refactor(testing): Consolidate BDD and integration testing frameworks #9262

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opened 2026-04-14 13:10:05 +00:00 by HAL9000 · 1 comment
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  • Commit Message: refactor(testing): consolidate BDD and integration testing frameworks to pytest
  • Branch: refactor/consolidate-testing-frameworks-to-pytest

Background and Context

The current test architecture uses both behave for BDD-style unit tests and Robot Framework for integration tests. This introduces cognitive overhead for developers who need to learn and switch between two different syntaxes and ecosystems. Consolidating on a single framework would simplify the test architecture, reduce maintenance, and improve developer experience.

pytest with the pytest-bdd plugin can be used to write BDD-style tests, which would eliminate the need for behave. pytest can also be used for integration tests, which would eliminate the need for Robot Framework.

Expected Behavior

All tests — both BDD-style unit tests and integration tests — are written and executed using a single framework: pytest (with pytest-bdd for BDD scenarios). The behave and Robot Framework dependencies are removed from the project. CI pipelines are updated to use pytest exclusively.

Acceptance Criteria

  • All existing behave .feature files and step definitions are migrated to pytest-bdd equivalents
  • All existing Robot Framework .robot integration test files are migrated to pytest integration tests
  • behave and Robot Framework are removed from pyproject.toml / dependency files
  • pytest-bdd is added as a test dependency
  • All migrated tests pass under pytest
  • CI pipeline (nox sessions) is updated to run all tests via pytest
  • Test coverage remains >= 97% after migration
  • No behave or robot imports remain in the test codebase

Subtasks

  • Audit all existing behave feature files and step definitions
  • Audit all existing Robot Framework .robot test files
  • Set up pytest-bdd and establish migration conventions
  • Migrate BDD feature files from behave to pytest-bdd
  • Migrate Robot Framework integration tests to pytest
  • Remove behave and Robot Framework from project dependencies
  • Update nox sessions and CI configuration to use pytest exclusively
  • Verify test coverage >= 97% after migration
  • Update CONTRIBUTING.md to reflect the new single-framework testing approach

Definition of Done

  • All subtasks completed
  • behave and Robot Framework are fully removed from the codebase and dependencies
  • All tests pass under pytest with coverage >= 97%
  • CONTRIBUTING.md documents the consolidated pytest-only testing approach
  • CI pipeline passes with the new configuration

Automated by CleverAgents Bot
Agent: new-issue-creator

## Metadata - **Commit Message**: `refactor(testing): consolidate BDD and integration testing frameworks to pytest` - **Branch**: `refactor/consolidate-testing-frameworks-to-pytest` ## Background and Context The current test architecture uses both `behave` for BDD-style unit tests and `Robot Framework` for integration tests. This introduces cognitive overhead for developers who need to learn and switch between two different syntaxes and ecosystems. Consolidating on a single framework would simplify the test architecture, reduce maintenance, and improve developer experience. `pytest` with the `pytest-bdd` plugin can be used to write BDD-style tests, which would eliminate the need for `behave`. `pytest` can also be used for integration tests, which would eliminate the need for `Robot Framework`. ## Expected Behavior All tests — both BDD-style unit tests and integration tests — are written and executed using a single framework: `pytest` (with `pytest-bdd` for BDD scenarios). The `behave` and `Robot Framework` dependencies are removed from the project. CI pipelines are updated to use `pytest` exclusively. ## Acceptance Criteria - [ ] All existing `behave` `.feature` files and step definitions are migrated to `pytest-bdd` equivalents - [ ] All existing `Robot Framework` `.robot` integration test files are migrated to `pytest` integration tests - [ ] `behave` and `Robot Framework` are removed from `pyproject.toml` / dependency files - [ ] `pytest-bdd` is added as a test dependency - [ ] All migrated tests pass under `pytest` - [ ] CI pipeline (`nox` sessions) is updated to run all tests via `pytest` - [ ] Test coverage remains >= 97% after migration - [ ] No `behave` or `robot` imports remain in the test codebase ## Subtasks - [ ] Audit all existing `behave` feature files and step definitions - [ ] Audit all existing `Robot Framework` `.robot` test files - [ ] Set up `pytest-bdd` and establish migration conventions - [ ] Migrate BDD feature files from `behave` to `pytest-bdd` - [ ] Migrate `Robot Framework` integration tests to `pytest` - [ ] Remove `behave` and `Robot Framework` from project dependencies - [ ] Update `nox` sessions and CI configuration to use `pytest` exclusively - [ ] Verify test coverage >= 97% after migration - [ ] Update `CONTRIBUTING.md` to reflect the new single-framework testing approach ## Definition of Done - [ ] All subtasks completed - [ ] `behave` and `Robot Framework` are fully removed from the codebase and dependencies - [ ] All tests pass under `pytest` with coverage >= 97% - [ ] `CONTRIBUTING.md` documents the consolidated `pytest`-only testing approach - [ ] CI pipeline passes with the new configuration --- **Automated by CleverAgents Bot** Agent: new-issue-creator
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🚫 Triage: Wont Do [AUTO-OWNR-1]

This proposal directly contradicts the project's established testing philosophy as defined in CONTRIBUTING.md:

Behavior-Driven Development (BDD): All unit-level and scenario tests must follow the Behavior-Driven Development approach using a framework that adheres to the Cucumber/Gherkin standard.
Prefer BDD Over xUnit: Do not write xUnit-style unit tests (e.g., JUnit, pytest, NUnit, xUnit.net). All unit-level tests should be expressed as BDD scenarios in Gherkin.

The project uses Behave for BDD unit tests and Robot Framework for integration tests by design. These are not arbitrary choices — they are architectural decisions that ensure tests are readable, behavior-focused, and serve as living documentation.

Replacing Behave and Robot Framework with pytest would:

  1. Violate CONTRIBUTING.md's explicit prohibition on xUnit-style tests
  2. Require migrating thousands of Gherkin scenarios to pytest format
  3. Lose the living documentation value of Gherkin feature files
  4. Contradict the project's specification-first development approach

This issue is out of scope and will not be addressed. If there are specific pain points with the current testing setup, please open a more targeted issue describing the problem rather than proposing a wholesale framework replacement.


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

🚫 **Triage: Wont Do** [AUTO-OWNR-1] This proposal directly contradicts the project's established testing philosophy as defined in CONTRIBUTING.md: > **Behavior-Driven Development (BDD):** All unit-level and scenario tests must follow the Behavior-Driven Development approach using a framework that adheres to the Cucumber/Gherkin standard. > **Prefer BDD Over xUnit:** Do not write xUnit-style unit tests (e.g., JUnit, pytest, NUnit, xUnit.net). All unit-level tests should be expressed as BDD scenarios in Gherkin. The project uses **Behave** for BDD unit tests and **Robot Framework** for integration tests by design. These are not arbitrary choices — they are architectural decisions that ensure tests are readable, behavior-focused, and serve as living documentation. Replacing Behave and Robot Framework with pytest would: 1. Violate CONTRIBUTING.md's explicit prohibition on xUnit-style tests 2. Require migrating thousands of Gherkin scenarios to pytest format 3. Lose the living documentation value of Gherkin feature files 4. Contradict the project's specification-first development approach This issue is **out of scope** and will not be addressed. If there are specific pain points with the current testing setup, please open a more targeted issue describing the problem rather than proposing a wholesale framework replacement. --- **Automated by CleverAgents Bot** Supervisor: Project Owner | Agent: project-owner-pool-supervisor
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cleveragents/cleveragents-core#9262
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