.. _nrunner: The Avocado default runner (nrunner) ==================================== This section details the default Avocado suite runner called "nrunner", also previously known as N(ext) Runner, and the architecture around it. .. tip:: a suite runner is an implementation of the :class:`avocado.core.plugin_interfaces.SuiteRunner` interface. It's the component that runs one or more tests that are contained in a :class:`avocado.core.suite.TestSuite`. At its essence, the nrunner architecture, when compared to the previous runner architecture (now referred to as the "legacy runner") is about making Avocado more capable and flexible. Even though it started with a major internal paradigm change within the test runner, it also affects users and test writers used to the legacy runner. The :mod:`avocado.core.nrunner` module was initially responsible for most of the nrunner code. As development continued, it spread around to other places in the Avocado source tree. Other components with different and seemingly unrelated names, say the "resolvers" or the "spawners", are also pretty much about the nrunner architecture. Motivation ---------- There are a number of reasons for introducing a different architecture and implementation. Some of them are related to limitations found in the legacy implementation, that were found to be too hard to remove without major breakage. Also, missing features that are deemed important would be a better fit wihin a different architecture. For instance, these are the limitations of the Avocado legacy test runner: * Test execution limited to the same machine, given that the communication between runner and test is a Python queue * Test execution is limited to a single test at a time (serial execution) * Test processes are not properly isolated and can affect the test runner (including the "UI") And these are some features which it's believed to be more easily implemented under a different architecture and implementation: * Remote test execution * Different test execution isolation models provided by the test runner (process, container, virtual machine) * Distributed execution of tests across a pool of any combination of processes, containers, virtual machines, etc. * Parallel execution of tests * Optimized runners for a given environment and or test type (for instance, a runner written in RUST to run tests written in RUST in an environment that already has RUST installed but not much else) * Notification of execution results to many simultaneous "status servers" * Disconnected test execution, so that results can be saved to a device and collected by the runner * Simplified and automated deployment of the runner component into execution environments such as containers and virtual machines nrunner components of Avocado ----------------------------- Whenever we mention the **current** architecture or implementation, we are talking about the nrunner. It includes: * ``avocado list`` command * ``avocado run`` command * :mod:`avocado.core.resolver` module to resolve tests * :mod:`avocado.core.spawners` modules to spawn tasks Basic Avocado usage and workflow -------------------------------- Avocado is described as "a set of tools and libraries to help with automated testing". The most visible aspect of Avocado is its ability to run tests, and display the results. We're talking about someone doing:: $ avocado run mytests.py othertests.sh To be able to complete such a command, Avocado needs to find the tests, and then to execute them. Those two major steps are described next. .. _finding_tests: Finding tests ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The first thing Avocado needs to do, before actually running any tests, is translating the "names" given as arguments to ``avocado run`` into actual tests. Even though those names will usually be file names, this is not a requirement. Avocado calls those "names" given as arguments to ``avocado run`` "test references", because they are references that hopefully "point to" tests. On the nrunner architecture, each one of the test references given to ``list`` or ``run`` will be "resolved" into zero or more tests. Being more precise and verbose, resolver plugins will produce :class:`avocado.core.resolver.ReferenceResolution`, which contain zero or more :class:`avocado.core.nrunner.runnable.Runnable`, which are described in the following section. Overall, the process looks like:: +--------------------+ +-----------------------+ | avocado list | run | -> | avocado.core.resolver | ---+ +--------------------+ +-----------------------+ | | +----------------------------------------------------+ | v +--------------------------------------+ | ReferenceResolution #1 | +--------------------------------------+ | Reference: /bin/true | | Result: SUCCESS | | +----------------------------------+ | | | Resolution #1 (Runnable): | | | | - kind: exec-test | | | | - uri: /bin/true | | | +----------------------------------+ | +--------------------------------------+ +--------------------------------------+ | ReferenceResolution #2 | +--------------------------------------+ | Reference: test.py | | Result: SUCCESS | | +----------------------------------+ | | | Resolution #1 (Runnable): | | | | - kind: python-unittest | | | | - uri: test.py:Test.test_1 | | | +----------------------------------+ | | +----------------------------------+ | | | Resolution #2 (Runnable): | | | | - kind: python-unittest | | | | - uri: test.py:Test.test_2 | | | +----------------------------------+ | +--------------------------------------+ ... Running Tests ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The idea of **testing** has to do with checking the expected output of a given action. This action, within the realm of software development with automated testing, has to do with the output or outcome of a "code payload" when executed under a given controlled environment. In the nrunner architecture, a :class:`avocado.core.nrunner.runnable.Runnable` describe a "code payload" that will be executed, but they are not executable code themselves. Because they are **data** and not **code**, they are easily serialized and transported to different environments. Running the payload described by a ``Runnable`` is delegated to another component. Most often, this component is a standalone executable (see :data:`avocado.core.spawners.common.SpawnMethod.STANDALONE_EXECUTABLE`) compatible with a specific command line interface. The most important interfaces such scripts must implement are the ``runnable-run`` and ``task-run`` interfaces. Once all the ``Runnable(s)`` (within the ``ReferenceResolution(s)``) are created by :mod:`avocado.core.resolver`, the ``avocado run --suite-runner=nrunner`` implementation follows roughly the following steps: 1. Creates a status server that binds to a TCP port and waits for status messages from any number of clients 2. Creates the chosen :class:`Spawner `, with :class:`ProcessSpawner ` being the default 3. For each :class:`avocado.core.nrunner.runnable.Runnable` found by the resolver, turns it into a :class:`avocado.core.nrunner.Task`, which means giving it the following extra information: a. The status server(s) that it should report to b. An unique identification, so that its messages to the status server can be uniquely identified 4. For each resulting :class:`avocado.core.nrunner.Task` in the previous step: a. Asks the spawner to spawn it b. Asks the spawner to check if the task seems to be alive right after spawning it, to give the user early indication of possible crashes 5. Waits until all tasks have provided a ``result`` to the status server If any of the concepts mentioned here were not clear, please check their full descriptions in the next section. Concepts -------- Runnable ~~~~~~~~ A runnable is a description of an entity that can be executed and produce some kind of result. It's a passive entity that can not execute itself and can not produce results itself. This description of a runnable is abstract on purpose. While the most common use case for a Runnable is to describe how to execute a test, there seems to be no reason to bind that concept to a test. Other Avocado subsystems, leverage the same concept. One example is the :ref:`sysinfo-collection` which describes what kind of system information collection is to be performed in a ``Runnable``. A Runnable's ``kind`` +++++++++++++++++++++ The most important information about a runnable is the declaration of its kind. A kind should be a globally unique name across the entire Avocado community and users. When choosing a Runnable ``kind`` name, it's advisable that it should be: * Informative * Succinct * Unique If a kind is thought to be generally useful to more than one user (where a user may mean a project using Avocado), it's a good idea to also have a generic name. For instance, if a Runnable is going to describe how to run native tests for the Go programming language, its ``kind`` should probably be ``go``. On the other hand, if a Runnable is going to be used to describe tests that behave in a very peculiar way for a specific project, it's probably a good idea to map its ``kind`` name to the project name. For instance, if one is describing how to run an ``iotest`` that is part of the ``QEMU`` project, it may be a good idea to name this kind ``qemu-iotest``. A Runnable's ``uri`` ++++++++++++++++++++ Besides a ``kind``, each runnable kind may require a different amount of information to be provided so that it can be instantiated. Based on the accumulated experience so far, it's expected that a Runnable's ``uri`` is always going to be required. Think of the URI as the one piece of information that can uniquely distinguish the entity (of a given ``kind``) that will be executed. If, for instance, a given runnable describes the execution of a executable file already present in the system, it may use its path, say ``/bin/true``, as its ``uri`` value. If a runnable describes a web service endpoint, its ``uri`` value may just as well be its network URI, such as ``https://example.org:8080``. Runnable examples +++++++++++++++++ Possibly the simplest example for the use of a Runnable is to describe how to run a standalone executable, such as the ones available on your ``/bin`` directory. As stated earlier, a runnable must declare its kind. For standalone executables, a name such as ``exec`` fulfills the naming suggestions given earlier. A Runnable can be created in a number of ways. The first one is through :class:`avocado.core.nrunner.Runnable`, a very low level (and internal) API. Still, it serves as an example:: >>> from avocado.core.nrunner.runnable import Runnable >>> runnable = Runnable('exec', '/bin/true') >>> runnable The second way is through a JSON based file, which, for the lack of a better term, we're calling a (Runnable) "recipe". The recipe file itself will look like:: {"kind": "exec", "uri": "/bin/true"} And example the code to create it:: >>> from avocado.core.nrunner.runnable import Runnable >>> runnable = Runnable.from_recipe("/path/to/recipe.json") >>> runnable The third way to create a Runnable, is even more internal. Its usage is **discouraged**, unless you are creating a tool that needs to create Runnables based on the user's input from the command line:: >>> from avocado.core.nrunner.runnable import Runnable >>> runnable = Runnable.from_args({'kind': 'exec', 'uri': '/bin/true'}) >>> runnable Runner ~~~~~~ A Runner, within the context of the nrunner architecture, is an active entity. It acts on the information that a runnable contains, and quite simply, should be able to run what the Runnable describes. A Runner will usually be tied to a specific ``kind`` of Runnable. That type of relationship (Runner is capable of running kind "foo" and Runnable is of the same kind "foo") is the expected mechanism that will be employed when selecting a Runner. It's recommended that a runner takes the form of an executable that follows the ``avocado-runner-$KIND`` naming pattern and conforms to a given interface/behavior, including accepting standardized command line arguments and producing standardized output. This gives the runner the highest probability of working with different spawners, including ones that would run on isolated or remote environments. .. tip:: for a very basic example of the interface expected, refer to ``selftests/functional/nrunner_interface.py`` on the Avocado source code tree. A Runner can also be, at the lowest layer, a Python class that inherits from :class:`avocado.core.nrunner.BaseRunner`, and implements at least a matching constructor method, and a ``run()`` method that should yield dictionary(ies) as result(s). Avocado may support in the future the usage of such runners directly, which can speed up execution, but limits where those can be run to pretty much the same machine. Runner output +++++++++++++ A Runner should, if possible, produce status information on the progress of the execution of a Runnable. While the Runner is executing what a Runnable describes, should it produce interesting information, the Runner should attempt to forward that along its generated status. For instance, using the ``exec`` Runner example, it's helpful to start producing status that the process has been created and it's running as soon as possible, even if no other output has been produced by the executable itself. These can be as simple as a sequence of:: {"status": "started"} {"status": "running"} {"status": "running"} When the process is finished, the Runner may return:: {"status": "finished", "returncode": 0, 'stdout': b'', 'stderr': b''} .. tip:: Besides the status of ``finished``, and a return code which can be used to determine a success or failure status, a Runner may not be obliged to determine the overall PASS/FAIL outcome. Whoever called the runner may be responsible to determine its overall result, including a PASS/FAIL judgement. Even though this level of information is expected to be generated by the Runner, whoever is calling a Runner, should be prepared to receive as little information as possible, and act accordingly. That includes receiving no information at all. For instance, if a Runner fails to produce any information within a given amount of time, it may be considered faulty and be completely discarded. This would probably end up being represented as a ``INTERRUPTED`` kind of status on a higher layer (say at the "Job" layer). Task ~~~~ A task is one specific instance/occurrence of the execution of a runnable with its respective runner. They should have a unique identifier, although a task by itself won't enforce its uniqueness in a process or any other type of collection. A task is responsible for producing and reporting status updates. This status updates are in a format similar to those received from a runner, but will add more information to them, such as its unique identifier. A different agreggate structure, :class:`avocado.core.task.runtime.RuntimeTask`, is used to keep track of the extra information while the task is being run. Recipe ~~~~~~ A recipe is the serialization