath this '$.baz' }}}"
    responseBaz2: "Bla bla {{{ jsonpath this '$.foo' }}} bla bla"

Running a JUnit test generation leads to a test that resembles the following example:

// given:
 MockMvcRequestSpecification request = given()
   .header("Authorization", "secret")
   .header("Authorization", "secret2")
   .body("{\"foo\":\"bar\",\"baz\":5}");

// when:
 ResponseOptions response = given().spec(request)
   .queryParam("foo","bar")
   .queryParam("foo","bar2")
   .get("/api/v1/xxxx");

// then:
 assertThat(response.statusCode()).isEqualTo(200);
 assertThat(response.header("Authorization")).isEqualTo("foo secret bar");
// and:
 DocumentContext parsedJson = JsonPath.parse(response.getBody().asString());
 assertThatJson(parsedJson).field("['fullBody']").isEqualTo("{\"foo\":\"bar\",\"baz\":5}");
 assertThatJson(parsedJson).field("['authorization']").isEqualTo("secret");
 assertThatJson(parsedJson).field("['authorization2']").isEqualTo("secret2");
 assertThatJson(parsedJson).field("['path']").isEqualTo("/api/v1/xxxx");
 assertThatJson(parsedJson).field("['param']").isEqualTo("bar");
 assertThatJson(parsedJson).field("['paramIndex']").isEqualTo("bar2");
 assertThatJson(parsedJson).field("['pathIndex']").isEqualTo("v1");
 assertThatJson(parsedJson).field("['responseBaz']").isEqualTo(5);
 assertThatJson(parsedJson).field("['responseFoo']").isEqualTo("bar");
 assertThatJson(parsedJson).field("['url']").isEqualTo("/api/v1/xxxx?foo=bar&foo=bar2");
 assertThatJson(parsedJson).field("['responseBaz2']").isEqualTo("Bla bla bar bla bla");

As you can see, elements from the request have been properly referenced in the response.

The generated WireMock stub should resemble the following example:

{
  "request" : {
    "urlPath" : "/api/v1/xxxx",
    "method" : "POST",
    "headers" : {
      "Authorization" : {
        "equalTo" : "secret2"
      }
    },
    "queryParameters" : {
      "foo" : {
        "equalTo" : "bar2"
      }
    },
    "bodyPatterns" : [ {
      "matchesJsonPath" : "$[?(@.['baz'] == 5)]"
    }, {
      "matchesJsonPath" : "$[?(@.['foo'] == 'bar')]"
    } ]
  },
  "response" : {
    "status" : 200,
    "body" : "{\"authorization\":\"{{{request.headers.Authorization.[0]}}}\",\"path\":\"{{{request.path}}}\",\"responseBaz\":{{{jsonpath this '$.baz'}}} ,\"param\":\"{{{request.query.foo.[0]}}}\",\"pathIndex\":\"{{{request.path.[1]}}}\",\"responseBaz2\":\"Bla bla {{{jsonpath this '$.foo'}}} bla bla\",\"responseFoo\":\"{{{jsonpath this '$.foo'}}}\",\"authorization2\":\"{{{request.headers.Authorization.[1]}}}\",\"fullBody\":\"{{{escapejsonbody}}}\",\"url\":\"{{{request.url}}}\",\"paramIndex\":\"{{{request.query.foo.[1]}}}\"}",
    "headers" : {
      "Authorization" : "{{{request.headers.Authorization.[0]}}};foo"
    },
    "transformers" : [ "response-template" ]
  }
}

Sending a request such as the one presented in the request part of the contract results in sending the following response body:

{
  "url" : "/api/v1/xxxx?foo=bar&foo=bar2",
  "path" : "/api/v1/xxxx",
  "pathIndex" : "v1",
  "param" : "bar",
  "paramIndex" : "bar2",
  "authorization" : "secret",
  "authorization2" : "secret2",
  "fullBody" : "{\"foo\":\"bar\",\"baz\":5}",
  "responseFoo" : "bar",
  "responseBaz" : 5,
  "responseBaz2" : "Bla bla bar bla bla"
}

This feature works only with WireMock having a version greater than or equal to 2.5.1. The Spring Cloud Contract Verifier uses WireMock’s response-template response transformer. It uses Handlebars to convert the Mustache {{{ }}} templates into proper values. Additionally, it registers two helper functions:

  • escapejsonbody : Escapes the request body in a format that can be embedded in a JSON.

  • jsonpath : For a given parameter, find an object in the request body.

95.5.6 Registering Your Own WireMock Extension

WireMock lets you register custom extensions. By default, Spring Cloud Contract registers the transformer, which lets you reference a request from a response. If you want to provide your own extensions, you can register an implementation of the org.springframework.cloud.contract.verifier.dsl.wiremock.WireMockExtensions interface. Since we use the spring.factories extension approach, you can create an entry in META-INF/spring.factories file similar to the following:

org.springframework.cloud.contract.verifier.dsl.wiremock.WireMockExtensions=\
org.springframework.cloud.contract.stubrunner.provider.wiremock.TestWireMockExtensions
org.springframework.cloud.contract.spec.ContractConverter=\
org.springframework.cloud.contract.stubrunner.TestCustomYamlContractConverter

The following is an example of a custom extension:

TestWireMockExtensions.groovy.

package org.springframework.cloud.contract.verifier.dsl.wiremock

import com.github.tomakehurst.wiremock.extension.Extension

/**
 * Extension that registers the default transformer and the custom one
 */
class TestWireMockExtensions implements WireMockExtensions {
	@Override
	List<Extension> extensions() {
		return [
				new DefaultResponseTransformer(),
				new CustomExtension()
		]
	}
}

class CustomExtension implements Extension {

	@Override
	String getName() {
		return "foo-transformer"
	}
}

Remember to override the applyGlobally() method and set it to false if you want the transformation to be applied only for a mapping that explicitly requires it.

