How can I make my unit testing with NUnit feel more like behavior-driven development?

I work with .NET and C#. I like to test my own code. I try to do TDD and BDD. My favorite framework for testing is Machine.Specifications.

I like Given, When, Then over Arrange, Act, Assert.

I like Should instead of Assert.

At work, we use:

Okay, so how can I make NUnit do Given, When, Then and feel more BDD? With as little effort as possible? I want to read the result in the test runner in as fluent English as possible. I do not want to write my own framework.

My solution:

  1. Use folders prefixed with Given_ to group tests for a specific subject and context
  2. Use classes prefixed with When_ to group specific actions to be tested
  3. Use test case methods prefixed with Should_ to describe the behavior
  4. Use a Should library for the assertions

A folder prefixed with Given_ will generate a namespace prefixed with Given_. The name of the folder can end with the name of the subject / class under test. Given_Foo. Or it can end in something that describes the context for the subject in a more specific way. Given_Foo_with_bar.

The name of the class can end with the name of the method / property / member to be tested. When_GetFoo. Or it can end in something that describes the action in a more fluent language. When_getting_the_foo.

The name of the test case methods should describe the behavior of the code that is tested. Should_return_foo_if_bar_is_configured. Create as many case methods as needed to describe all the behaviors of the code under test. Ideally each test case method should only contain a single assertion. It will make it easier to understand why tests fail.

Use Snake_case as naming convention for folders, classes and methods.

Example code

You can get the example code at https://github.com/hlaueriksson/ConductOfCode

The subject:

The tests:

The solution explorer:

Solution Explorer

The unit test explorer:

Unit Test Explorer

The unit test sessions:

Unit Test Sessions

If you use ReSharper as test runner you can use the Group by: Projects and Namespaces option to get the output as seen above.