What is the best way to launch HSQLDB for unit testing, when working with spring, maven and hibernate?

Question

In my project I can successfully test database code. I'm using Spring, Hibernate, HSQLDB, JUnit and Maven.

The catch is that currently I have to launch HSQLDB manually prior to running the tests. What is the best way to automate the launching of HSQLDB with the technologies being used?

Answer 1

With JUnit, you can create a method that is executed before your tests using the following annotation: @Before

The link to the JUnit docs about it is here: JUnit FAQ - Test Fixtures

Answer 2

Use it in-process or in memory and it will get started from JDBC when establishing a connection.

Answer 3

You can also run an Ant task <startdb>:

https://forums.hibernate.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=984383&start=0

Answer 4

I am assuming that with hsql you are referring to HSQLDB.

Configure your database url for JDBC drivers (for hibernate etc) to embedded memory based version of HSQLDB:

jdbc:hsqldb:mem:myunittests

Then a inprocess version of HSQLDB automatically starts that stores stuff to memory. No need to start any external servers.