Unit testing when developing a website?

After learning about TDD and unit testing, I'm really looking to write tests when I code, preferably before I code because I see the benefits coding in Python. I'm developing a website, and I'm trying to write tests according to the requirements, but its proving more difficult than expected.

I can see the benefits of writing tests when you're producing a library of code with a public interface for others to use. Developing a website, where there is really not much logic, and mostly Reading and Writing against a database seems a little harder to unit test. Mostly, I have to create/edit/delete rows in the database.

I'm using a framework (Kohana 3 for php), so 99% of all the libraries and helpers that I'm going t开发者_StackOverflow中文版o be using have already been tested (hopefully), so what else is their to write tests for?

I'm mostly talking about scripting languages, not about CSS or HTML, I already know about cross-browser testing.

How much can you really test when developing a web site, and how should you go about it?

Edit: Is the lack of activity on this question a sign? I understand that certain things MUST be tested, like security and the like, but how much can be written using unit tests and TDD is the question.

Thanks.

Developing a website, where there is really not much logic, and mostly Reading and Writing against a database seems a little harder to unit test. Mostly, I have to create/edit/delete rows in the database.

Not completely true.

You have data model processing. Does the validation work? Do the calculations on the reported rows from the database work?

You have control, sequence and navigation among pages -- do the links work? The test setup will provide a logged-in-user. The test will (1) do a GET or a POST to fetch a page, then (2) confirm the page actually loaded and has the right stuff.

You have authorization -- who can do what? Each distinct test setup will provide a different logged-in-user. The tests will (1) attempt a GET or POST to process a page. Some tests will (2) confirm they got directed to error-response pages. Some tests will (2) confitrm that the GET or POST worked.

You have content on the page -- what data was fetched? The test setup will provide a logged-in-user. The test will (1) do a GET or a POST to fetch a page, then (2) confirm the page actually loaded and has the right stuff.

Have you tried Selenium? It allows you to automatically do almost anything in a web browser. For example, you could have it go through and click all of the links and make sure that they go to the correct url.

It works with multiple languages, including python and allows for testing in chrome, firefox, ie, and other browsers.

If your site contains many forms, how do you write them? Do you write each view using plain HTML? Or do you write your own form helpers that generate forms just the way you want them? If you do that, you may find that unit-testing your form generators makes it easier to write them.

In general, if your program is mostly CRUD, look out for ways to automate CRUD management; write your own custom CRUD generator. Which does not mean write the CRUD framework that will end all frameworks; that would be too much work. Just write a generator for the small things you need for your current application. TDD will help you there.