Tests On Windows All Of A Sudden Started To Fail Due To Fancy Symbols In CHANGELOG.md

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Introduction

As a developer, you've likely encountered a situation where your tests on Windows started to fail unexpectedly. In this article, we'll explore a common issue that can cause tests to fail due to fancy symbols in the CHANGELOG.md file. We'll also discuss possible solutions to resolve this issue.

The Problem

The problem arises when you include the CHANGELOG.md file in your project's description, especially on Windows. The CHANGELOG.md file contains fancy symbols, such as emojis, which can cause issues when decoded using the default encoding on Windows.

The Error Message

The error message you might encounter looks something like this:

UnicodeDecodeError: 'charmap' codec can't decode byte 0x8f in position 225: character maps to <undefined>

This error message indicates that the Python interpreter is unable to decode the byte 0x8f using the default encoding on Windows, which is cp1252.

The Cause

The cause of this issue is the inclusion of the CHANGELOG.md file in your project's description. The CHANGELOG.md file contains fancy symbols, which are not encoded using UTF-8 by default. When the Python interpreter tries to decode these symbols using the default encoding on Windows, it fails, resulting in a UnicodeDecodeError.

The Solution

There are a few possible solutions to resolve this issue:

1. Exclude CHANGELOG.md from Description

The simplest way to address this issue is to exclude the CHANGELOG.md file from your project's description, at least on Windows. This can be done by modifying the setup.py file to exclude the CHANGELOG.md file from the long_description field.

from setuptools import setup

with open('README.md', 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
    long_description = f.read()

setup(
    # ...
    long_description=long_description,
    # ...
)

2. Use UTF-8 Encoding

Another solution is to use UTF-8 encoding when reading the CHANGELOG.md file. This can be done by modifying the setup.py file to use the utf-8 encoding when reading the CHANGELOG.md file.

from setuptools import setup

with open('CHANGELOG.md', 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
    long_description = f.read()

setup(
    # ...
    long_description=long_description,
    # ...
)

3. Use a Different Encoding

If the above solutions do not work, you can try using a different encoding, such as cp850 or cp437, which are more compatible with Windows.

from setuptools import setup

with open('CHANGELOG.md', 'r', encoding='cp850') as f:
    long_description = f.read()

setup(
    # ...
    long_description=long_description,
    # ...
)

Conclusion

In conclusion, the issue of tests failing due to fancy symbols in the CHANGELOG.md file on Windows can be resolved by excluding the CHANGELOG.md file from the description, using UTF-8 encoding, or using a different encoding. By following these solutions, you can ensure that your tests run smoothly on Windows.

Additional Tips

  • Always use UTF-8 encoding when reading text files, especially on Windows.
  • Avoid using fancy symbols in text files, especially in the CHANGELOG.md file.
  • Use a consistent encoding throughout your project to avoid encoding issues.

References

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored the issue of tests failing due to fancy symbols in the CHANGELOG.md file on Windows. In this article, we'll provide a Q&A section to help you better understand the issue and its solutions.

Q: What are fancy symbols?

A: Fancy symbols, also known as Unicode characters, are special characters that are not part of the standard ASCII character set. Examples of fancy symbols include emojis, accented characters, and special characters like ā„¢ and .

Q: Why do fancy symbols cause issues on Windows?

A: The issue arises because the default encoding on Windows is cp1252, which is not able to decode all Unicode characters. When the Python interpreter tries to decode these characters, it fails, resulting in a UnicodeDecodeError.

Q: How can I exclude the CHANGELOG.md file from the description?

A: You can exclude the CHANGELOG.md file from the description by modifying the setup.py file to exclude it from the long_description field. Here's an example:

from setuptools import setup

with open('README.md', 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
    long_description = f.read()

setup(
    # ...
    long_description=long_description,
    # ...
)

Q: How can I use UTF-8 encoding when reading the CHANGELOG.md file?

A: You can use UTF-8 encoding when reading the CHANGELOG.md file by modifying the setup.py file to use the utf-8 encoding when reading the file. Here's an example:

from setuptools import setup

with open('CHANGELOG.md', 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
    long_description = f.read()

setup(
    # ...
    long_description=long_description,
    # ...
)

Q: What are some other encodings I can use?

A: Some other encodings you can use include cp850, cp437, and latin1. However, keep in mind that these encodings may not be able to decode all Unicode characters, so use them with caution.

Q: How can I avoid encoding issues in the future?

A: To avoid encoding issues in the future, always use UTF-8 encoding when reading text files, especially on Windows. You can also use a consistent encoding throughout your project to avoid encoding issues.

Q: What are some best practices for working with Unicode characters?

A: Some best practices for working with Unicode characters include:

  • Always use UTF-8 encoding when reading text files.
  • Avoid using fancy symbols in text files, especially in the CHANGELOG.md file.
  • Use a consistent encoding throughout your project to avoid encoding issues.
  • Test your code thoroughly to ensure it works correctly with Unicode characters.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the issue of tests failing due to fancy symbols in the CHANGELOG.md file on Windows can be resolved by excluding the CHANGELOG.md file from the description, using UTF-8 encoding, or using a different encoding. By following these solutions and best practices, you can ensure that your tests run smoothly on Windows.

Additional Tips

  • Always use UTF-8 encoding when reading text files, especially on Windows.
  • Avoid using fancy symbols in text files, especially in the CHANGELOG.md file.
  • Use a consistent encoding throughout your project to avoid encoding issues.
  • Test your code thoroughly to ensure it works correctly with Unicode characters.

References