Run code before and after each test in py.test?

py.test fixtures are a technically adequate method to achieve your purpose.

You just need to define a fixture like that:

@pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
def run_around_tests():
    # Code that will run before your test, for example:
    files_before = # ... do something to check the existing files
    # A test function will be run at this point
    yield
    # Code that will run after your test, for example:
    files_after = # ... do something to check the existing files
    assert files_before == files_after

By declaring your fixture with autouse=True, it will be automatically invoked for each test function defined in the same module.

That said, there is one caveat. Asserting at setup/teardown is a controversial practice. I’m under the impression that the py.test main authors do not like it (I do not like it either, so that may colour my own perception), so you might run into some problems or rough edges as you go forward.