Testing and Benchmarking

Test frameworks

• GoogleTest: the most common C++ unit-testing framework in real-world projects.
• Catch2: popular lightweight test framework with convenient single-binary workflows.
• doctest for C++: lightweight test framework with fast compile times and simple integration.

Benchmarking

• Quick Bench: fast browser-based microbenchmarking for small comparisons.
• Google Benchmark: standard benchmarking library for repeatable local performance measurements.

Practical guidance

• Use GoogleTest when you want the safest default for a larger codebase or team.
• Use Catch2 or doctest when you want a lighter setup or easy single-binary test organization.
• Treat browser benchmarks as a quick signal only, then confirm important performance claims in a local benchmark and realistic workload.

When to use this page

• choosing a first unit-test framework for a small or medium C++ project
• deciding whether a quick benchmark belongs in the browser or in a local benchmark binary
• comparing lighter test frameworks against the most common team default

Quick workflow

1. Pick GoogleTest when team familiarity and long-term ecosystem support matter most.
2. Pick Catch2 or doctest when you want faster initial setup or smaller test binaries.
3. Use Quick Bench for tiny exploration only.
4. Use Google Benchmark when the result matters enough to keep and rerun locally.