Erlang -- The Test Server Controller

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Test Server
Reference Manual
Version 3.5.1

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Table of Contents

- test_server (App)
- test_server_ctrl
  - Top of manual page
  - start/0
  - start/1
  - stop/0
  - add_dir/2
  - add_dir/3
  - add_dir/2
  - add_dir/3
  - add_module/1
  - add_module/2
  - add_case/2
  - add_case/3
  - add_cases/2
  - add_cases/3
  - add_spec/1
  - add_dir_with_skip/3
  - add_dir_with_skip/4
  - add_module_with_skip/2
  - add_module_with_skip/3
  - add_case_with_skip/3
  - add_case_with_skip/4
  - add_cases_with_skip/3
  - add_cases_with_skip/4
  - add_tests_with_skip/3
  - abort_current_testcase/1
  - set_levels/3
  - get_levels/0
  - jobs/0
  - multiply_timetraps/1
  - scale_timetraps/1
  - get_timetrap_parameters/0
  - cover/2
  - cover/2
  - cover/3
  - cross_cover_analyse/1
  - trc/1
  - stop_trace/0
  - run_test/1
  - get_suite/2
  - init_tc/3
  - end_tc/3
  - report/2
  - error_notification/4
  - warn/1
  - target_info/0
- test_server
  - Top of manual page
  - os_type/0
  - fail/0
  - fail/1
  - timetrap/1
  - timetrap_cancel/1
  - timetrap_scale_factor/0
  - sleep/1
  - adjusted_sleep/1
  - hours/1
  - minutes/1
  - seconds/1
  - format/1
  - format/2
  - format/2
  - format/3
  - capture_start/0
  - capture_stop/0
  - capture_get/0
  - messages_get/0
  - timecall/3
  - do_times/4
  - do_times/2
  - m_out_of_n/3
  - call_crash/3
  - call_crash/4
  - call_crash/5
  - temp_name/1
  - break/1
  - continue/0
  - run_on_shielded_node/2
  - start_node/3
  - stop_node/1
  - is_commercial/0
  - is_release_available/1
  - is_native/1
  - app_test/1
  - app_test/2
  - comment/1
  - all/1
  - init_per_suite/1
  - end_per_suite/1
  - init_per_testcase/2
  - end_per_testcase/2
  - Case/1
  - Case/1
  - Case/1

# test_server_ctrl

### MODULE

test_server_ctrl

### MODULE SUMMARY

This module provides a low level interface to the Test Server.

### DESCRIPTION

The test_server_ctrl module provides a low level interface to the Test Server. This interface is normally not used directly by the tester, but through a framework built on top of test_server_ctrl.

Common Test is such a framework, well suited for automated black box testing of target systems of any kind (not necessarily implemented in Erlang). Common Test is also a very useful tool for white box testing Erlang programs and OTP applications. Please see the Common Test User's Guide and reference manual for more information.

If you want to write your own framework, some more information can be found in the chapter "Writing your own test server framework" in the Test Server User's Guide. Details about the interface provided by test_server_ctrl follows below.

### EXPORTS

start() -> Result
start(ParameterFile) -> Result

Types:

Result = ok | {error, {already_started, pid()}
ParameterFile = atom() | string()

This function starts the test server. If the parameter file is given, it indicates that the target is remote. In that case the target node is started and a socket connection is established between the controller and the target node.

The parameter file is a text file containing key-value tuples. Each tuple must be followed by a dot-newline sequence. The following key-value tuples are allowed:

{type,PlatformType}
  This is an atom indicating the target platform type, currently supported: PlatformType = vxworks
  Mandatory
{target,TargetHost}
  This is the name of the target host, can be atom or string.
  Mandatory
{slavetargets,SlaveTargets}
  This is a list of available hosts where slave nodes can be started. The hostnames are given as atoms or strings.
  Optional, default SlaveTargets = []
{longnames,Bool}
  This indicates if longnames shall be used, i.e. if the -name option should be used for the target node instead of -sname
  Optional, default Bool = false
{master, {MasterHost, MasterCookie}}
  If target is remote and the target node is started as a slave node, this option indicates which master and cookie to use. The given master will also be used as master for slave nodes started with test_server:start_node/3. It is expected that the erl_boot_server is started on the master node before the test_server_ctrl:start/1 function is called.
  Optional, if not given the test server controller node is used as master and the erl_boot_server is automatically started.

stop() -> ok

This stops the test server (both controller and target) and all its activity. The running test suite (if any) will be halted.

add_dir(Name, Dir) -> ok
add_dir(Name, Dir, Pattern) -> ok
add_dir(Name, [Dir|Dirs]) -> ok
add_dir(Name, [Dir|Dirs], Pattern) -> ok

Types:

Name = term()
The jobname for this directory.
Dir = term()
The directory to scan for test suites.
Dirs = [term()]
List of directories to scan for test suites.
Pattern = term()
Suite match pattern. Directories will be scanned for Pattern_SUITE.erl files.

