gistfile1.rb

# code
class ExternalDataApi
  def initialize(setup)
    # do stuff to setup
  end
  
  def list_of_things
    # grabs stuff from the api and returns an array of OStructs
  end
end


class Thing << ActiveRecord::Base
  
  def self.load_stuff_from_api
    api = ExternalDataApi.new(setup)
    api.list_of_things.each do |thing|
      Stuff.create(
        :name => thing.name,
        :etc  => thing.etc
      )
    end
  end
  
end


# spec
describe Thing, ".load_stuff_from_api" do
  it "populates things from the api" do
    
    fake_list = [OpenStruct.new(:name => "name", :etc => "etc")]
    
    ### Not sure what to do right here
    api = mock(ExternalDataAPI)
    api.should_receive(:list_of_things).once.and_return(fake_list)
    ### / Not sure what to do right here    

    Thing.all.should == []
    
    Thing.load_stuff_from_api
    
    Thing.all.map(&:name).should == fake_list.map(&:name)
    Thing.all.map(&:etc).should == fake_list.map(&:etc)
  end
end