95.5.7 Dynamic Properties in the Matchers Sections

If you work with Pact , the following discussion may seem familiar. Quite a few users are used to having a separation between the body and setting the dynamic parts of a contract.

You can use the bodyMatchers section for two reasons:

  • Define the dynamic values that should end up in a stub. You can set it in the request or inputMessage part of your contract.

  • Verify the result of your test. This section is present in the response or outputMessage side of the contract.

Currently, Spring Cloud Contract Verifier supports only JSON Path-based matchers with the following matching possibilities:

Groovy DSL

  • For the stubs(in tests on the Consumer’s side):

  • byEquality() : The value taken from the consumer’s request via the provided JSON Path must be equal to the value provided in the contract.

  • byRegex(…) : The value taken from the consumer’s request via the provided JSON Path must match the regex.

  • byDate() : The value taken from the consumer’s request via the provided JSON Path must match the regex for an ISO Date value.

  • byTimestamp() : The value taken from the consumer’s request via the provided JSON Path must match the regex for an ISO DateTime value.

  • byTime() : The value taken from the consumer’s request via the provided JSON Path must match the regex for an ISO Time value.

  • For the verification(in generated tests on the Producer’s side):

  • byEquality() : The value taken from the producer’s response via the provided JSON Path must be equal to the provided value in the contract.

  • byRegex(…) : The value taken from the producer’s response via the provided JSON Path must match the regex.

  • byDate() : The value taken from the producer’s response via the provided JSON Path must match the regex for an ISO Date value.

  • byTimestamp() : The value taken from the producer’s response via the provided JSON Path must match the regex for an ISO DateTime value.

  • byTime() : The value taken from the producer’s response via the provided JSON Path must match the regex for an ISO Time value.

  • byType() : The value taken from the producer’s response via the provided JSON Path needs to be of the same type as the type defined in the body of the response in the contract. byType can take a closure, in which you can set minOccurrence and maxOccurrence . That way, you can assert the size of the flattened collection. To check the size of an unflattened collection, use a custom method with the byCommand(…) testMatcher.

  • byCommand(…) : The value taken from the producer’s response via the provided JSON Path is passed as an input to the custom method that you provide. For example, byCommand('foo($it)') results in calling a foo method to which the value matching the JSON Path gets passed. The type of the object read from the JSON can be one of the following, depending on the JSON path:

  • String : If you point to a String value.

  • JSONArray : If you point to a List .

  • Map : If you point to a Map .

  • Number : If you point to Integer , Double , or other kind of number.

  • Boolean : If you point to a Boolean .

  • byNull() : The value taken from the response via the provided JSON Path must be null

YAML. Please read the Groovy section for detailed explanation of what the types mean

For YAML the structure of a matcher looks like this

- path: $.foo
  type: by_regex
  value: bar

Or if you want to use one of the predefined regular expressions [only_alpha_unicode, number, any_boolean, ip_address, hostname, email, url, uuid, iso_date, iso_date_time, iso_time, iso_8601_with_offset, non_empty, non_blank] :

- path: $.foo
  type: by_regex
  predefined: only_alpha_unicode

Below you can find the allowed list of types.

  • For stubMatchers :

  • by_equality

  • by_regex

  • by_date

  • by_timestamp

  • by_time

  • For testMatchers :

  • by_equality

  • by_regex

  • by_date

  • by_timestamp

  • by_time

  • by_type

  • there are 2 additional fields accepted: minOccurrence and maxOccurrence .

  • by_command

  • by_null

Consider the following example:

Groovy DSL.