Puts a collection of suites matching (*_SUITE) in given directories into the job queue. Name is an arbitrary name for the job, it can be any erlang term. If Pattern is given, only modules matching Pattern* will be added.

add_module(Mod) -> ok
add_module(Name, [Mod|Mods]) -> ok

Types:

Mod = atom()
Mods = [atom()]
The name(s) of the module(s) to add.
Name = term()
Name for the job.

This function adds a module or a list of modules, to the test servers job queue. Name may be any Erlang term. When Name is not given, the job gets the name of the module.

add_case(Mod, Case) -> ok

Types:

Mod = atom()
Name of the module the test case is in.
Case = atom()
Function name of the test case to add.

This function will add one test case to the job queue. The job will be given the module's name.

add_case(Name, Mod, Case) -> ok

Types:

Name = string()
Name to use for the test job.

Equivalent to add_case/2, but the test job will get the specified name.

add_cases(Mod, Cases) -> ok

Types:

Mod = atom()
Name of the module the test case is in.
Cases = [Case]
Case = atom()
Function names of the test cases to add.

This function will add one or more test cases to the job queue. The job will be given the module's name.

add_cases(Name, Mod, Cases) -> ok

Types:

Name = string()
Name to use for the test job.

Equivalent to add_cases/2, but the test job will get the specified name.

add_spec(TestSpecFile) -> ok | {error, nofile}

Types:

TestSpecFile = string()
Name of the test specification file

This function will add the content of the given test specification file to the job queue. The job will be given the name of the test specification file, e.g. if the file is called test.spec, the job will be called test.

See the reference manual for the test server application for details about the test specification file.

add_dir_with_skip(Name, [Dir|Dirs], Skip) -> ok
add_dir_with_skip(Name, [Dir|Dirs], Pattern, Skip) -> ok
add_module_with_skip(Mod, Skip) -> ok
add_module_with_skip(Name, [Mod|Mods], Skip) -> ok
add_case_with_skip(Mod, Case, Skip) -> ok
add_case_with_skip(Name, Mod, Case, Skip) -> ok
add_cases_with_skip(Mod, Cases, Skip) -> ok
add_cases_with_skip(Name, Mod, Cases, Skip) -> ok

Types:

Skip = [SkipItem]
List of items to be skipped from the test.
SkipItem = {Mod,Comment} | {Mod,Case,Comment} | {Mod,Cases,Comment}
Mod = atom()
Test suite name.
Comment = string()
Reason why suite or case is being skipped.
Cases = [Case]
Case = atom()
Name of test case function.

These functions add test jobs just like the add_dir, add_module, add_case and add_cases functions above, but carry an additional argument, Skip. Skip is a list of items that should be skipped in the current test run. Test job items that occur in the Skip list will be logged as SKIPPED with the associated Comment.

add_tests_with_skip(Name, Tests, Skip) -> ok

Types:

Name = term()
The jobname for this directory.
Tests = [TestItem]
List of jobs to add to the run queue.
TestItem = {Dir,all,all} | {Dir,Mods,all} | {Dir,Mod,Cases}
Dir = term()
The directory to scan for test suites.
Mods = [Mod]
Mod = atom()
Test suite name.
Cases = [Case]
Case = atom()
Name of test case function.
Skip = [SkipItem]
List of items to be skipped from the test.
SkipItem = {Mod,Comment} | {Mod,Case,Comment} | {Mod,Cases,Comment}
Comment = string()
Reason why suite or case is being skipped.

This function adds various test jobs to the test_server_ctrl job queue. These jobs can be of different type (all or specific suites in one directory, all or specific cases in one suite, etc). It is also possible to get particular items skipped by passing them along in the Skip list (see the add_*_with_skip functions above).

abort_current_testcase(Reason) -> ok | {error,no_testcase_running}

Types:

Reason = term()
The reason for stopping the test case, which will be printed in the log.

