Test a package for idempotence

§ 1Purpose

Prove a package's resources converge and stay converged using the testlab's three-run protocol in a disposable instance.

§ 2Prerequisites

• A package with at least one test block.
• docker (or podman) available for the default backend.

§ 3Flowchart

§ 4Steps

test "file_present_converges" {
  description = "file_present creates the file and is idempotent"
  image = "debian:12"
  step "create" {
    description = "Create a marker file"
    resource = "file_present"
    properties { path = "/var/tmp/weave.txt"  content = "hello" }
  }
}

Add a test block to package.wcl with a required image and one or more steps. All test values must be static — no variable references. Unqualified resource/from refs resolve to the declaring package.

$ config-weave test ./my-playbook core:file_present_converges
core:file_present_converges … passed

Run config-weave test ./my-playbook [pkg[:test]]. config-weave provisions a disposable instance and runs check → apply → apply. Run 3 catches state that only exists in-process (it would re-apply and surface as configured, failing the test).

$ config-weave test ./my-playbook core --keep
… instance kept: <handle>

On failure, re-run with --keep to leave the instance up (its handle is reported) and inspect state. Exit codes: 0 all passed, 1 any failed, 2 validation/environment problem.