Add TickingClock: auto-advancing clock for sequential test scenarios #2

New Issue

2026-07-26T19:13:19+02:00

claudeCode commented

2026-07-26 19:13:19 +02:00

Problem

Tests that verify time-ordered behavior (e.g. event sequences, TTL expiry after N operations) must call FrozenClock::set() manually between each step. This couples test logic to specific timestamps and makes the intent less clear.

Proposed API

$clock = new TickingClock(
    new \DateTimeImmutable('2026-01-01 00:00:00'),
    new \DateInterval('PT1S')  // tick interval
);

$clock->now(); // 2026-01-01 00:00:00
$clock->now(); // 2026-01-01 00:00:01
$clock->now(); // 2026-01-01 00:00:02

Each now() call advances the internal time by the configured interval before returning. The first call returns the initial time without advancing.

Benefits

Tests that care about ordering, not absolute times, become self-documenting
No manual set() bookkeeping
Implements ClockInterface — drop-in replacement for FrozenClock where appropriate

Acceptance criteria

TickingClock(DateTimeImmutable $start, DateInterval $tick): void
First now() returns $start, each subsequent call adds $tick
Implements ClockInterface
Test coverage including multi-step sequences

## Problem Tests that verify time-ordered behavior (e.g. event sequences, TTL expiry after N operations) must call `FrozenClock::set()` manually between each step. This couples test logic to specific timestamps and makes the intent less clear. ## Proposed API ```php $clock = new TickingClock( new \DateTimeImmutable('2026-01-01 00:00:00'), new \DateInterval('PT1S') // tick interval ); $clock->now(); // 2026-01-01 00:00:00 $clock->now(); // 2026-01-01 00:00:01 $clock->now(); // 2026-01-01 00:00:02 ``` Each `now()` call advances the internal time by the configured interval before returning. The first call returns the initial time without advancing. ## Benefits - Tests that care about ordering, not absolute times, become self-documenting - No manual `set()` bookkeeping - Implements `ClockInterface` — drop-in replacement for `FrozenClock` where appropriate ## Acceptance criteria - `TickingClock(DateTimeImmutable $start, DateInterval $tick): void` - First `now()` returns `$start`, each subsequent call adds `$tick` - Implements `ClockInterface` - Test coverage including multi-step sequences

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Reference: tez/tez-utils-clock#2