Task Testing

Task Testing Skill

Role: Domain-agnostic workflow skill for executing testing tasks (profile=testing). Loaded by pm-workflow:task-execute-agent when task.profile is testing.

Key Pattern: Agent loads this skill via resolve-workflow-skill --domain {domain} --phase testing. Skill executes a test-focused workflow: understand context → plan tests → implement tests → verify. Domain-specific testing knowledge comes from task.skills (loaded by agent).

Contract Compliance

MANDATORY: Follow the execution contract defined in:

Two-Tier Skill Loading

See pm-workflow-architecture:skill-loading for the complete two-tier skill loading pattern with visual diagrams.

Summary: Agent loads Tier 1 (system skills) automatically, then Tier 2 (domain skills from task.skills). This workflow skill defines HOW the agent executes tests.

Input

Output

status: success | error
plan_id: {echo}
task_number: {echo}
execution_summary:
  steps_completed: N
  steps_total: M
  files_modified: [paths]
  tests_written: N
  coverage_impact: {if available}
verification:
  passed: true | false
  command: "{cmd}"
  tests_passed: N
  tests_failed: N
next_action: task_complete | requires_attention
message: {error message if status=error}

Workflow

Step 1: Load Task Context

Read the task file to understand what tests need to be written:

python3 .plan/execute-script.py pm-workflow:manage-tasks:manage-tasks get \
  --plan-id {plan_id} \
  --task-number {task_number}

Extract key fields:

• domain: Domain for this task
• profile: Should be testing
• skills: Domain testing skills to apply (already loaded by agent)
• description: What tests to create
• steps: File paths (test files) to work on
• verification: How to verify tests pass
• depends_on: Dependencies (implementation tasks should be complete)

Step 2: Understand Implementation Context

Before writing tests, understand what is being tested:

Read implementation files:

# Find the implementation being tested
# Test file: src/test/java/com/example/UserServiceTest.java
# Implementation: src/main/java/com/example/UserService.java

# Java pattern
Grep "class UserService" --type java
Read {implementation_file}

# JavaScript pattern
Glob src/**/*.{js,ts}
Read {implementation_file}

Identify testable elements:

• Public methods/functions
• Edge cases and error conditions
• Input validation
• Integration points
• Configuration behaviors

Step 3: Plan Test Implementation

For each step (test file path), determine:

• What test scenarios to cover
• Test structure (unit vs integration)
• Mocking requirements
• Assertions needed
• Setup/teardown requirements

Mark step as in-progress:

python3 .plan/execute-script.py pm-workflow:manage-tasks:manage-tasks update-step \
  --plan-id {plan_id} \
  --task-number {task_number} \
  --step-number {N} \
  --status in_progress

Step 4: Implement Tests

For each step (test file path):

Create new test file:

Write {test_file_path}
# Apply testing patterns from domain skills
# Follow AAA pattern (Arrange-Act-Assert)
# Include setup/teardown if needed

Modify existing test file:

Edit {test_file_path}
# Add new test methods
# Maintain existing test structure
# Follow project test conventions

Apply testing patterns:

• Use AAA structure (Arrange, Act, Assert)
• Follow domain testing skill patterns (JUnit 5, Jest, etc.)
• Include positive and negative test cases
• Add descriptive test names
• Include documentation for complex tests

Step 5: Test Structure Patterns

Unit Test Pattern:

1. Setup test class/describe block
2. Create setup method (@BeforeEach, beforeEach)
3. Write test methods for each scenario:
   - Happy path tests
   - Edge case tests
   - Error/exception tests
   - Boundary tests
4. Add teardown if needed
5. Include clear assertions

Integration Test Pattern:

1. Setup test class with integration annotations
2. Configure test dependencies (database, services)
3. Write tests that verify component interactions
4. Include proper cleanup
5. Mark as integration test (@IT suffix, separate folder)

Step 6: Mark Step Complete

After each step:

python3 .plan/execute-script.py pm-workflow:manage-tasks:manage-tasks update-step \
  --plan-id {plan_id} \
  --task-number {task_number} \
  --step-number {N} \
  --status completed

