MochaBefore.js

// Hack test to prove we can return and check the contents of a file
var assert = require('assert')
var path = require('path')
var fs = require('fs')

describe('flashcard metadata checks', function () {

  // arrange, act
  var musicalNotesMetaData //scope
  before(function (done) {
    var fullPath = __dirname + '/MusicalNotes/TestArtifacts'
    var musicalNotesMetaDataFile = fullPath + '/MusicalNotes.json'
    fs.readFile(musicalNotesMetaDataFile, 'utf8', function (err, data) {
      if (err) throw err;
      musicalNotesMetaData = JSON.parse(data);
      done() // NOTE THE LOCATION OF done(): It is in the readFile callback, not at the end of before or beforeEach
    });
  });

  // assert
  it('has the correct values for selected elements', function () {
    assert.equal(musicalNotesMetaData.musicalNotes.extension, '.png')
  });
});