element-hq Constrained test runs
CI runners shared + slow. Background tasks starve, awaits stretch, scheduler races flake there, pass locally. --constrained saturate CPU with hog tasks — same conditions, local.
When
- PR add/rework suite heavy on timing-sensitive async:
deferFulfillment,waitForConfirmation,TestClock,transitionValues, timeouts. - Test fail on CI, pass locally.
- Not routine changes, not sync suites — slow, no gain.
How
Full unit test workflow (what CI run):
swift run tools ci unit-tests --constrained
One suite, iterate on new tests (prefer while developing):
swift run tools ci run-tests --scheme UnitTests --test-name MyNewTests --constrained
Hog count automatic (2× cores). Suite survive ~10 constrained iterations → good shape.
Failures mean
Failure under constraint = real bug in test (sometimes code under test): assertion race async work, transient state observation missed, timeout too tight. Fix synchronisation, no blind timeout bump. Helpers in UnitTests/Sources/TestUtilities/ (deferFulfillment, deferFailure, waitForConfirmation). Wait on durable state, not transient.