app/tests/TestCase.php

<?php

class TestCase extends Illuminate\Foundation\Testing\TestCase {

    /**
     *
     */
    public function setUp()
    {
        parent::setUp();
        $this->prepareForTests();
    }

    /**
     * Creates the application.
     *
     * @return Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\HttpKernelInterface
     */
    public function createApplication()
    {
        $unitTesting = true;

        $testEnvironment = 'testing';

        return require __DIR__.'/../../bootstrap/start.php';
    }

    /**
     * Migrate the database
     */
    private function prepareForTests()
    {
        Artisan::call('migrate');
    }


    /**
     * Username is required
     */
    public function testUsernameIsRequired()
    {
        // Create a new User
        $user = new User;
        $user->user_email               = 'test@test.se';
        $user->password                 = 'password';
        $user->password_confirmation    = 'password';

        // User should not save
        $this->assertFalse($user->save());

        // Save the errors
        $errors = $user->errors()->all();

        // There should be 1 error
        $this->assertCount(1, $errors);

        // The username error should be set
        $this->assertEquals($errors[0], 'The username field is required');
    }

}