Contract contractDsl = Contract.make {
	request {
		method 'GET'
		urlPath '/get'
		body([
				duck: 123,
				alpha: "abc",
				number: 123,
				aBoolean: true,
				date: "2017-01-01",
				dateTime: "2017-01-01T01:23:45",
				time: "01:02:34",
				valueWithoutAMatcher: "foo",
				valueWithTypeMatch: "string",
				key: [
						'complex.key' : 'foo'
				]
		])
		bodyMatchers {
			jsonPath('$.duck', byRegex("[0-9]{3}"))
			jsonPath('$.duck', byEquality())
			jsonPath('$.alpha', byRegex(onlyAlphaUnicode()))
			jsonPath('$.alpha', byEquality())
			jsonPath('$.number', byRegex(number()))
			jsonPath('$.aBoolean', byRegex(anyBoolean()))
			jsonPath('$.date', byDate())
			jsonPath('$.dateTime', byTimestamp())
			jsonPath('$.time', byTime())
			jsonPath("\$.['key'].['complex.key']", byEquality())
		}
		headers {
			contentType(applicationJson())
		}
	}
	response {
		status OK()
		body([
				duck: 123,
				alpha: "abc",
				number: 123,
				positiveInteger: 1234567890,
				negativeInteger: -1234567890,
				positiveDecimalNumber: 123.4567890,
				negativeDecimalNumber: -123.4567890,
				aBoolean: true,
				date: "2017-01-01",
				dateTime: "2017-01-01T01:23:45",
				time: "01:02:34",
				valueWithoutAMatcher: "foo",
				valueWithTypeMatch: "string",
				valueWithMin: [
					1,2,3
				],
				valueWithMax: [
					1,2,3
				],
				valueWithMinMax: [
					1,2,3
				],
				valueWithMinEmpty: [],
				valueWithMaxEmpty: [],
				key: [
				        'complex.key' : 'foo'
				],
				nullValue: null
		])
		bodyMatchers {
			// asserts the jsonpath value against manual regex
			jsonPath('$.duck', byRegex("[0-9]{3}"))
			// asserts the jsonpath value against the provided value
			jsonPath('$.duck', byEquality())
			// asserts the jsonpath value against some default regex
			jsonPath('$.alpha', byRegex(onlyAlphaUnicode()))
			jsonPath('$.alpha', byEquality())
			jsonPath('$.number', byRegex(number()))
			jsonPath('$.positiveInteger', byRegex(anInteger()))
			jsonPath('$.negativeInteger', byRegex(anInteger()))
			jsonPath('$.positiveDecimalNumber', byRegex(aDouble()))
			jsonPath('$.negativeDecimalNumber', byRegex(aDouble()))
			jsonPath('$.aBoolean', byRegex(anyBoolean()))
			// asserts vs inbuilt time related regex
			jsonPath('$.date', byDate())
			jsonPath('$.dateTime', byTimestamp())
			jsonPath('$.time', byTime())
			// asserts that the resulting type is the same as in response body
			jsonPath('$.valueWithTypeMatch', byType())
			jsonPath('$.valueWithMin', byType {
				// results in verification of size of array (min 1)
				minOccurrence(1)
			})
			jsonPath('$.valueWithMax', byType {
				// results in verification of size of array (max 3)
				maxOccurrence(3)
			})
			jsonPath('$.valueWithMinMax', byType {
				// results in verification of size of array (min 1 & max 3)
				minOccurrence(1)
				maxOccurrence(3)
			})
			jsonPath('$.valueWithMinEmpty', byType {
				// results in verification of size of array (min 0)
				minOccurrence(0)
			})
			jsonPath('$.valueWithMaxEmpty', byType {
				// results in verification of size of array (max 0)
				maxOccurrence(0)
			})
			// will execute a method `assertThatValueIsANumber`
			jsonPath('$.duck', byCommand('assertThatValueIsANumber($it)'))
			jsonPath("\$.['key'].['complex.key']", byEquality())
			jsonPath('$.nullValue', byNull())
		}
		headers {
			contentType(applicationJson())
			header('Some-Header', $(c('someValue'), p(regex('[a-zA-Z]{9}'))))
		}
	}
}

YAML.

request:
  method: GET
  urlPath: /get
  body:
    duck: 123
    alpha: "abc"
    number: 123
    aBoolean: true
    date: "2017-01-01"
    dateTime: "2017-01-01T01:23:45"
    time: "01:02:34"
    valueWithoutAMatcher: "foo"
    valueWithTypeMatch: "string"
    key:
      "complex.key": 'foo'
    nullValue: null
  matchers:
    headers:
      - key: Content-Type
        regex: "application/json.*"
    body:
      - path: $.duck
        type: by_regex
        value: "[0-9]{3}"
      - path: $.duck
        type: by_equality
      - path: $.alpha
        type: by_regex
        predefined: only_alpha_unicode
      - path: $.alpha
        type: by_equality
      - path: $.number
        type: by_regex
        predefined: number
      - path: $.aBoolean
        type: by_regex
        predefined: any_boolean
      - path: $.date
        type: by_date
      - path: $.dateTime
        type: by_timestamp
      - path: $.time
        type: by_time
      - path: "$.['key'].['complex.key']"
        type: by_equality
      - path: $.nullvalue
        type: by_null
  headers:
    Content-Type: application/json
response:
  status: 200
  body:
    duck: 123
    alpha: "abc"
    number: 123
    aBoolean: true
    date: "2017-01-01"
    dateTime: "2017-01-01T01:23:45"
    time: "01:02:34"
    valueWithoutAMatcher: "foo"
    valueWithTypeMatch: "string"
    valueWithMin:
      - 1
      - 2
      - 3
    valueWithMax:
      - 1
      - 2
      - 3
    valueWithMinMax:
      - 1
      - 2
      - 3
    valueWithMinEmpty: []
    valueWithMaxEmpty: []
    key:
      'complex.key' : 'foo'
    nulValue: null
  matchers:
    headers:
      - key: Content-Type
        regex: "application/json.*"
    body:
      - path: $.duck
        type: by_regex
        value: "[0-9]{3}"
      - path: $.duck
        type: by_equality
      - path: $.alpha
        type: by_regex
        predefined: only_alpha_unicode
      - path: $.alpha
        type: by_equality
      - path: $.number
        type: by_regex
        predefined: number
      - path: $.aBoolean
        type: by_regex
        predefined: any_boolean
      - path: $.date
        type: by_date
      - path: $.dateTime
        type: by_timestamp
      - path: $.time
        type: by_time
      - path: $.valueWithTypeMatch
        type: by_type
      - path: $.valueWithMin
        type: by_type
        minOccurrence: 1
      - path: $.valueWithMax
        type: by_type
        maxOccurrence: 3
      - path: $.valueWithMinMax
        type: by_type
        minOccurrence: 1
        maxOccurrence: 3
      - path: $.valueWithMinEmpty
        type: by_type
        minOccurrence: 0
      - path: $.valueWithMaxEmpty
        type: by_type
        maxOccurrence: 0
      - path: $.duck
        type: by_command
        value: assertThatValueIsANumber($it)
      - path: $.nullValue
        type: by_null
        value: null
  headers:
    Content-Type: application/json

