Skill: AutoFixture and FactoryBoy Patterns

Capability Domain: TEST_DATA
Technology Stack: FactoryBoy+Django+AutoFixture

Overview

Patterns for dynamic test data generation using FactoryBoy and AutoFixture. Covers when to use JSON fixtures vs factories, scoping strategies, preset patterns, and the lazy AutoFixture approach.

Reference Implementation

Pattern 1: FactoryBoy Model Factories

import factory
from factory.django import DjangoModelFactory

class UserFactory(DjangoModelFactory):
    class Meta:
        model = 'auth.User'
    username = factory.Sequence(lambda n: f'user_{n}')
    email = factory.LazyAttribute(lambda o: f'{o.username}@example.com')
    is_active = True

class PlaybookFactory(DjangoModelFactory):
    class Meta:
        model = 'methodology.Playbook'
    name = factory.Sequence(lambda n: f'Playbook {n}')
    description = factory.Faker('paragraph')
    author = factory.SubFactory(UserFactory)

Pattern 2: AutoFixture — For Lazy Guys

Create model instances with sensible random defaults when you don't care about specific field values.

Pattern 3: Four Fixture Tiers

Tier	Tool	Scope	When
Session	JSON (seed.json)	Entire test run	Static reference data
Suite	JSON (presets/)	Group of tests	Shared scenario setup
Test	FactoryBoy	Single test	Dynamic, parameterized
Lazy	AutoFixture	Single test	Don't care about specifics