[SPARK-44042] SPIP: PySpark Test Framework

• Type: New Feature
• Status: Open
• Priority: Major
• Resolution: Unresolved
• Affects Version/s: 3.5.0
• Component/s: PySpark
• Assignee: Unassigned
• Reporter: Amanda Liu
• Shepherd: Holden Karau
• Created: 13/Jun/23 14:26
• Updated: 21/Jun/23 14:18

Description

Currently, there's no official PySpark test framework, but only various open-source repos and blog posts. Many of these open-source resources are very popular, which demonstrates user-demand for PySpark testing capabilities. spark-testing-base has 1.4k stars, and chispa has 532k downloads/month. However, it can be confusing for users to piece together disparate resources to write their own PySpark tests (see The Elephant in the Room: How to Write PySpark Tests). We can streamline and simplify the testing process by incorporating test features, such as a PySpark Test Base class (which allows tests to share Spark sessions) and test util functions (for example, asserting dataframe and schema equality). Please see the full SPIP document attached: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OkyBn3JbEHkkQgSQ45Lq82esXjr9rm2Vj7Ih_4zycRc/edit#heading=h.f5f0u2riv07v.

Sub-Tasks

• Add PySparkTestBase unit test class: Open