Using Rspec's "let" inside an "it" block. Crazy? Yes. Useful? Occasionally.

some_spec.rb

describe "#mentions_story?" do
  subject { described_class.new(file) }
  let(:file) { "COMMIT_EDITMSG" }

  def set_file_contents(text)
    File.stub(:read).with(file) { example_commit_message(text) }
  end

  context "commit message contains the special Pivotal Tracker story syntax" do
    it "matches just the number" do
      set_file_contents "[#8675309]"
      subject.should be_mentions_story("8675309")
    end

    it "matches state change and number" do
      set_file_contents "[Fixes #8675309]"
      subject.should be_mentions_story("8675309")
    end
  end

  context "commit message doesn't contain the special Pivotal Tracker story syntax" do
    it "doesn't match without brackets" do
      set_file_contents "#8675309"
      subject.should_not be_mentions_story("8675309")
    end
  end
end

Yep, that's better!

Ahh... so nice to have folks to bounce ideas of off - they so often bounce back much better ones!