Improve Test Data Quality and Realism in Behave and Robot Framework Suites #9048

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opened 2026-04-14 06:36:26 +00:00 by HAL9000 · 1 comment
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Metadata

  • Commit Message: test(data): introduce dynamic data generation and externalize test data in Behave and Robot Framework suites
  • Branch: test/improve-test-data-quality-realism

Background and Context

The current test data in both Behave and Robot Framework suites relies heavily on hardcoded, simplistic, and unrealistic values. This makes the tests brittle, harder to maintain, and less effective at catching bugs that only manifest with more realistic data.

Specific observations:

  • Hardcoded Data: Many feature files (e.g., features/data_variation_edge_cases.feature, features/acms/uko_layer2_paradigm_vocabularies.feature) and Robot Framework helper scripts (e.g., robot/helper_acms_fusion.py) use hardcoded values for test scenarios. This makes it difficult to extend the tests with new data variations and increases the maintenance overhead when data formats change.
  • Unrealistic Data: The test data often lacks realism. For example, in robot/helper_acms_fusion.py, the content of ContextFragment objects is simplistic (e.g., "alpha", "beta"). This may not adequately test the system's ability to handle real-world data.
  • Limited Data Variety: The current data often covers only a limited set of "happy path" scenarios. While there are some edge case tests, they are not comprehensive and could be improved by generating a wider variety of data.

Expected Behavior

When this issue is complete:

  • Behave feature files and Robot Framework helper scripts use dynamically generated, realistic test data via Faker (or equivalent) instead of hardcoded literals.
  • Large datasets are externalized to JSON/YAML/CSV files under the appropriate test directories, making them easy to manage and reuse.
  • Test data factories or helper functions encapsulate the logic for creating complex test objects (e.g., ContextFragment, vocabulary entries), improving readability and reducing duplication.
  • A wider range of scenarios — including edge cases, boundary values, and invalid inputs — is covered by the generated data.

Acceptance Criteria

  • At least one data generation helper (using Faker or equivalent) is introduced under features/ (for Behave) and/or robot/ (for Robot Framework) that produces realistic values for the identified hardcoded fields.
  • robot/helper_acms_fusion.py ContextFragment content values are replaced with dynamically generated realistic text rather than literals like "alpha" / "beta".
  • At least one large hardcoded dataset in a feature file or helper script is externalized to a JSON, YAML, or CSV file and loaded at runtime.
  • Test data factory functions or classes are introduced that encapsulate construction of complex test objects.
  • All existing Behave scenarios and Robot Framework tests continue to pass after the refactor (nox -s unit_tests and nox -s integration_tests pass).
  • Test coverage remains ≥ 97% (nox -s coverage_report passes).
  • nox (all default sessions) passes with no new errors.

Subtasks

  • Audit features/data_variation_edge_cases.feature and features/acms/uko_layer2_paradigm_vocabularies.feature for hardcoded values that should be dynamically generated
  • Audit robot/helper_acms_fusion.py for hardcoded ContextFragment content and other simplistic literals
  • Add Faker (or equivalent) as a test dependency in pyproject.toml / nox session configuration
  • Implement a Behave test data factory module under features/ that generates realistic values using Faker
  • Implement a Robot Framework test data helper under robot/ that generates realistic values using Faker
  • Replace hardcoded ContextFragment content in robot/helper_acms_fusion.py with factory-generated realistic text
  • Externalize at least one large hardcoded dataset from a feature file or helper script to a JSON/YAML/CSV file
  • Update affected step definitions and Robot keywords to load from the externalized data files
  • Expand edge-case and boundary-value scenarios using the new data generation helpers
  • Run nox -s unit_tests and nox -s integration_tests — fix any failures
  • Run nox -s coverage_report — verify coverage ≥ 97%
  • Run nox (all default sessions) — fix any errors

Definition of Done

This issue is complete when:

  • All subtasks above are completed and checked off.
  • A Git commit is created where the first line of the commit message matches the Commit Message in Metadata exactly (test(data): introduce dynamic data generation and externalize test data in Behave and Robot Framework suites), followed by a blank line, then additional lines providing relevant details about the implementation.
  • The commit is pushed to the remote on the branch matching the Branch in Metadata exactly (test/improve-test-data-quality-realism).
  • The commit is submitted as a pull request to master, reviewed, and merged before this issue is marked done.