When calling this function, the currently executing test case will be aborted. It is the user's responsibility to know for sure which test case is currently executing. The function is therefore only safe to call from a function which has been called (or synchronously invoked) by the test case.

set_levels(Console, Major, Minor) -> ok

Types:

Console = integer()
Level for I/O to be sent to console.
Major = integer()
Level for I/O to be sent to the major logfile.
Minor = integer()
Level for I/O to be sent to the minor logfile.

Determines where I/O from test suites/test server will go. All text output from test suites and the test server is tagged with a priority value which ranges from 0 to 100, 100 being the most detailed. (see the section about log files in the user's guide). Output from the test cases (using io:format/2) has a detail level of 50. Depending on the levels set by this function, this I/O may be sent to the console, the major log file (for the whole test suite) or to the minor logfile (separate for each test case).

All output with detail level:

- Less than or equal to Console is displayed on the screen (default 1)
- Less than or equal to Major is logged in the major log file (default 19)
- Greater than or equal to Minor is logged in the minor log files (default 10)

To view the currently set thresholds, use the get_levels/0 function.

get_levels() -> {Console, Major, Minor}

Returns the current levels. See set_levels/3 for types.

jobs() -> JobQueue

Types:

JobQueue = [{list(), pid()}]

This function will return all the jobs currently in the job queue.

multiply_timetraps(N) -> ok

Types:

N = integer() | infinity

This function should be called before a test is started which requires extended timetraps, e.g. if extensive tracing is used. All timetraps started after this call will be multiplied by N.

scale_timetraps(Bool) -> ok

Types:

Bool = true | false

This function should be called before a test is started. The parameter specifies if test_server should attempt to automatically scale the timetrap value in order to compensate for delays caused by e.g. the cover tool.

get_timetrap_parameters() -> {N,Bool}

Types:

N = integer() | infinity
Bool = true | false

This function may be called to read the values set by multiply_timetraps/1 and scale_timetraps/1.

cover(Application,Analyse) -> ok
cover(CoverFile,Analyse) -> ok
cover(App,CoverFile,Analyse) -> ok

Types:

Application = atom()
OTP application to cover compile
CoverFile = string()
Name of file listing modules to exclude from or include in cover compilation. The filename must include full path to the file.
Analyse = details | overview

This function informs the test_server controller that next test shall run with code coverage analysis. All timetraps will automatically be multiplied by 10 when cover i run.

Application and CoverFile indicates what to cover compile. If Application is given, the default is that all modules in the ebin directory of the application will be cover compiled. The ebin directory is found by adding ebin to code:lib_dir(Application).

A CoverFile can have the following entries:

    {exclude, all | ExcludeModuleList}.
    {include, IncludeModuleList}.

Note that each line must end with a full stop. ExcludeModuleList and IncludeModuleList are lists of atoms, where each atom is a module name.

If both an Application and a CoverFile is given, all modules in the application are cover compiled, except for the modules listed in ExcludeModuleList. The modules in IncludeModuleList are also cover compiled.

If a CoverFile is given, but no Application, only the modules in IncludeModuleList are cover compiled.

Analyse indicates the detail level of the cover analysis. If Analyse = details, each cover compiled module will be analysed with cover:analyse_to_file/1. If Analyse = overview an overview of all cover compiled modules is created, listing the number of covered and not covered lines for each module.

If the test following this call starts any slave or peer nodes with test_server:start_node/3, the same cover compiled code will be loaded on all nodes. If the loading fails, e.g. if the node runs an old version of OTP, the node will simply not be a part of the coverage analysis. Note that slave or peer nodes must be stopped with test_server:stop_node/1 for the node to be part of the coverage analysis, else the test server will not be able to fetch coverage data from the node.

When the test is finished, the coverage analysis is automatically completed, logs are created and the cover compiled modules are unloaded. If another test is to be run with coverage analysis, test_server_ctrl:cover/2/3 must be called again.

cross_cover_analyse(Level) -> ok

Types:

Level = details | overview

Analyse cover data collected from all tests. The modules analysed are the ones listed in the cross cover file cross.cover in the current directory of the test server.

The modules listed in the cross.cover file are modules that are heavily used by other applications than the one they belong to. This function should be run after all tests are completed, and the result will be stored in a file called cross_cover.html in the run.<timestamp> directory of the application the modules belong to.

