PHP Testing Skill

PHP Testing

Quick Start

• Prefer the repository's current testing style, helpers, factories, fixtures, and naming before introducing new patterns.
• Detect the active stack first:
  • composer.json / composer.lock -- check PHPUnit and Pest major versions
  • phpunit.xml or phpunit.xml.dist
  • tests/Pest.php
  • tests/, app/, src/, config/, .github/workflows/
• Identify the PHPUnit major version early -- it determines annotation vs attribute syntax, available assertions, and mock API surface. See references/framework-detection.md for version-specific rules.
• Run python3 ./scripts/survey_php_project.py <repo-root> when the project is unfamiliar or large. Use the output to summarize frameworks, test tooling, app layout, configs, and CI.
• Read only the references needed for the current task:
  • references/framework-detection.md
  • references/test-authoring.md
  • references/phpunit-optimization.md
  • references/github-actions.md

Workflow

1. Detect the project type and test runner before writing code.
2. Inventory the domain under app/ or src/:
   • controllers, models/entities, services, repositories, jobs/commands, middleware, events/listeners, exceptions, policies, helpers, traits
3. Inventory config/, .env.example, phpunit.xml*, and CI files to find:
   • database settings
   • queue/cache/session/mail drivers
   • parallel-test hooks
   • bootstrap and environment assumptions
4. Match the closest existing test layer and style:
   • PHPUnit class style if the repo is PHPUnit-first
   • Pest syntax if the repo is Pest-first or mixed
5. Create or repair the smallest test set that covers the requested behavior and the main regression path.
6. Run the narrowest useful verification command first, then broaden if needed.
7. If asked to optimize or modernize test tooling, adjust config after checking for project-specific constraints.

Test Layer Selection

• Create unit tests for pure helpers, value objects, services with mocked boundaries, repositories with isolated query behavior, custom exceptions, resources, and small framework adapters.
• Create feature/integration tests for HTTP endpoints, console commands, jobs, notifications, policies, and database-backed flows.
• Treat E2E in PHP pragmatically:
  • If Pest v4 browser testing (pestphp/pest-plugin-browser), Laravel Dusk, Symfony Panther, Playwright, or another browser/E2E tool already exists, extend that stack.
  • If no browser stack exists, implement end-to-end coverage as full application flow tests through HTTP, console, queues, or persistence boundaries using the repo's existing framework test harness.
  • Pest v4 browser tests use Playwright under the hood and support device simulation, dark mode, smoke testing (assertNoSmoke()), and visual regression (assertScreenshotMatches()). Prefer this over Dusk for new Pest v4 projects unless Dusk is already established.
• Do not add a new browser framework unless the user asks for it or the repo already supports it.

App And Config Analysis

• Start with directory shape, not assumptions. Top-level folders often reveal the architecture faster than individual classes.
• In app/ or src/, identify the project's real seams:
  • service layer and orchestration points
  • repositories or query objects
  • model/entity relationships
  • exception hierarchies
  • HTTP/controller validation boundaries
  • async boundaries such as jobs, events, listeners, mail, notifications
• In config/, focus on settings that change test behavior:
  • database connections
  • cache/queue/session/mail drivers
  • feature flags
  • third-party service toggles
  • auth and guard configuration
  • filesystem disks
• Prefer describing the discovered conventions back to the user through the resulting tests and config changes instead of writing generic boilerplate.

Working In Mixed PHPUnit And Pest Repos

• Expect mixed repos. A project can depend on both phpunit/phpunit and pestphp/pest.
• If Pest is installed and tests/Pest.php exists, prefer Pest for new tests unless nearby files strongly suggest PHPUnit classes.
• If the repo is PHPUnit-only and the user asks for Pest:
  • install Pest packages consistent with the framework
  • create tests/Pest.php
  • keep existing PHPUnit tests working
  • convert incrementally, not as a large rewrite, unless explicitly requested
  • consider pestphp/pest-plugin-drift for automated conversion of PHPUnit classes to Pest syntax
• Never convert an existing suite wholesale just to satisfy a small feature request.

PHPUnit Version Awareness

• PHPUnit 12+ removed all docblock annotations (@covers, @dataProvider, @test, etc.). Use PHP 8 attributes exclusively.
• PHPUnit 10-11 support both annotations and attributes. Prefer attributes for new code but match existing convention.
• PHPUnit 10 removed withConsecutive(). PHPUnit 13 provides withParameterSetsInOrder() and withParameterSetsInAnyOrder() as replacements. For PHPUnit 10-12, use chained willReturnOnConsecutiveCalls() or manual callback logic.
• PHPUnit 12+ removed getMockForAbstractClass(), getMockForTrait(), and createTestProxy(). Use createMock() or createStub() instead.
• PHPUnit 13 introduces sealed mock objects (seal()) and eight new array assertion methods.
• Always check the project's PHPUnit major version before writing test metadata or mock code. Use --migrate-configuration to update phpunit.xml schema when upgrading.

Regression Safety

• When fixing a bug, reproduce the failing behavior first in a focused test.
• When adjusting existing tests, preserve helper contracts, dataset shape, fixture behavior, and shared bootstrap conventions.
• Prefer surgical assertions over broad snapshots or brittle string matching.
• When mocks are necessary, mock external boundaries rather than the class under test.
• If the requested change risks altering global test config, add the minimal config needed and explain the tradeoff.

Verification

• Prefer narrow commands first, for example:
  • ./vendor/bin/pest tests/Unit/Services/FooTest.php
  • ./vendor/bin/pest --filter="it_handles_foo"
  • ./vendor/bin/phpunit tests/Feature/BarTest.php
  • php artisan test --filter=FooTest
• Broaden after the target passes:
  • ./vendor/bin/pest --testsuite=Unit
  • ./vendor/bin/pest --testsuite=Feature
  • composer test
• If verification cannot run because dependencies, services, or local infra are unavailable, state that clearly and describe the expected command.

References

• references/framework-detection.md: Detect PHPUnit, Pest, Laravel, Symfony, and mixed setups.
• references/test-authoring.md: Patterns for unit, feature, and pragmatic E2E tests plus repair workflow.
• references/phpunit-optimization.md: Fast phpunit.xml and execution strategies.
• references/github-actions.md: CI templates and optimization guidance for Laravel, Symfony, and plain PHP.