Let AutoFixture create DateTime in UTC?

Question

By default AutoFixture creates DateTime structs in "local, unspecified time".

I have been trying to find a way to configure it to create DateTime structs with UTC kind, but so far unsuccessful.

Is there a way to do this?

Answer 1

You can use a Decorator for this (although easier solutions might also exist):

var fixture = new Fixture();
fixture.Customizations.Add(new UtcRandomDateTimeSequenceGenerator());

var dateTime = fixture.Create<DateTime>();
// -> The value of 'dateTime' is in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

The UtcRandomDateTimeSequenceGenerator is defined as:

internal class UtcRandomDateTimeSequenceGenerator : ISpecimenBuilder
{
    private readonly ISpecimenBuilder innerRandomDateTimeSequenceGenerator;

    internal UtcRandomDateTimeSequenceGenerator()
    {
        this.innerRandomDateTimeSequenceGenerator = 
            new RandomDateTimeSequenceGenerator();
    }

    public object Create(object request, ISpecimenContext context)
    {
        var result = 
            this.innerRandomDateTimeSequenceGenerator.Create(request, context);
        if (result is NoSpecimen)
            return result;

        return ((DateTime)result).ToUniversalTime();
    }
}