/ha-test-strategy

name: ha-test-strategy
description: "Hope-native test strategy for features, fixes, and refactors: select test-first, regression-first, characterization, integration, E2E, or manual evidence according to risk and repository rules."
paths: ["*.rs", "*.ts", "*.tsx", "*.js", "*.jsx", "*.py", "*.go", "*.java", "*.kt", "*.swift", "*.c", "*.cpp", "*.h", "*.rb", "*.php", "*.sh"]

Hope Test Strategy

Choose tests that reduce uncertainty about the requested behavior. Test-first is a valuable technique, not an unconditional law.

Precedence

Follow the user's request and repository instructions. Do not run broad suites, install dependencies, or rewrite test infrastructure when the project forbids or does not require it.

Select The Strategy

Test-first

Prefer a failing test before implementation when the new contract is clear, the test seam is stable, and observing the failure proves the test is meaningful.

Regression-first

For a bug, reproduce the original failure in the narrowest credible automated test before or alongside the fix. Confirm it fails for the right reason, then passes after the root-cause change.

Characterization-first

For legacy, poorly documented, or risky refactors, capture current intentional behavior before changing structure. Do not freeze a known bug as desired behavior.

Implementation-first with immediate coverage

Reasonable for exploratory seams, generated code, mechanical migrations, or UI work where the correct test boundary becomes clear only after a small reversible implementation. Add the relevant proof before claiming completion.

No new automated test

Reasonable for pure docs, trivial metadata, generated outputs, or low-risk mechanical changes when existing checks directly cover the risk. Explain the decision rather than adding a meaningless test.

Choose The Layer

• Unit: pure logic, state transition, parser, policy, or failure classification.
• Integration: persistence, adapter, protocol, or cross-module contract.
• E2E: a user-critical path that only becomes true across the full stack.
• Manual smoke: visual layout, OS integration, credentials, or external state

that cannot be honestly simulated.

Use the lowest layer that proves the contract. Add a higher layer only for a boundary the lower layer cannot cover.

Test Quality

• Assert observable behavior, not incidental implementation details.
• Keep fixtures deterministic and failures diagnostic.
• Cover the demonstrated edge, including cancellation, retry, stale state, or

partial failure when relevant.

• Avoid mocks that erase the boundary being tested.
• Do not weaken existing assertions merely to make a change pass.

Execute Efficiently

1. Run the narrowest new or failing test. 2. Run the nearest affected suite when justified. 3. Use `ha-verify` to decide whether broader gates are needed at closeout.

If a test is flaky or environment-blocked, investigate the cause. Do not rerun until green and call that proof.

Smoke Prompts

• "Choose and add the right regression test for this bug."
• "Refactor this legacy parser without freezing the broken behavior."
• "Decide whether this UI change needs unit, E2E, or manual evidence."