References

  • Faker PyPI
  • features/data_variation_edge_cases.feature
  • features/acms/uko_layer2_paradigm_vocabularies.feature
  • robot/helper_acms_fusion.py

Automated by CleverAgents Bot
Agent: new-issue-creator

## Metadata - **Commit Message**: `test(data): introduce dynamic data generation and externalize test data in Behave and Robot Framework suites` - **Branch**: `test/improve-test-data-quality-realism` ## Background and Context The current test data in both Behave and Robot Framework suites relies heavily on hardcoded, simplistic, and unrealistic values. This makes the tests brittle, harder to maintain, and less effective at catching bugs that only manifest with more realistic data. Specific observations: - **Hardcoded Data:** Many feature files (e.g., `features/data_variation_edge_cases.feature`, `features/acms/uko_layer2_paradigm_vocabularies.feature`) and Robot Framework helper scripts (e.g., `robot/helper_acms_fusion.py`) use hardcoded values for test scenarios. This makes it difficult to extend the tests with new data variations and increases the maintenance overhead when data formats change. - **Unrealistic Data:** The test data often lacks realism. For example, in `robot/helper_acms_fusion.py`, the content of `ContextFragment` objects is simplistic (e.g., `"alpha"`, `"beta"`). This may not adequately test the system's ability to handle real-world data. - **Limited Data Variety:** The current data often covers only a limited set of "happy path" scenarios. While there are some edge case tests, they are not comprehensive and could be improved by generating a wider variety of data. ## Expected Behavior When this issue is complete: - Behave feature files and Robot Framework helper scripts use dynamically generated, realistic test data via Faker (or equivalent) instead of hardcoded literals. - Large datasets are externalized to JSON/YAML/CSV files under the appropriate test directories, making them easy to manage and reuse. - Test data factories or helper functions encapsulate the logic for creating complex test objects (e.g., `ContextFragment`, vocabulary entries), improving readability and reducing duplication. - A wider range of scenarios — including edge cases, boundary values, and invalid inputs — is covered by the generated data. ## Acceptance Criteria - [ ] At least one data generation helper (using Faker or equivalent) is introduced under `features/` (for Behave) and/or `robot/` (for Robot Framework) that produces realistic values for the identified hardcoded fields. - [ ] `robot/helper_acms_fusion.py` `ContextFragment` content values are replaced with dynamically generated realistic text rather than literals like `"alpha"` / `"beta"`. - [ ] At least one large hardcoded dataset in a feature file or helper script is externalized to a JSON, YAML, or CSV file and loaded at runtime. - [ ] Test data factory functions or classes are introduced that encapsulate construction of complex test objects. - [ ] All existing Behave scenarios and Robot Framework tests continue to pass after the refactor (`nox -s unit_tests` and `nox -s integration_tests` pass). - [ ] Test coverage remains ≥ 97% (`nox -s coverage_report` passes). - [ ] `nox` (all default sessions) passes with no new errors. ## Subtasks - [ ] Audit `features/data_variation_edge_cases.feature` and `features/acms/uko_layer2_paradigm_vocabularies.feature` for hardcoded values that should be dynamically generated - [ ] Audit `robot/helper_acms_fusion.py` for hardcoded `ContextFragment` content and other simplistic literals - [ ] Add Faker (or equivalent) as a test dependency in `pyproject.toml` / nox session configuration - [ ] Implement a Behave test data factory module under `features/` that generates realistic values using Faker - [ ] Implement a Robot Framework test data helper under `robot/` that generates realistic values using Faker - [ ] Replace hardcoded `ContextFragment` content in `robot/helper_acms_fusion.py` with factory-generated realistic text - [ ] Externalize at least one large hardcoded dataset from a feature file or helper script to a JSON/YAML/CSV file - [ ] Update affected step definitions and Robot keywords to load from the externalized data files - [ ] Expand edge-case and boundary-value scenarios using the new data generation helpers - [ ] Run `nox -s unit_tests` and `nox -s integration_tests` — fix any failures - [ ] Run `nox -s coverage_report` — verify coverage ≥ 97% - [ ] Run `nox` (all default sessions) — fix any errors ## Definition of Done This issue is complete when: - All subtasks above are completed and checked off. - A Git commit is created where the **first line** of the commit message matches the Commit Message in Metadata exactly (`test(data): introduce dynamic data generation and externalize test data in Behave and Robot Framework suites`), followed by a blank line, then additional lines providing relevant details about the implementation. - The commit is pushed to the remote on the branch matching the **Branch** in Metadata exactly (`test/improve-test-data-quality-realism`). - The commit is submitted as a **pull request** to `master`, reviewed, and **merged** before this issue is marked done. ## References - [Faker PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/Faker/) - `features/data_variation_edge_cases.feature` - `features/acms/uko_layer2_paradigm_vocabularies.feature` - `robot/helper_acms_fusion.py` --- **Automated by CleverAgents Bot** Agent: new-issue-creator
HAL9000 added this to the v3.9.0 milestone 2026-04-14 07:03:18 +00:00
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Verified — Test data quality improvement for Behave and Robot Framework suites. MoSCoW: Should-have. Priority: Medium.


Automated by CleverAgents Bot
Supervisor: Project Owner | Agent: project-owner-pool-supervisor

✅ **Verified** — Test data quality improvement for Behave and Robot Framework suites. MoSCoW: Should-have. Priority: Medium. --- **Automated by CleverAgents Bot** Supervisor: Project Owner | Agent: project-owner-pool-supervisor
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cleveragents/cleveragents-core#9048
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