Question

  it "should submit form", :driver => :webkit do
    visit '/things/new'
    page.should have_content('Login')
    fill_in 'user_login', with: @thing.email
    fill_in 'user_comment', with: @thing.comment
    click_button 'log_in'
    save_and_open_page
    page.should have_content('Thanks!')  
  end

response in browser [internal server error]:

Called id for nil, which would mistakenly be 4 -- if you really wanted the id of nil, use object_id

I’m guessing something in the things_controller or things/_form is unexpectedly nil, but I can’t seem to nail down what it is. The page works fine in development (with populated database)

Is there a way to get more meaningful feedback?

or am I on the wrong track?

Answer 1

there are several things you can do.

• look into your logs/test.log
• disable whiny nils and see if a real stack-trace pops up
• use some introspection like a debugger or pry

or the hammer-method:

• put a whole bunch of puts/Rails.logger.debug statements into your code