# Chip Tool Testing > Guidelines for building Matter examples and chip-tool, and testing examples using chip-tool. - Skill: `project-chip/chip-tool-testing` (Agent Skill) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add project-chip/chip-tool-testing` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/project-chip/chip-tool-testing/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Coding & Dev Tools - Author: project-chip (https://skillmd.com/u/project-chip) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/project-chip/chip-tool-testing --- # Testing Matter Examples with Chip-Tool This skill provides guidelines for building Matter example applications and `chip-tool`, and using `chip-tool` to commission and interact with the examples in a simulated environment (like Linux POSIX). > [!NOTE] While `chip-tool` and examples support multiple platforms, these > guidelines focus on the Linux/POSIX environment, which is the standard > environment for agent execution. ## Building from Source Always build the `chip-tool` and the Matter example application from the same revision of the repository to ensure compatibility. ### Building chip-tool Use the build script to build `chip-tool` for Linux: ```bash source scripts/activate.sh ./scripts/build/build_examples.py --target linux-x64-chip-tool-clang build ``` The binary will be located in `out/linux-x64-chip-tool-clang/chip-tool`. ### Building Examples Use the build script to build examples (e.g., `all-devices-app`): ```bash source scripts/activate.sh ./scripts/build/build_examples.py --target linux-x64-all-devices-boringssl build ``` The binary will be located in `out/linux-x64-all-devices-boringssl/all-devices-app`. ## Testing Guidelines ### Running the Example Run the example application (usually in a separate terminal or the background): ```bash ./out/linux-x64-all-devices-boringssl/all-devices-app ``` _Note: Use a clean KVS file (by specifying a new, non-existent file path with `--KVS`) or clear the existing one (by deleting the file) to ensure the application enters commissioning mode on startup._ ### 1. Determine Pairing Credentials Check the application logs on startup to find the setup PIN code and discriminator. Example log: ``` [DL] Setup Pin Code: 20202021 [DL] Setup Discriminator: 3840 (0xF00) ``` > [!NOTE] The discriminator value `3840` (0xF00) is the standard default for > many Matter examples when not explicitly configured. ### 2. Commissioning (Pairing) Make sure the device is in commissioning mode. If using a persistent storage (KVS), you may need to use a clean KVS file or clear it to force commissioning mode on startup. On Linux, the default KVS file is `/tmp/chip_kvs`: ```bash rm /tmp/chip_kvs ``` > [!NOTE] > **Persistence Testing**: If you are performing a persistence test > (verifying state across restarts), do NOT delete the KVS file. Reuse the same > KVS file to preserve stored attributes. #### Over IP (On-Network) If the device is already on the same IP network (e.g., running locally on the same host): - **With Long Discriminator**: ```bash chip-tool pairing onnetwork-long ``` - **Without Discriminator** (looks for any commissionable device): ```bash chip-tool pairing onnetwork ``` - **With Manual Pairing Code or QR Code**: ```bash chip-tool pairing code ``` - **Direct IP and Port** (useful if mDNS resolution fails): ```bash chip-tool pairing already-discovered ``` > [!CAUTION] If you encounter attestation failures in simulated > environments, you may need to add `--bypass-attestation-verifier true` to > the command. Use this flag ONLY for local simulated testing when you > explicitly accept the security tradeoff of bypassing device attestation. ### 3. Interacting with Clusters After successful commissioning, you can use `chip-tool` to interact with data model clusters. - **Read Attribute**: ```bash chip-tool read ``` Example: `chip-tool basicinformation read vendor-id 0x8016 0` - **Invoke Command**: ```bash chip-tool [arguments] ``` Example: `chip-tool onoff toggle 0x8016 1` ## Automated YAML Testing with run_test_suite.py Instead of starting the application and running `chip-tool` commands manually, you can run automated YAML tests using the `run_test_suite.py` script. The script manages launching the example application, commissioning, running the test steps, and cleanup. ### Environment Activation Make sure you are in the python virtual environment: ```bash source out/venv/bin/activate export PW_ACTIVATE_SKIP_CHECKS=1 ``` ### Running a Test Run a YAML test by specifying the target test name (without the `.yaml` extension), the chip-tool python wrapper, and the target application path: ```bash ./scripts/tests/run_test_suite.py --runner chip_tool_python --target run --tool-path chip-tool-with-python:scripts/tests/chipyaml/chiptool.py --app-path : ``` #### Example: Testing Humidity Sensor in all-devices-app If the YAML test (e.g. `Test_TC_RH_2_1.yaml`) specifies a dynamic `CI` app target (such as `all-devices` with custom arguments), you must map that target key to the compiled binary path: ```bash ./scripts/tests/run_test_suite.py --runner chip_tool_python --target Test_TC_RH_2_1 run --tool-path chip-tool-with-python:scripts/tests/chipyaml/chiptool.py --app-path all-devices:out/linux-x64-all-devices-clang/all-devices-app ``` #### Troubleshooting Automated Runs - **Missing tool key 'chip-tool-with-python'**: You must explicitly pass `--tool-path chip-tool-with-python:scripts/tests/chipyaml/chiptool.py` to the `run` subcommand. - **Missing application path**: Ensure that any application specified in the test's `CI` block (or `all-clusters` if no `CI` block is present) is explicitly mapped with `--app-path`. ## Using Chip-Tool Help `chip-tool` has a built-in help system that allows you to discover available clusters and commands. Running any command without all required parameters will show a help screen. - **List available clusters**: ```bash chip-tool ``` - **List available commands/attributes for a cluster**: ```bash chip-tool basicinformation ``` - **See help for a specific action**: ```bash chip-tool basicinformation read ``` This will show what attributes can be read from the `basicinformation` cluster. This interactive help is useful for exploring the data model and finding the exact syntax needed. ## Troubleshooting - **Timeout**: If a command times out, you can increase it with `--timeout `. - **Configuration Cache**: `chip-tool` caches state in `chip_tool_config.ini` (often in the current directory or `/tmp`). Deleting this file can resolve stale configuration issues. You can also specify a custom directory with `--storage-directory `. ## Reporting Results When completing a test task using this skill, you should output a structured report to the user. Since every test may verify different features, do not force a fixed sequence of steps. Instead, follow these general guidelines for reporting each item you verified: For each verified feature, command, or configuration item, provide: 1. **What was verified**: A clear description of the intent (e.g., "Verified that Endpoint 2 is a child of Endpoint 1"). 2. **The command ran**: The exact `chip-tool` or shell command you used. 3. **The proof (logs)**: A snippet of the output or logs that proves the verification was successful (e.g., the attribute value read or the success status). ### General Guidelines for Content: - **Build Process**: Mention which targets were built and if any custom flags were used. - **Startup**: Include the command used to run the application, and the pairing credentials (Setup PIN and Discriminator) found in the logs. - **Commissioning**: Show the command used and the log snippet confirming success. - **Data Model**: If hierarchy or device composition was verified, show the relevant `Descriptor` reads. - **Cluster Interaction**: For any attribute read/write or command invocation, show the command and the response status.