testdepend

Testdepend is a term used in software testing to describe the explicit modeling and management of dependencies between tests or test suites. It encompasses mechanisms for expressing when one test relies on the outcome, data, or side effects of another, and for controlling the order in which tests are executed. The central idea is to enable more efficient and predictable test runs by coordinating tests based on their interdependencies rather than running them in a fixed sequence.

In practice, testdepend is implemented through dependency metadata, such as directed graphs or tags, that accompany test definitions. Common representations include dependency graphs (directed acyclic graphs), annotations in tests, or external configuration files that specify prerequisites and execution order. Test orchestration tools or test runners read this metadata and enforce constraints, while still allowing independent tests to run in parallel where safe.

Execution semantics typically involve ensuring prerequisites are satisfied before a dependent test runs. If a prerequisite fails or is skipped, the dependent test may be skipped or deferred, depending on the configured policy. This can reduce wasted effort in large test suites but introduces a coupling between tests that must be managed.

Benefits of testdepend include faster feedback by running only affected tests, improved reliability when shared setup is expensive, and clearer delineation of test responsibilities. Drawbacks include increased maintenance burden, potential flakiness from hidden dependencies, and the risk of over-constraining test execution.

See also: test impact analysis, test dependency, test orchestration, dependency graph.