The cross.cover file contains elements like this:

    {App,Modules}.

where App can be an application name or the atom all. The application (or all applications) will cover compile the listed Modules.

trc(TraceInfoFile) -> ok | {error, Reason}

Types:

TraceInfoFile = atom() | string()
Name of a file defining which functions to trace and how

This function starts call trace on target and on slave or peer nodes that are started or will be started by the test suites.

Timetraps are not extended automatically when tracing is used. Use multiply_timetraps/1 if necessary.

Note that the trace support in the test server is in a very early stage of the implementation, and thus not yet as powerful as one might wish for.

The trace information file specified by the TraceInfoFile argument is a text file containing one or more of the following elements:

- {SetTP,Module,Pattern}.
- {SetTP,Module,Function,Pattern}.
- {SetTP,Module,Function,Arity,Pattern}.
- ClearTP.
- {ClearTP,Module}.
- {ClearTP,Module,Function}.
- {ClearTP,Module,Function,Arity}.

SetTP = tp | tpl
  This is maps to the corresponding functions in the ttb module in the observer application. tp means set trace pattern on global function calls. tpl means set trace pattern on local and global function calls.
ClearTP = ctp | ctpl | ctpg
  This is maps to the corresponding functions in the ttb module in the observer application. ctp means clear trace pattern (i.e. turn off) on global and local function calls. ctpl means clear trace pattern on local function calls only and ctpg means clear trace pattern on global function calls only.
Module = atom()
  The module to trace
Function = atom()
  The name of the function to trace
Arity = integer()
  The arity of the function to trace
Pattern = [] | match_spec()
  The trace pattern to set for the module or function. For a description of the match_spec() syntax, please turn to the User's guide for the runtime system (erts). The chapter "Match Specification in Erlang" explains the general match specification language.

The trace result will be logged in a (binary) file called NodeName-test_server in the current directory of the test server controller node. The log must be formatted using ttb:format/1/2.

stop_trace() -> ok | {error, not_tracing}

This function stops tracing on target, and on slave or peer nodes that are currently running. New slave or peer nodes will no longer be traced after this.

### FUNCTIONS INVOKED FROM COMMAND LINE

The following functions are supposed to be invoked from the command line using the -s option when starting the erlang node.

### EXPORTS

run_test(CommandLine) -> ok

Types:

CommandLine = FlagList

This function is supposed to be invoked from the commandline. It starts the test server, interprets the argument supplied from the commandline, runs the tests specified and when all tests are done, stops the test server and returns to the Erlang prompt.

The CommandLine argument is a list of command line flags, typically ['KEY1', Value1, 'KEY2', Value2, ...]. The valid command line flags are listed below.

Under a UNIX command prompt, this function can be invoked like this:
erl -noshell -s test_server_ctrl run_test KEY1 Value1 KEY2 Value2 ... -s erlang halt

Or make an alias (this is for unix/tcsh)
alias erl_test 'erl -noshell -s test_server_ctrl run_test \!* -s erlang halt'

And then use it like this
erl_test KEY1 Value1 KEY2 Value2 ...

The valid command line flags are

DIR dir
  Adds all test modules in the directory dir to the job queue.
MODULE mod
  Adds the module mod to the job queue.
CASE mod case
  Adds the case case in module mod to the job queue.
SPEC spec
  Runs the test specification file spec.
SKIPMOD mod
  Skips all test cases in the module mod
SKIPCASE mod case
  Skips the test case case in module mod.
NAME name
  Names the test suite to something else than the default name. This does not apply to SPEC which keeps its names.
PARAMETERS parameterfile
  Specifies the parameter file to use when starting remote target
COVER app cover_file analyse
  Indicates that the test should be run with cover analysis. app, cover_file and analyse corresponds to the parameters to test_server_ctrl:cover/3. If no cover file is used, the atom none should be given.
TRACE traceinfofile
  Specifies a trace information file. When this option is given, call tracing is started on the target node and all slave or peer nodes that are started. The trace information file specifies which modules and functions to trace. See the function trc/1 above for more information about the syntax of this file.

### FRAMEWORK CALLBACK FUNCTIONS

A test server framework can be defined by setting the environment variable TEST_SERVER_FRAMEWORK to a module name. This module will then be framework callback module, and it must export the following function:

### EXPORTS

get_suite(Mod,Func) -> TestCaseList

Types:

Mod = atom()
Test suite name.
Func = atom()
Name of test case.
TestCaseList = [SubCase]
List of test cases.
SubCase = atom()
Name of a case.