In the preceding example, you can see the dynamic portions of the contract in the matchers sections. For the request part, you can see that, for all fields but valueWithoutAMatcher , the values of the regular expressions that the stub should contain are explicitly set. For the valueWithoutAMatcher , the verification takes place in the same way as without the use of matchers. In that case, the test performs an equality check.

For the response side in the bodyMatchers section, we define the dynamic parts in a similar manner. The only difference is that the byType matchers are also present. The verifier engine checks four fields to verify whether the response from the test has a value for which the JSON path matches the given field, is of the same type as the one defined in the response body, and passes the following check (based on the method being called):

  • For $.valueWithTypeMatch , the engine checks whether the type is the same.

  • For $.valueWithMin , the engine check the type and asserts whether the size is greater than or equal to the minimum occurrence.

  • For $.valueWithMax , the engine checks the type and asserts whether the size is smaller than or equal to the maximum occurrence.

  • For $.valueWithMinMax , the engine checks the type and asserts whether the size is between the min and maximum occurrence.

The resulting test would resemble the following example (note that an and section separates the autogenerated assertions and the assertion from matchers):

// given:
 MockMvcRequestSpecification request = given()
   .header("Content-Type", "application/json")
   .body("{\"duck\":123,\"alpha\":\"abc\",\"number\":123,\"aBoolean\":true,\"date\":\"2017-01-01\",\"dateTime\":\"2017-01-01T01:23:45\",\"time\":\"01:02:34\",\"valueWithoutAMatcher\":\"foo\",\"valueWithTypeMatch\":\"string\",\"key\":{\"complex.key\":\"foo\"}}");

// when:
 ResponseOptions response = given().spec(request)
   .get("/get");

// then:
 assertThat(response.statusCode()).isEqualTo(200);
 assertThat(response.header("Content-Type")).matches("application/json.*");
// and:
 DocumentContext parsedJson = JsonPath.parse(response.getBody().asString());
 assertThatJson(parsedJson).field("['valueWithoutAMatcher']").isEqualTo("foo");
// and:
 assertThat(parsedJson.read("$.duck", String.class)).matches("[0-9]{3}");
 assertThat(parsedJson.read("$.duck", Integer.class)).isEqualTo(123);
 assertThat(parsedJson.read("$.alpha", String.class)).matches("[\\p{L}]*");
 assertThat(parsedJson.read("$.alpha", String.class)).isEqualTo("abc");
 assertThat(parsedJson.read("$.number", String.class)).matches("-?(\\d*\\.\\d+|\\d+)");
 assertThat(parsedJson.read("$.aBoolean", String.class)).matches("(true|false)");
 assertThat(parsedJson.read("$.date", String.class)).matches("(\\d\\d\\d\\d)-(0[1-9]|1[012])-(0[1-9]|[12][0-9]|3[01])");
 assertThat(parsedJson.read("$.dateTime", String.class)).matches("([0-9]{4})-(1[0-2]|0[1-9])-(3[01]|0[1-9]|[12][0-9])T(2[0-3]|[01][0-9]):([0-5][0-9]):([0-5][0-9])");
 assertThat(parsedJson.read("$.time", String.class)).matches("(2[0-3]|[01][0-9]):([0-5][0-9]):([0-5][0-9])");
 assertThat((Object) parsedJson.read("$.valueWithTypeMatch")).isInstanceOf(java.lang.String.class);
 assertThat((Object) parsedJson.read("$.valueWithMin")).isInstanceOf(java.util.List.class);
 assertThat((java.lang.Iterable) parsedJson.read("$.valueWithMin", java.util.Collection.class)).as("$.valueWithMin").hasSizeGreaterThanOrEqualTo(1);
 assertThat((Object) parsedJson.read("$.valueWithMax")).isInstanceOf(java.util.List.class);
 assertThat((java.lang.Iterable) parsedJson.read("$.valueWithMax", java.util.Collection.class)).as("$.valueWithMax").hasSizeLessThanOrEqualTo(3);
 assertThat((Object) parsedJson.read("$.valueWithMinMax")).isInstanceOf(java.util.List.class);
 assertThat((java.lang.Iterable) parsedJson.read("$.valueWithMinMax", java.util.Collection.class)).as("$.valueWithMinMax").hasSizeBetween(1, 3);
 assertThat((Object) parsedJson.read("$.valueWithMinEmpty")).isInstanceOf(java.util.List.class);
 assertThat((java.lang.Iterable) parsedJson.read("$.valueWithMinEmpty", java.util.Collection.class)).as("$.valueWithMinEmpty").hasSizeGreaterThanOrEqualTo(0);
 assertThat((Object) parsedJson.read("$.valueWithMaxEmpty")).isInstanceOf(java.util.List.class);
 assertThat((java.lang.Iterable) parsedJson.read("$.valueWithMaxEmpty", java.util.Collection.class)).as("$.valueWithMaxEmpty").hasSizeLessThanOrEqualTo(0);
 assertThatValueIsANumber(parsedJson.read("$.duck"));
 assertThat(parsedJson.read("$.['key'].['complex.key']", String.class)).isEqualTo("foo");

