This wraps the python "Mock" library "patch" function into something that is less verbose.

patch_test_helper.py

# This helper module provides Mock library "patch" abilities
# while integrating with the unittest test classes in a way
# to reduce the verbosity of their API.
#
# Use like so:
#
#   from sync.mocking_helper import patch_me
#
#   class MyClassTest(object):
#       def setUp(self):
#           self.new_mock = patch_me(self, 'my.target.class.to.patch', 'name_of_mock_object')
#
#       def test_fun(self):
#           self.new_mock.return_value = 5
#           self.class_that_uses_my_target_class_to_patch()
#           self.new_mock.assert_called_with('some_value')
#
#
# This will reduce your code from:
#   class APIHelperTest(TestCase):
#       def setUp(self):
#           self.build_patch = patch('fileupload.api_helper.build')
#           build = self.build_patch.start()
#
#           self.mock = Mock(name='build')
#
#           build.return_value = mock
#
#       def tearDown(self):
#           self.build_patch.stop()
# To:
#   class APIHelperTest(TestCase):
#       def setUp(self):
#           build_mock = patch_me(self, 'fileupload.api_helper.build', 'build')
#
#

from mock import patch, MagicMock

__all__ = ('patch_me',)
def patch_me(test_class, module_to_patch, patch_name):
    original_teardown = test_class.tearDown

    new_patch = patch(module_to_patch, new=MagicMock(name=patch_name))
    new_mock = new_patch.start()

    test_class.tearDown = _new_teardown(original_teardown, new_patch)

    return new_mock

def _new_teardown(old_teardown, new_patch):
    def teardown_wrapper():
        new_patch.stop()
        old_teardown()
    return teardown_wrapper