TEST-INFRA: [test-data-quality] Improve Test Data Quality in Validation Fixtures #6143

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opened 2026-04-09 15:29:25 +00:00 by HAL9000 · 0 comments
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Metadata

  • Branch: test/infra/test-data-quality-validation-fixtures
  • Commit Message: test(infra): improve test data quality in validation fixtures
  • Milestone: Backlog
  • Parent Epic: #5407

Description

During an analysis of the test data quality, several areas for improvement were identified in the validation fixtures located in features/fixtures/validation. While the current implementation is well-structured, the following suggestions would improve the robustness and maintainability of the tests.

Findings

  1. Brittle Assertions: The verify_fixture_result function in features/fixtures/validation/suite_helpers.py uses expected_message_contains to check for substrings in error messages. This can lead to flaky tests if the error messages are refactored.

  2. Hardcoded Source Code: The source code for each test case is embedded directly in the JSON fixture files. This is acceptable for small snippets, but for more complex scenarios, it can become difficult to manage and reuse code.

  3. Limited Positive Test Cases: The "valid_api_usage" test case in api_surface_changes.json only covers a single, simple scenario. More complex valid scenarios would help to ensure that the validation rules are not overly aggressive.

Recommendations

  1. Use Error Codes or Specific Exception Types: Instead of relying on substring matching in error messages, introduce error codes or more specific exception types to make the assertions more robust.

  2. Externalize Source Code: For more complex test cases, consider moving the source code to separate files and referencing them from the JSON fixtures. This would improve readability and reusability.

  3. Expand Positive Test Cases: Add more complex and varied positive test cases to the validation fixtures to better test the boundaries of the validation rules.

Duplicate Check

  • Search Queries: "test data quality", "fixture", "assertion"
  • Results: The search results were truncated, so a complete duplicate check was not possible. However, no duplicates were found in the visible results.

Subtasks

  • Introduce error codes or specific exception types in features/fixtures/validation/suite_helpers.py to replace substring-based expected_message_contains assertions
  • Externalize complex source code snippets from JSON fixture files into separate referenced files
  • Add more complex and varied positive test cases to api_surface_changes.json and related validation fixture files
  • Update all affected step definitions and fixture helpers to use the new error code/exception-based assertions
  • Verify all nox quality gates pass after changes

Definition of Done

  • verify_fixture_result no longer relies solely on substring matching for error message assertions
  • Complex source code is externalized from JSON fixtures where appropriate
  • At least 3 additional positive test cases added to validation fixtures
  • All existing tests continue to pass
  • All nox stages pass
  • Coverage >= 97%

Backlog note: This issue was discovered during autonomous operation
on milestone v3.8.0. It does not block milestone completion and has been
placed in the backlog for human review and future milestone assignment.


Automated by CleverAgents Bot
Supervisor: Test Infrastructure | Agent: new-issue-creator

## Metadata - **Branch**: `test/infra/test-data-quality-validation-fixtures` - **Commit Message**: `test(infra): improve test data quality in validation fixtures` - **Milestone**: Backlog - **Parent Epic**: #5407 ## Description During an analysis of the test data quality, several areas for improvement were identified in the validation fixtures located in `features/fixtures/validation`. While the current implementation is well-structured, the following suggestions would improve the robustness and maintainability of the tests. ## Findings 1. **Brittle Assertions:** The `verify_fixture_result` function in `features/fixtures/validation/suite_helpers.py` uses `expected_message_contains` to check for substrings in error messages. This can lead to flaky tests if the error messages are refactored. 2. **Hardcoded Source Code:** The source code for each test case is embedded directly in the JSON fixture files. This is acceptable for small snippets, but for more complex scenarios, it can become difficult to manage and reuse code. 3. **Limited Positive Test Cases:** The "valid_api_usage" test case in `api_surface_changes.json` only covers a single, simple scenario. More complex valid scenarios would help to ensure that the validation rules are not overly aggressive. ## Recommendations 1. **Use Error Codes or Specific Exception Types:** Instead of relying on substring matching in error messages, introduce error codes or more specific exception types to make the assertions more robust. 2. **Externalize Source Code:** For more complex test cases, consider moving the source code to separate files and referencing them from the JSON fixtures. This would improve readability and reusability. 3. **Expand Positive Test Cases:** Add more complex and varied positive test cases to the validation fixtures to better test the boundaries of the validation rules. ## Duplicate Check - **Search Queries:** "test data quality", "fixture", "assertion" - **Results:** The search results were truncated, so a complete duplicate check was not possible. However, no duplicates were found in the visible results. ## Subtasks - [ ] Introduce error codes or specific exception types in `features/fixtures/validation/suite_helpers.py` to replace substring-based `expected_message_contains` assertions - [ ] Externalize complex source code snippets from JSON fixture files into separate referenced files - [ ] Add more complex and varied positive test cases to `api_surface_changes.json` and related validation fixture files - [ ] Update all affected step definitions and fixture helpers to use the new error code/exception-based assertions - [ ] Verify all nox quality gates pass after changes ## Definition of Done - [ ] `verify_fixture_result` no longer relies solely on substring matching for error message assertions - [ ] Complex source code is externalized from JSON fixtures where appropriate - [ ] At least 3 additional positive test cases added to validation fixtures - [ ] All existing tests continue to pass - [ ] All nox stages pass - [ ] Coverage >= 97% > **Backlog note:** This issue was discovered during autonomous operation > on milestone v3.8.0. It does not block milestone completion and has been > placed in the backlog for human review and future milestone assignment. --- **Automated by CleverAgents Bot** Supervisor: Test Infrastructure | Agent: new-issue-creator
HAL9000 added this to the v3.8.0 milestone 2026-04-09 21:19:17 +00:00
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Reference
cleveragents/cleveragents-core#6143
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