# Strange issue in testing a package using Symbolics.jl

**URL:** <https://discourse.julialang.org/t/strange-issue-in-testing-a-package-using-symbolics-jl/93351>\
**Category:** General Usage\
**Tags:** question, symbolics\
**Created:** [January 22, 2023, 8:18am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/strange-issue-in-testing-a-package-using-symbolics-jl/93351 "2023-01-22T08:18:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Isaia\_Nisoli](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/isaia_nisoli/32/12594_2.png) [@Isaia\_Nisoli](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/Isaia_Nisoli)\
**Post date:** [January 22, 2023, 8:18am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/strange-issue-in-testing-a-package-using-symbolics-jl/93351/1 "2023-01-22T08:18:08Z")

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I am going through a weird issue when writing a testset for a part of RigorousInvariantMeasures.jl that uses Symbolics.jl.  
I start the testset by using Symbolics, then call @variables z  
and when I run the tests Julia complains saying that @variables is not defined.

Minimal problematic code:

```julia
@testset "Test Symbolic code" begin
    using Symbolics
    @variables z
end

```

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**Author:** ![DanielVandH](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/danielvandh/32/31134_2.png) [@DanielVandH](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/DanielVandH)\
**Post date:** [January 22, 2023, 8:58am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/strange-issue-in-testing-a-package-using-symbolics-jl/93351/2 "2023-01-22T08:58:29Z")

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Probably because it’s trying to expand the macro before anything happens i.e. at compile time, but the macro is not loaded yet.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Isaia\_Nisoli](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/isaia_nisoli/32/12594_2.png) [@Isaia\_Nisoli](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/Isaia_Nisoli)\
**Post date:** [January 22, 2023, 10:18am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/strange-issue-in-testing-a-package-using-symbolics-jl/93351/3 "2023-01-22T10:18:53Z")

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I understand, it makes sense, thank you.

Do you have any idea on how I could make this code work?

I tried by calling

```julia
Symbolics.@variables z

```

but, supporting your theses, then Julia states that Symbolics is unknown, i.e.,  
it seems it tries to run the macro before using the package.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DanielVandH](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/danielvandh/32/31134_2.png) [@DanielVandH](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/DanielVandH)\
**Post date:** [January 22, 2023, 10:30am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/strange-issue-in-testing-a-package-using-symbolics-jl/93351/4 "2023-01-22T10:30:31Z")

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Just put `using Symbolics` outside of the test set - macros will always be expanded before anything is run.

If you want to make `using Symbolics` only apply in that test set, look into SafeTestsets.jl