Notice that, for the byCommand method, the example calls the assertThatValueIsANumber . This method must be defined in the test base class or be statically imported to your tests. Notice that the byCommand call was converted to assertThatValueIsANumber(parsedJson.read("$.duck")); . That means that the engine took the method name and passed the proper JSON path as a parameter to it.

The resulting WireMock stub is in the following example:

'''
{
  "request" : {
	"urlPath" : "/get",
	"method" : "POST",
	"headers" : {
	  "Content-Type" : {
		"matches" : "application/json.*"
	  }
	},
	"bodyPatterns" : [ {
	  "matchesJsonPath" : "$[?(@.['valueWithoutAMatcher'] == 'foo')]"
	}, {
	  "matchesJsonPath" : "$[?(@.['valueWithTypeMatch'] == 'string')]"
	}, {
	  "matchesJsonPath" : "$.['list'].['some'].['nested'][?(@.['anothervalue'] == 4)]"
	}, {
	  "matchesJsonPath" : "$.['list'].['someother'].['nested'][?(@.['anothervalue'] == 4)]"
	}, {
	  "matchesJsonPath" : "$.['list'].['someother'].['nested'][?(@.['json'] == 'with value')]"
	}, {
	  "matchesJsonPath" : "$[?(@.duck =~ /([0-9]{3})/)]"
	}, {
	  "matchesJsonPath" : "$[?(@.duck == 123)]"
	}, {
	  "matchesJsonPath" : "$[?(@.alpha =~ /([\\\\p{L}]*)/)]"
	}, {
	  "matchesJsonPath" : "$[?(@.alpha == 'abc')]"
	}, {
	  "matchesJsonPath" : "$[?(@.number =~ /(-?(\\\\d*\\\\.\\\\d+|\\\\d+))/)]"
	}, {
	  "matchesJsonPath" : "$[?(@.aBoolean =~ /((true|false))/)]"
	}, {
	  "matchesJsonPath" : "$[?(@.date =~ /((\\\\d\\\\d\\\\d\\\\d)-(0[1-9]|1[012])-(0[1-9]|[12][0-9]|3[01]))/)]"
	}, {
	  "matchesJsonPath" : "$[?(@.dateTime =~ /(([0-9]{4})-(1[0-2]|0[1-9])-(3[01]|0[1-9]|[12][0-9])T(2[0-3]|[01][0-9]):([0-5][0-9]):([0-5][0-9]))/)]"
	}, {
	  "matchesJsonPath" : "$[?(@.time =~ /((2[0-3]|[01][0-9]):([0-5][0-9]):([0-5][0-9]))/)]"
	}, {
	  "matchesJsonPath" : "$.list.some.nested[?(@.json =~ /(.*)/)]"
	} ]
  },
  "response" : {
	"status" : 200,
	"body" : "{\\"date\\":\\"2017-01-01\\",\\"dateTime\\":\\"2017-01-01T01:23:45\\",\\"number\\":123,\\"aBoolean\\":true,\\"duck\\":123,\\"alpha\\":\\"abc\\",\\"valueWithMin\\":[1,2,3],\\"time\\":\\"01:02:34\\",\\"valueWithTypeMatch\\":\\"string\\",\\"valueWithMax\\":[1,2,3],\\"valueWithMinMax\\":[1,2,3],\\"valueWithoutAMatcher\\":\\"foo\\"}",
	"headers" : {
	  "Content-Type" : "application/json"
	}
  }
}
'''

If you use a matcher , then the part of the request and response that the matcher addresses with the JSON Path gets removed from the assertion. In the case of verifying a collection, you must create matchers for all the elements of the collection.

Consider the following example:

Contract.make {
    request {
        method 'GET'
        url("/foo")
    }
    response {
        status OK()
        body(events: [[
                                 operation          : 'EXPORT',
                                 eventId            : '16f1ed75-0bcc-4f0d-a04d-3121798faf99',
                                 status             : 'OK'
                         ], [
                                 operation          : 'INPUT_PROCESSING',
                                 eventId            : '3bb4ac82-6652-462f-b6d1-75e424a0024a',
                                 status             : 'OK'
                         ]
                ]
        )
        bodyMatchers {
            jsonPath('$.events[0].operation', byRegex('.+'))
            jsonPath('$.events[0].eventId', byRegex('^([a-fA-F0-9]{8}-[a-fA-F0-9]{4}-[a-fA-F0-9]{4}-[a-fA-F0-9]{4}-[a-fA-F0-9]{12})$'))
            jsonPath('$.events[0].status', byRegex('.+'))
        }
    }
}