Step 7: Run Verification

After all test files are written, run verification:

# Execute verification commands from task
{verification.commands[0]}

Verification patterns by domain:

• Java: mvn test -Dtest={TestClass} or ./gradlew test --tests {TestClass}
• JavaScript: npm test -- --testPathPattern={pattern} or npm run test:unit
• General: Domain-specific test commands from task

Step 8: Handle Test Results

If all tests pass:

python3 .plan/execute-script.py pm-workflow:manage-tasks:manage-tasks update \
  --plan-id {plan_id} \
  --task-number {task_number} \
  --status completed

If tests fail:

1. Analyze test failures
2. Determine if test logic is wrong or implementation has bug
3. If test logic issue → fix test
4. If implementation bug discovered → note in task, don't fix implementation
5. Re-run tests
6. Iterate until pass (max 3 iterations)

If still failing after 3 iterations:

python3 .plan/execute-script.py pm-workflow:manage-tasks:manage-tasks update \
  --plan-id {plan_id} \
  --task-number {task_number} \
  --status blocked \
  --notes "Tests failing after 3 attempts: {failure summary}"

Step 9: Record Lessons

On issues or unexpected patterns:

python3 .plan/execute-script.py plan-marshall:lessons-learned:manage-lesson add \
  --component-type skill \
  --component-name task-testing \
  --category observation \
  --title "{issue summary}" \
  --detail "{context and resolution}"

Step 10: Return Results

status: success
plan_id: {plan_id}
task_number: {task_number}
execution_summary:
  steps_completed: {N}
  steps_total: {M}
  files_modified:
    - {test_path1}
    - {test_path2}
  tests_written: {count}
verification:
  passed: true
  command: "{test command}"
  tests_passed: {N}
  tests_failed: 0
next_action: task_complete

Testing Patterns by Domain

Java Testing (JUnit 5)

@DisplayName("UserService Tests")
class UserServiceTest {

    @BeforeEach
    void setUp() {
        // Arrange - setup
    }

    @Test
    @DisplayName("should return user when valid ID provided")
    void shouldReturnUserWhenValidIdProvided() {
        // Arrange
        // Act
        // Assert
    }

    @Test
    @DisplayName("should throw exception when user not found")
    void shouldThrowExceptionWhenUserNotFound() {
        // Arrange
        // Act & Assert
        assertThrows(UserNotFoundException.class, () -> ...);
    }
}

JavaScript Testing (Jest)

describe('UserService', () => {
    beforeEach(() => {
        // Arrange - setup
    });

    it('should return user when valid ID provided', () => {
        // Arrange
        // Act
        // Assert
        expect(result).toEqual(expectedUser);
    });

    it('should throw error when user not found', () => {
        // Arrange
        // Act & Assert
        expect(() => service.getUser('invalid')).toThrow();
    });
});

Test Coverage Considerations

When writing tests, consider:

Error Handling

Implementation Not Found

If implementation to test doesn't exist:

• Check if implementation task is in dependencies
• If yes, mark task as blocked
• If no, note in lessons learned

Flaky Tests

If tests pass/fail inconsistently:

• Add retry logic in test
• Investigate timing issues
• Consider mocking external dependencies

Missing Dependencies

If test requires unavailable dependencies:

• Use mocks/stubs
• Document mocking approach
• Note any limitations

Integration

Invoked by: pm-workflow:task-execute-agent (when task.profile = testing)

Skill Loading: Agent loads this skill from config.workflow_skills.{domain}.testing

Script Notations (use EXACTLY as shown):

• pm-workflow:manage-tasks:manage-tasks - Task operations (get, update, update-step)
• plan-marshall:lessons-learned:manage-lesson - Record lessons (add)

Domain Testing Skills Applied (loaded by agent from task.skills):

• Java: pm-dev-java:java-core, pm-dev-java:junit-core, pm-dev-java:junit-integration
• JavaScript: pm-dev-frontend:cui-javascript, pm-dev-frontend:cui-javascript-unit-testing, pm-dev-frontend:cui-cypress
• Apply patterns from whatever domain testing skills are listed in task.skills