This function is called before a test case is started. The purpose is to retrieve a list of subcases. The default behaviour of this function should be to call Mod:Func(suite) and return the result from this call.

init_tc(Mod,Func,Args0) -> {ok,Args1} | {skip,ReasonToSkip} | {auto_skip,ReasonToSkip} | {fail,ReasonToFail}

Types:

Mod = atom()
Test suite name.
Func = atom()
Name of test case or configuration function.
Args0 = Args1 = [tuple()]
Normally Args = [Config]
ReasonToSkip = term()
Reason to skip the test case or configuration function.
ReasonToFail = term()
Reason to fail the test case or configuration function.

This function is called before a test case or configuration function starts. It is called on the process executing the function Mod:Func. Typical use of this function can be to alter the input parameters to the test case function (Args) or to set properties for the executing process.

By returning {skip,Reason}, Func gets skipped. Func also gets skipped if {auto_skip,Reason} is returned, but then gets an auto skipped status (rather than user skipped).

To fail Func immediately instead of executing it, return {fail,ReasonToFail}.

end_tc(Mod,Func,Status) -> ok | {fail,ReasonToFail}

Types:

Mod = atom()
Test suite name.
Func = atom()
Name of test case or configuration function.
Status = {Result,Args} | {TCPid,Result,Args}
The status of the test case or configuration function.
ReasonToFail = term()
Reason to fail the test case or configuration function.
Result = ok | Skip | Fail
The final result of the test case or configuration function.
TCPid = pid()
Pid of the process executing Func
Skip = {skip,SkipReason}
SkipReason = term() | {failed,{Mod,init_per_testcase,term()}}
Reason why the function was skipped.
Fail = {error,term()} | {'EXIT',term()} | {timetrap_timeout,integer()} | {testcase_aborted,term()} | testcase_aborted_or_killed | {failed,term()} | {failed,{Mod,end_per_testcase,term()}}
Reason why the function failed.
Args = [tuple()]
Normally Args = [Config]

This function is called when a test case, or a configuration function, is finished. It is normally called on the process where the function Mod:Func has been executing, but if not, the pid of the test case process is passed with the Status argument.

Typical use of the end_tc/3 function can be to clean up after init_tc/3.

If Func is a test case, it is possible to analyse the value of Result to verify that init_per_testcase/2 and end_per_testcase/2 executed successfully.

It is possible with end_tc/3 to fail an otherwise successful test case, by returning {fail,ReasonToFail}. The test case Func will be logged as failed with the provided term as reason.

report(What,Data) -> ok

Types:

What = atom()
Data = term()

This function is called in order to keep the framework up-to-date with the progress of the test. This is useful e.g. if the framework implements a GUI where the progress information is constantly updated. The following can be reported:

What = tests_start, Data = {Name,NumCases}
What = tests_done, Data = {Ok,Failed,{UserSkipped,AutoSkipped}}
What = tc_start, Data = {Mod,Func}
What = tc_done, Data = {Mod,Func,Result}
What = tc_user_skip, Data = {Mod,Func,Comment}
What = tc_auto_skip, Data = {Mod,Func,Comment}

error_notification(Mod, Func, Args, Error) -> ok

Types:

Mod = atom()
Test suite name.
Func = atom()
Name of test case or configuration function.
Args = [tuple()]
Normally Args = [Config]
Error = {Reason,Location}
Reason = term()
Reason for termination.
Location = unknown | [{Mod,Func,Line}]
Last known position in Mod before termination.
Line = integer()
Line number in file Mod.erl.

This function is called as the result of function Mod:Func failing with Reason at Location. The function is intended mainly to aid specific logging or error handling in the framework application. Note that for Location to have relevant values (i.e. other than unknown), the line macro or test_server_line parse transform must be used. For details, please see the section about test suite line numbers in the test_server reference manual page.

warn(What) -> boolean()

Types:

What = processes | nodes

The test server checks the number of processes and nodes before and after the test is executed. This function is a question to the framework if the test server should warn when the number of processes or nodes has changed during the test execution. If true is returned, a warning will be written in the test case minor log file.

target_info() -> InfoStr

Types:

InfoStr = string() | ""

The test server will ask the framework for information about the test target system and print InfoStr in the test case log file below the host information.