The preceding code leads to creating the following test (the code block shows only the assertion section):

and:
	DocumentContext parsedJson = JsonPath.parse(response.body.asString())
	assertThatJson(parsedJson).array("['events']").contains("['eventId']").isEqualTo("16f1ed75-0bcc-4f0d-a04d-3121798faf99")
	assertThatJson(parsedJson).array("['events']").contains("['operation']").isEqualTo("EXPORT")
	assertThatJson(parsedJson).array("['events']").contains("['operation']").isEqualTo("INPUT_PROCESSING")
	assertThatJson(parsedJson).array("['events']").contains("['eventId']").isEqualTo("3bb4ac82-6652-462f-b6d1-75e424a0024a")
	assertThatJson(parsedJson).array("['events']").contains("['status']").isEqualTo("OK")
and:
	assertThat(parsedJson.read("\$.events[0].operation", String.class)).matches(".+")
	assertThat(parsedJson.read("\$.events[0].eventId", String.class)).matches("^([a-fA-F0-9]{8}-[a-fA-F0-9]{4}-[a-fA-F0-9]{4}-[a-fA-F0-9]{4}-[a-fA-F0-9]{12})\$")
	assertThat(parsedJson.read("\$.events[0].status", String.class)).matches(".+")

As you can see, the assertion is malformed. Only the first element of the array got asserted. In order to fix this, you should apply the assertion to the whole $.events collection and assert it with the byCommand(…) method.

95.6 JAX-RS Support

The Spring Cloud Contract Verifier supports the JAX-RS 2 Client API. The base class needs to define protected WebTarget webTarget and server initialization. The only option for testing JAX-RS API is to start a web server. Also, a request with a body needs to have a content type set. Otherwise, the default of application/octet-stream gets used.

In order to use JAX-RS mode, use the following settings:

testMode == 'JAXRSCLIENT'

The following example shows a generated test API:

'''
 // when:
  Response response = webTarget
    .path("/users")
    .queryParam("limit", "10")
    .queryParam("offset", "20")
    .queryParam("filter", "email")
    .queryParam("sort", "name")
    .queryParam("search", "55")
    .queryParam("age", "99")
    .queryParam("name", "Denis.Stepanov")
    .queryParam("email", "[emailprotected]")
    .request()
    .method("GET");

  String responseAsString = response.readEntity(String.class);

 // then:
  assertThat(response.getStatus()).isEqualTo(200);
 // and:
  DocumentContext parsedJson = JsonPath.parse(responseAsString);
  assertThatJson(parsedJson).field("['property1']").isEqualTo("a");
'''

95.7 Async Support

If you’re using asynchronous communication on the server side (your controllers are returning Callable , DeferredResult , and so on), then, inside your contract, you must provide an async() method in the response section. The following code shows an example:

Groovy DSL.

org.springframework.cloud.contract.spec.Contract.make {
    request {
        method GET()
        url '/get'
    }
    response {
        status OK()
        body 'Passed'
        async()
    }
}

YAML.

response:
    async: true

95.8 Working with Context Paths

Spring Cloud Contract supports context paths.

The only change needed to fully support context paths is the switch on the PRODUCER side. Also, the autogenerated tests must use EXPLICIT mode. The consumer side remains untouched. In order for the generated test to pass, you must use EXPLICIT mode.

Maven.

<plugin>
    <groupId>org.springframework.cloud</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-cloud-contract-maven-plugin</artifactId>
    <version>${spring-cloud-contract.version}</version>
    <extensions>true</extensions>
    <configuration>
        <testMode>EXPLICIT</testMode>
    </configuration>
</plugin>

Gradle.

contracts {
		testMode = 'EXPLICIT'
}

That way, you generate a test that DOES NOT use MockMvc. It means that you generate real requests and you need to setup your generated test’s base class to work on a real socket.

Consider the following contract:

org.springframework.cloud.contract.spec.Contract.make {
	request {
		method 'GET'
		url '/my-context-path/url'
	}
	response {
		status OK()
	}
}

The following example shows how to set up a base class and Rest Assured:

import io.restassured.RestAssured;
import org.junit.Before;
import org.springframework.boot.web.server.LocalServerPort;
import org.springframework.boot.test.context.SpringBootTest;

@SpringBootTest(classes = ContextPathTestingBaseClass.class, webEnvironment = SpringBootTest.WebEnvironment.RANDOM_PORT)
class ContextPathTestingBaseClass {

	@LocalServerPort int port;

	@Before
	public void setup() {
		RestAssured.baseURI = "http://localhost";
		RestAssured.port = this.port;
	}
}

If you do it this way:

  • All of your requests in the autogenerated tests are sent to the real endpoint with your context path included (for example, /my-context-path/url ).

  • Your contracts reflect that you have a context path. Your generated stubs also have that information (for example, in the stubs, you have to call /my-context-path/url ).

95.9 Working with Web Flux

Spring Cloud Contract requires the usage of EXPLICIT mode in your generated tests to work with Web Flux.

Maven.

