Testing classes without a main()...

Question

i was wondering if its possible to run a test ona class without a main...my prof isnt letting us use "static" methods because it obviously defeats the purpose of OOD. So now im left wondering how the hell to get my test classes running...here is an example of one..i made the "main" method here static and it worked fine...but now how do i go about making it work non static?
import java.util.*;
import java.io.*;
public class BankAccountTest
public void main(String[] args)
     String testName = "Testy McTesterson";
     BankAccount test = new BankAccount();
     test.setBalance(100.00);
     System.out.println(test.getBalance());
     test.setName(testName);
     System.out.println(test.getName());
thanks in advance,
Cuda
Edited by: 74Cuda on Mar 8, 2008 7:28 PM

Answer 1

How the Java virtual machine "gets started" is covered in the JVM specification 5.2 "The Java virtual machine starts up by creating an initial class, which is specified in an implementation-dependent manner, using the bootstrap class loader (�5.3.1). The Java virtual machine then links the initial class, initializes it, and invokes its public class method void main(String[])". Note that it's a class - ie static - method that kicks the whole thing off. And it really has to be as no code has been run, and no objects created at this point.
http://java.sun.com/docs/books/jvms/second_edition/html/ConstantPool.doc.html#51579
Magic involves suspending the everyday laws of nature and logic to effect the impossible. Stage magic merely hides these laws to create a pleasant illusion.
I suspect that IDEs' lack of an apparent static main() method when performing unit testing is just stage magic.
For instance junit.swingui.TestRunner includes this method:
public static void main(String[] args) {
    new TestRunner().start(args);
}