of the runnable information in a file. The format chosen is JSON, and that should allow both quick and easy machine handling and also manual creation of recipes when necessary. Runners ------- A runner can be capable of running one or many different kinds of runnables. A runner should implement a ``capabilities`` command that returns, among other info, a list of runnable kinds that it can (to the best of its knowledge) run. Example:: python3 -m avocado.plugins.runners.exec_test capabilities | python -m json.tool { "runnables": [ "exec-test" ], "commands": [ "capabilities", "runnable-run", "runnable-run-recipe", "task-run", "task-run-recipe" ], "configuration_used": [ "run.keep_tmp", "runner.exectest.exitcodes.skip" ] } Runner scripts -------------- Specific runners are available as ``avocado-runner-$kind``. For instance, the runner for ``exec-test`` is available as ``avocado-runner-exec-test``. When using specific runners, the ``-k|--kind`` parameter can be omitted. Runner Execution ---------------- While the ``exec`` runner given as example before will need to create an extra process to actually run the standalone executable given, that is an implementation detail of that specific runner. Other types of runners may be able to run the code the users expects it to run, while still providing feedback about it in the same process. The runner's main method (``run()``) operates like a generator, and yields results which are dictionaries with relevant information about it. Trying it out - standalone -------------------------- It's possible to interact with the runner features by using the command line. This interface is not stable at all, and may be changed or removed in the future. Runnables from parameters ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ You can run a "noop" runner with:: avocado-runner-noop runnable-run -k noop You can run an "exec" runner with:: avocado-runner-exec-test runnable-run -k exec-test -u /bin/sleep -a 3.0 You can run an "exec-test" runner with:: avocado-runner-exec-test runnable-run -k exec-test -u /bin/true You can run a "python-unittest" runner with:: avocado-runner-python-unittest runnable-run -k python-unittest -u selftests/unit/test_test.py:TestClassTestUnit.test_long_name Runnables from recipes ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ You can run a "noop" recipe with:: avocado-runner-noop runnable-run-recipe examples/nrunner/recipes/runnables/noop.json You can run an "exec-test" runner with:: avocado-runner-exec-test runnable-run-recipe examples/nrunner/recipes/runnables/exec_test_sleep_3.json You can run a "python-unittest" runner with:: avocado-runner-python-unittest runnable-run-recipe examples/nrunner/recipes/runnables/python_unittest.json Writing new runner scripts -------------------------- Even though you can write runner scripts in any language, if you're writing a new runner script in Python, you can benefit from the :class:`avocado.core.nrunner.app.BaseRunnerApp` class and from the :class:`avocado.core.nrunner.runner.BaseRunner` class. The following is a complete example of a script that could be named ``avocado-runner-magic`` that could act as a nrunner compatible runner for runnables with kind ``magic``. .. literalinclude:: ../../../../../examples/plugins/tests/magic/avocado_magic/runner.py :language: python :linenos: For a more complete explanation on the runner scripts and how they relate to plugins, please refer to :ref:`new-test-type-plugin-example`. Runners messages ---------------- When run as part of a job, every runner has to send information about its execution status to the Avocado job. That information is sent by messages which have different types based on the information which they are transmitting. Avocado understands three main types of messages: * started (required) * running * finished (required) The started and finished messages are obligatory and every runner has to send those. The running messages can contain different information during runner run-time like logs, warnings, errors .etc and that information will be processed by the avocado core. The messages are standard Python dictionaries with a specific structure. You can create it by yourself based on the table :ref:`supported-message-types`, or you can use helper methods in :class:`avocado.core.utils.messages` which will generate them for you. .. _supported-message-types: Supported message types ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ .. autoclass:: avocado.core.messages.StartMessageHandler .. autoclass:: avocado.core.messages.FinishMessageHandler Running messages ++++++++++++++++ This message can be used during the run-time and has different properties based on the information which is being transmitted. .. autoclass:: avocado.core.messages.LogMessageHandler .. autoclass:: avocado.core.messages.StdoutMessageHandler .. autoclass:: avocado.core.messages.StderrMessageHandler .. autoclass:: avocado.core.messages.WhiteboardMessageHandler .. autoclass:: avocado.core.messages.FileMessageHandler