How do I use golden files in benchmarks for Go?

Golden files in Go are a method used to validate the output of tests and benchmarks by comparing results against a predefined set of expected outcomes. This approach is particularly useful when testing functions that produce complex outputs, ensuring that any changes in performance can be tracked accurately over time.

Example of Using Golden Files in Go Benchmarks

Below is a simple example illustrating how to implement golden files in a benchmark test:

package mypackage import ( "bytes" "io/ioutil" "testing" ) func myFunction() string { // Simulate some complex processing return "expected output" } func BenchmarkMyFunction(b *testing.B) { // Read the golden file goldenFile, err := ioutil.ReadFile("benchmark_golden.txt") if err != nil { b.Fatalf("could not read golden file: %v", err) } expectedOutput := string(goldenFile) for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ { output := myFunction() if output != expectedOutput { b.Errorf("expected %q, got %q", expectedOutput, output) } } }

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