Create temp sails model - sails.js

Question

For unit test I need to create temp model object without saving it in DB, just to have some instance method.
Example of model structure
//User.js - my model
module.exports = {
attributes: {
firstName : { type: 'string' },
lastName : { type: 'string' },
getName: function () {
return this.firstName + ':' + this.lastName;
}
}
};
I have next object
const testData = {
firstName: 'Foo',
lastName: 'Bar'
};
This line creates new record in db
User.create(testData);
Is it possible to avoid record creation? How can I do it?

Answer 1

To answer your initial question, functionality to switch off or on whether Sails actually creates a record in your database when you call Model.create() to the best of my knowledge does not exist, without a workaround as you have or I have described in the comments.
With that said, Sails does offer a simple solution for testing and development purposes.
As a convenience during development, Sails provides a built-in database adapter called sails-disk. This adapter simulates a real database by reading and writing database records to a JSON file on your computer's hard drive.
If you are using a Sails version of < v1 see documentation:
Add a connection to the database in config/connection.js
localDiskDb: {
adapter: 'sails-disk'
},
In the model you are testing, point the model towards the sails-disk connection.
...
module.exports = {
connection: "localDiskDb",
attributes: {
...
If you are using Sails version >= v1 see documentation:
Instead, add sails-disk as a datastore in config/datastores.js
localDiskDb: {
adapter: 'sails-disk'
},
And in the model you are testing, as above, point the model towards the sails-disk datastore.
...
datastore: 'localDiskDb',
...