<plugin>
    <groupId>org.springframework.cloud</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-cloud-contract-maven-plugin</artifactId>
    <version>${spring-cloud-contract.version}</version>
    <extensions>true</extensions>
    <configuration>
        <testMode>EXPLICIT</testMode>
    </configuration>
</plugin>

Gradle.

contracts {
		testMode = 'EXPLICIT'
}

The following example shows how to set up a base class and Rest Assured for Web Flux:

@RunWith(SpringRunner.class)
@SpringBootTest(classes = BeerRestBase.Config.class,
		webEnvironment = SpringBootTest.WebEnvironment.RANDOM_PORT,
		properties = "server.port=0")
public abstract class BeerRestBase {

    // your tests go here

    // in this config class you define all controllers and mocked services
@Configuration
@EnableAutoConfiguration
static class Config {

	@Bean
	PersonCheckingService personCheckingService()  {
		return personToCheck -> personToCheck.age >= 20;
	}

	@Bean
	ProducerController producerController() {
		return new ProducerController(personCheckingService());
	}
}

}

95.10 Messaging Top-Level Elements

The DSL for messaging looks a little bit different than the one that focuses on HTTP. The following sections explain the differences:

95.10.1 Output Triggered by a Method

The output message can be triggered by calling a method (such as a Scheduler when a was started and a message was sent), as shown in the following example:

Groovy DSL.

def dsl = Contract.make {
	// Human readable description
	description 'Some description'
	// Label by means of which the output message can be triggered
	label 'some_label'
	// input to the contract
	input {
		// the contract will be triggered by a method
		triggeredBy('bookReturnedTriggered()')
	}
	// output message of the contract
	outputMessage {
		// destination to which the output message will be sent
		sentTo('output')
		// the body of the output message
		body('''{ "bookName" : "foo" }''')
		// the headers of the output message
		headers {
			header('BOOK-NAME', 'foo')
		}
	}
}

YAML.

# Human readable description
description: Some description
# Label by means of which the output message can be triggered
label: some_label
input:
  # the contract will be triggered by a method
  triggeredBy: bookReturnedTriggered()
# output message of the contract
outputMessage:
  # destination to which the output message will be sent
  sentTo: output
  # the body of the output message
  body:
    bookName: foo
  # the headers of the output message
  headers:
    BOOK-NAME: foo

In the previous example case, the output message is sent to output if a method called bookReturnedTriggered is executed. On the message publisher’s side, we generate a test that calls that method to trigger the message. On the consumer side, you can use the some_label to trigger the message.

95.10.2 Output Triggered by a Message

The output message can be triggered by receiving a message, as shown in the following example:

Groovy DSL.

def dsl = Contract.make {
	description 'Some Description'
	label 'some_label'
	// input is a message
	input {
		// the message was received from this destination
		messageFrom('input')
		// has the following body
		messageBody([
		        bookName: 'foo'
		])
		// and the following headers
		messageHeaders {
			header('sample', 'header')
		}
	}
	outputMessage {
		sentTo('output')
		body([
		        bookName: 'foo'
		])
		headers {
			header('BOOK-NAME', 'foo')
		}
	}
}

YAML.

# Human readable description
description: Some description
# Label by means of which the output message can be triggered
label: some_label
# input is a message
input:
  messageFrom: input
  # has the following body
  messageBody:
    bookName: 'foo'
  # and the following headers
  messageHeaders:
    sample: 'header'
# output message of the contract
outputMessage:
  # destination to which the output message will be sent
  sentTo: output
  # the body of the output message
  body:
    bookName: foo
  # the headers of the output message
  headers:
    BOOK-NAME: foo

In the preceding example, the output message is sent to output if a proper message is received on the input destination. On the message publisher’s side, the engine generates a test that sends the input message to the defined destination. On the consumer side, you can either send a message to the input destination or use a label ( some_label in the example) to trigger the message.

95.10.3 Consumer/Producer

This section is valid only for Groovy DSL.

In HTTP, you have a notion of client / stub andserver/testnotation. You can also use those paradigms in messaging. In addition, Spring Cloud Contract Verifier also provides theconsumerandproducermethods, as presented in the following example (note that you can use either$orvaluemethods to provideconsumerandproducer` parts):

Contract.make {
	label 'some_label'
	input {
		messageFrom value(consumer('jms:output'), producer('jms:input'))
		messageBody([
				bookName: 'foo'
		])
		messageHeaders {
			header('sample', 'header')
		}
	}
	outputMessage {
		sentTo $(consumer('jms:input'), producer('jms:output'))
		body([
				bookName: 'foo'
		])
	}
}

95.10.4 Common

In the input or outputMessage section you can call assertThat with the name of a method (e.g. assertThatMessageIsOnTheQueue() ) that you have defined in the base class or in a static import. Spring Cloud Contract will execute that method in the generated test.

95.11 Multiple Contracts in One File

You can define multiple contracts in one file. Such a contract might resemble the following example:

Groovy DSL.

import org.springframework.cloud.contract.spec.Contract

[
        Contract.make {
            name("should post a user")
            request {
                method 'POST'
                url('/users/1')
            }
            response {
                status OK()
            }
        },
        Contract.make {
            request {
                method 'POST'
                url('/users/2')
            }
            response {
                status OK()
            }
        }
]

YAML.

