Test Task Executor

Runs a single Story final test task (label "tests") through implementation/execution to To Review.

Purpose & Scope

• Handle only tasks labeled "tests"; other tasks go to ln-401.
• Follow the 11-section test task plan (E2E/Integration/Unit, infra/docs/cleanup).
• Enforce risk-based constraints: Priority ≤15; E2E 2-5, Integration 0-8, Unit 0-15, total 10-28; no framework/DB/library/performance tests.
• Update Linear/kanban for this task only: Todo -> In Progress -> To Review.

Task Storage Mode

Aspect	Linear Mode	File Mode
Load task	get_issue(task_id)	Read("docs/tasks/epics/.../tasks/T{NNN}-*.md")
Load Story	get_issue(parent_id)	Read("docs/tasks/epics/.../story.md")
Update status	update_issue(id, state)	Edit the **Status:** line in file
Test results	Linear comment	Append to task file

File Mode transitions: Todo → In Progress → To Review

Workflow (concise)

1. Receive task: Get task ID from orchestrator (ln-400); fetch full test task description (Linear: get_issue; File: Read task file); read linked guides/manuals/ADRs/research; review parent Story and manual test results if provided.
2. Read runbook: Read docs/project/runbook.md — understand test environment setup, Docker commands, test execution prerequisites. Use exact commands from runbook.
3. Validate plan: Check Priority ≤15 and test count limits; ensure focus on business flows (no infra-only tests).
4. Start work: Set task In Progress (Linear: update_issue; File: Edit status line); move in kanban.
5. Implement & run: Author/update tests per plan; reuse existing fixtures/helpers; run tests; fix failing existing tests; update infra/doc sections as required.
6. Complete: Ensure counts/priority still within limits; set task To Review; move in kanban; add comment summarizing coverage, commands run, and any deviations.

Critical Rules

• Single-task only; no bulk updates.
• Do not mark Done; ln-402 approves. Task must end in To Review.
• Keep language (EN/RU) consistent with task.
• No framework/library/DB/performance/load tests; focus on business logic correctness (not infrastructure throughput).
• Respect limits and priority; if violated, stop and return with findings.
• Do NOT commit. Leave all changes uncommitted — ln-402 reviews and commits with task ID reference.

Definition of Done

• Task identified as test task and set to In Progress; kanban updated.
• Plan validated (priority/limits) and guides read.
• Tests implemented/updated and executed; existing failures fixed.
• Docs/infra updates applied per task plan.
• Task set to To Review; kanban moved; summary comment added with commands and coverage.

Test Failure Analysis Protocol

CRITICAL: When a newly written test fails, STOP and analyze BEFORE changing anything (failing new tests often indicate implementation bugs, not test issues — fixing blindly masks root cause).

Step 1: Verify Test Correctness

• Does test match AC requirements exactly? (Given/When/Then from Story)
• Is expected value correct per business logic?
• If uncertain: Query ref_search_documentation(query="[domain] expected behavior")

Step 2: Decision

Test matches AC?	Action
YES	BUG IN CODE → Fix implementation, not test
NO	Test is wrong → Fix test assertion
UNCERTAIN	MANDATORY: Query MCP Ref + ask user before changing

Step 3: Document in Linear comment
"Test [name] failed. Analysis: [test correct / test wrong]. Action: [fixed code / fixed test]. Reason: [justification]"

RED FLAGS (require user confirmation):

• ⚠️ Changing assertion to match actual output ("make test green")
• ⚠️ Removing test case that "doesn't work"
• ⚠️ Weakening expectations (e.g., toContain instead of toEqual)

GREEN LIGHTS (safe to proceed):

• ✅ Fixing typo in test setup/mock data
• ✅ Fixing code to match AC requirements
• ✅ Adding missing test setup step

Test Writing Principles

1. Strict Assertions - Fail on Any Mismatch

Use exact match assertions by default:

Strict (PREFER)	Loose (AVOID unless justified)
Exact equality check	Partial/substring match
Exact length check	"Has any length" check
Full object comparison	Partial object match
Exact type check	Truthy/falsy check

WARN-level assertions FORBIDDEN - test either PASS or FAIL, no warnings.

2. Expected-Based Testing for Deterministic Output

For deterministic responses (API, transformations):

• Use snapshot/golden file testing for complex deterministic output
• Compare actual output vs expected reference file
• Normalize dynamic data before comparison (timestamps → fixed, UUIDs → placeholder)

3. Golden Rule

"If you know the expected value, assert the exact value."

Forbidden: Using loose assertions to "make test pass" when exact value is known.

Reference Files

• Kanban format: docs/tasks/kanban_board.md

---

Version: 3.2.0
Last Updated: 2026-01-15