How do I test my devise user model validations using RSpec?

I can find recommendations for testing devise user controllers and views in RSpec. I've also seen suggestions开发者_高级运维 that the devise gem code is already tested so it's not useful to spend a lot of time reinventing the wheel.

However, my user model has other fields that I need validated when the user signs up. I'm using standard validates... statements in the user.rb model. For example:

validates_presence_of     :nickname

I'm trying to use simple validation testing in my user_spec.rb, but when I try to create the user like this:

record = Factory.create(:user)

I get this error:

undefined method `encode!' for "Confirmation":String

The encode! method is not coming from my code, it must be one of the gems that devise is using, but I haven't been able to find it, yet.

I've tried creating the user using User.new and Factory Girl. I get the same error either way. This spec was passing until I did an update of all my gems. Unfortunately I didn't keep a note of everything that got updated at the time. I've tried rolling devise back to previous versions but still get the same error.

Rails 3, RSpec2

Thanks for any advice.

---

It seems to be fine, may be, my testing code helps you out:

user_spec.rb

require 'spec_helper'

describe User do
  before :each do
    @user = Factory.build(:user)
  end

  it "should not be valid without a first_name" do
    @user.first_name = nil
    @user.should_not be_valid
  end

end

user.rb (Model)

class User < ActiveRecord::Base

  validates_presence_of :first_name

  # Include default devise modules. Others available are:
  # :token_authenticatable, :confirmable, :lockable and :timeoutable
  devise :database_authenticatable, :registerable, :lockable,
         :recoverable, :rememberable, :trackable
  # Setup accessible (or protected) attributes for your model
  attr_accessible :login, :first_name, :email, :password, :password_confirmation, :remember_me
  attr_accessor :login

  devise :database_authenticatable, :recoverable, :validatable

  protected

  def password_required?
    !persisted? || password.present? || password_confirmation.present?
  end



end