pytest-mocking-strategy

Mocking is essential for unit testing, but over-mocking creates brittle tests that fail on refactoring. This skill provides a comprehensive framework for deciding what to mock, how to mock it safely, and when to use real objects instead.

Use when deciding what to mock in tests with "create mock", "mock external service", "AsyncMock pattern", or "what should I mock".

Do NOT use for domain testing (never mock domain objects), pytest configuration (use pytest-configuration), or test factories (use pytest-test-data-factories). Quick Start

Master mocking strategy for pytest: when to use autospec=True vs manual mocks, AsyncMock patterns for async code, mock builders and factories, and what should NEVER be mocked. Includes type-safe mock creation patterns and decision matrix for mocking vs real objects. Use when: Creating unit tests with mocked dependencies, deciding whether to mock or use real objects, setting up test isolation, testing use cases with external service boundaries, or building reusable mock factories. Source: dawiddutoit/custom-claude.