protected evaluate method does not allow to use return values e.g. in tests.

[martin-grofcik]

I have migrated my project from spring-shell 2.x to 3.1.4. I was able to solve all differences.
The one, which I was not able to solve in the clear way

	/**
	 * Evaluate a single "line" of input from the user by trying to map words to a command and
	 * arguments.
	 *
	 * <p>
	 * This method does not throw exceptions, it catches them and returns them as a regular
	 * result
	 * </p>
	 */
	protected Object evaluate(Input input) {

I used evaluate method in 2.x tests a lot:

        ObjectNode startProcessResult = (ObjectNode) shell.evaluate(
                () -> "ex POST /process-api/runtime/process-instances {\"processDefinitionKey\":\"oneTaskProcess\",\"businessKey\":\"myBusinessKey\"}"
        );
        String processId = startProcessResult.get("id").asText();

I used shell wrapper which allows to execute evaluate method and provide the object as output.
Is there any clear way how to have the same functionality in 3.1.x?

[jvalkeal]

There's a new testing system https://docs.spring.io/spring-shell/reference/testing/basics.html which might help you. Though it's more for e2e as result is what's visible in an emulated test screen. There's also org.springframework.test.util.ReflectionTestUtils which many spring projects use in tests to access non-public methods and fields.

Is there a specific reason you want to test through that evaluate method?

[martin-grofcik]

Thank you for your answer.

Exactly as you said e2e, assertion based on the displayed text.

Is there a specific reason you want to test through that evaluate method?
as I wrote:

        ObjectNode startProcessResult = (ObjectNode) shell.evaluate(
                () -> "ex POST /process-api/runtime/process-instances {\"processDefinitionKey\":\"oneTaskProcess\",\"businessKey\":\"myBusinessKey\"}"
        );
        String processId = startProcessResult.get("id").asText();

I need to you output of the evaluate method in the following calls. In this case processId is outcome written in json. To parse session.screen().getLines() and find processId is not straights forward.

[kdziuba-opgk]

I got similar issue. In my case I need to evaluate strings provided by the user. It's a little disappointing there is no easy access to the command output.