---
name: should post a user
request:
  method: POST
  url: /users/1
response:
  status: 200

---
request:
  method: POST
  url: /users/2
response:
  status: 200

In the preceding example, one contract has the name field and the other does not. This leads to generation of two tests that look more or less like this:

package org.springframework.cloud.contract.verifier.tests.com.hello;

import com.example.TestBase;
import com.jayway.jsonpath.DocumentContext;
import com.jayway.jsonpath.JsonPath;
import com.jayway.restassured.module.mockmvc.specification.MockMvcRequestSpecification;
import com.jayway.restassured.response.ResponseOptions;
import org.junit.Test;

import static com.jayway.restassured.module.mockmvc.RestAssuredMockMvc.*;
import static com.toomuchcoding.jsonassert.JsonAssertion.assertThatJson;
import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThat;

public class V1Test extends TestBase {

	@Test
	public void validate_should_post_a_user() throws Exception {
		// given:
			MockMvcRequestSpecification request = given();

		// when:
			ResponseOptions response = given().spec(request)
					.post("/users/1");

		// then:
			assertThat(response.statusCode()).isEqualTo(200);
	}

	@Test
	public void validate_withList_1() throws Exception {
		// given:
			MockMvcRequestSpecification request = given();

		// when:
			ResponseOptions response = given().spec(request)
					.post("/users/2");

		// then:
			assertThat(response.statusCode()).isEqualTo(200);
	}

}

Notice that, for the contract that has the name field, the generated test method is named validate_should_post_a_user . For the one that does not have the name, it is called validate_withList_1 . It corresponds to the name of the file WithList.groovy and the index of the contract in the list.

The generated stubs is shown in the following example:

should post a user.json
1_WithList.json

As you can see, the first file got the name parameter from the contract. The second got the name of the contract file ( WithList.groovy ) prefixed with the index (in this case, the contract had an index of 1 in the list of contracts in the file).

As you can see, it is much better if you name your contracts because doing so makes your tests far more meaningful.

95.12 Generating Spring REST Docs snippets from the contracts

When you want to include the requests and responses of your API using Spring REST Docs, you only need to make some minor changes to your setup if you are using MockMvc and RestAssuredMockMvc. Simply include the following dependencies if you haven’t already.

Maven.

<dependency>
	<groupId>org.springframework.cloud</groupId>
	<artifactId>spring-cloud-starter-contract-verifier</artifactId>
	<scope>test</scope>
</dependency>
<dependency>
	<groupId>org.springframework.restdocs</groupId>
	<artifactId>spring-restdocs-mockmvc</artifactId>
	<optional>true</optional>
</dependency>

Gradle.

testCompile 'org.springframework.cloud:spring-cloud-starter-contract-verifier'
testCompile 'org.springframework.restdocs:spring-restdocs-mockmvc'

Next you need to make some changes to your base class like the following example.

package com.example.fraud;

import io.restassured.module.mockmvc.RestAssuredMockMvc;

import org.junit.Before;
import org.junit.Rule;
import org.junit.rules.TestName;
import org.junit.runner.RunWith;

import org.springframework.beans.factory.annotation.Autowired;
import org.springframework.boot.test.context.SpringBootTest;
import org.springframework.restdocs.JUnitRestDocumentation;
import org.springframework.test.context.junit4.SpringRunner;
import org.springframework.test.web.servlet.setup.MockMvcBuilders;
import org.springframework.web.context.WebApplicationContext;

import static org.springframework.restdocs.mockmvc.MockMvcRestDocumentation.document;
import static org.springframework.restdocs.mockmvc.MockMvcRestDocumentation.documentationConfiguration;

@RunWith(SpringRunner.class)
@SpringBootTest(classes = Application.class)
public abstract class FraudBaseWithWebAppSetup {

	private static final String OUTPUT = "target/generated-snippets";

	@Rule
	public JUnitRestDocumentation restDocumentation = new JUnitRestDocumentation(OUTPUT);

	@Rule public TestName testName = new TestName();

	@Autowired
	private WebApplicationContext context;

	@Before
	public void setup() {
	RestAssuredMockMvc.mockMvc(MockMvcBuilders.webAppContextSetup(this.context)
			.apply(documentationConfiguration(this.restDocumentation))
			.alwaysDo(document(getClass().getSimpleName() + "_" + testName.getMethodName()))
			.build());
	}

	protected void assertThatRejectionReasonIsNull(Object rejectionReason) {
		assert rejectionReason == null;
	}
}

In case you are using the standalone setup, you can set up RestAssuredMockMvc like this:

package com.example.fraud;

import io.restassured.module.mockmvc.RestAssuredMockMvc;
import org.junit.Before;
import org.junit.Rule;
import org.junit.rules.TestName;
import org.springframework.restdocs.JUnitRestDocumentation;
import org.springframework.test.web.servlet.setup.MockMvcBuilders;

import static org.springframework.restdocs.mockmvc.MockMvcRestDocumentation.document;
import static org.springframework.restdocs.mockmvc.MockMvcRestDocumentation.documentationConfiguration;

public abstract class FraudBaseWithStandaloneSetup {

	private static final String OUTPUT = "target/generated-snippets";

	@Rule
	public JUnitRestDocumentation restDocumentation = new JUnitRestDocumentation(OUTPUT);

	@Rule public TestName testName = new TestName();

	@Before
	public void setup() {
		RestAssuredMockMvc.standaloneSetup(MockMvcBuilders.standaloneSetup(new FraudDetectionController())
				.apply(documentationConfiguration(this.restDocumentation))
				.alwaysDo(document(getClass().getSimpleName() + "_" + testName.getMethodName())));
	}

}

You don’t need to specify the output directory for the generated snippets since version 1.2.0.RELEASE of Spring REST Docs.