path: root/qa/README.md

# GitLab QA - End-to-end tests for GitLab

This directory contains [end-to-end tests](../doc/development/testing_guide/end_to_end/index.md)
for GitLab. It includes the test framework and the tests themselves.

The tests can be found in `qa/specs/features` (not to be confused with the unit
tests for the test framework, which are in `spec/`).

Tests use [GitLab QA project](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-qa) for environment orchestration in CI jobs.

## What is it?

GitLab QA is an end-to-end tests suite for GitLab.

These are black-box and entirely click-driven end-to-end tests you can run
against any existing instance.

## How does it work?

1. When we release a new version of GitLab, we build a Docker images for it.
1. Along with GitLab Docker Images we also build and publish GitLab QA images.
1. GitLab QA project uses these images to execute end-to-end tests.

## Validating GitLab views / partials / selectors in merge requests

We recently added a new CI job that is going to be triggered for every push
event in CE and EE projects. The job is called `qa:selectors` and it will
verify coupling between page objects implemented as a part of GitLab QA
and corresponding views / partials / selectors in CE / EE.

Whenever `qa:selectors` job fails in your merge request, you are supposed to
fix [page objects](../doc/development/testing_guide/end_to_end/page_objects.md). You should also trigger end-to-end tests
using `package-and-qa` manual action, to test if everything works fine.

## How can I use it?

You can use GitLab QA to exercise tests on any live instance! If you don't
have an instance available you can follow the instructions below to use
the [GitLab Development Kit (GDK)](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-development-kit).
This is the recommended option if you would like to contribute to the tests.

Note that tests are using `Chrome` web browser by default so it should be installed and present in `PATH`.

## CI

Tests are executed in merge request pipelines as part of the development lifecycle.

- [Review app environment](../doc/development/testing_guide/review_apps.md)
- [e2e:package-and-test](../doc/development/testing_guide/end_to_end/index.md#testing-code-in-merge-requests)

### Logging

By default tests on CI use `info` log level. `debug` level is still available in case of failure debugging. Logs are stored in jobs artifacts.

### Writing tests

- [Writing tests from scratch tutorial](../doc/development/testing_guide/end_to_end/beginners_guide.md)
  - [Best practices](../doc/development/testing_guide/best_practices.md)
  - [Using page objects](../doc/development/testing_guide/end_to_end/page_objects.md)
  - [Guidelines](../doc/development/testing_guide/index.md)
  - [Tests with special setup for local environments](../doc/development/testing_guide/end_to_end/running_tests_that_require_special_setup.md)

### Run the end-to-end tests in a local development environment

1. Follow the instructions to [install GDK](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-development-kit/blob/main/doc/index.md), your local GitLab development environment.

1. Navigate to the QA folder and run the following commands.

```bash
cd gitlab-development-kit/gitlab/qa
bundle install
export WEBDRIVER_HEADLESS=false
export GITLAB_INITIAL_ROOT_PASSWORD={your current root user's password}
```

1. Most tests that do not require special setup could simply be run with the following command. However, tests that are tagged with `:orchestrated` tag require special setup. These tests can only be run with [bin/qa](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/blob/master/qa/README.md#running-tests-with-a-custom-binqa-test-runner) script.

```bash
bundle exec rspec <path/to/spec.rb>
```

1. For test that are tagged with `:orchestrated`, [re-configure IP address in GDK](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-qa/-/blob/master/docs/run_qa_against_gdk.md#run-qa-tests-against-your-gdk-setup) to run QA tests.  Once you have reconfigured GDK, ensure GitLab is running successfully on the IP address configured, then run the following command:

```bash
bundle exec bin/qa Test::Instance::All {GDK IP ADDRESS}
```

- Note: If you want to run tests requiring SSH against GDK, you will need to [modify your GDK setup](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-qa/blob/master/docs/run_qa_against_gdk.md).
- Note: If this is your first time running GDK, you can use the password pre-set for `root`. [See supported GitLab environment variables](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-qa/-/blob/master/docs/what_tests_can_be_run.md#supported-gitlab-environment-variables). If you have changed your `root` password, use that when exporting `GITLAB_INITIAL_ROOT_PASSWORD`.

#### Running EE tests

When running EE tests you'll need to have a license available. GitLab engineers can [request a license](https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/developer-onboarding/#working-on-gitlab-ee).

Once you have the license file you can export it as an environment variable and then the framework can use it. If you do so it will be installed automatically.

```shell
export EE_LICENSE=$(cat /path/to/gitlab_license)
```

#### Running specific tests

You can also supply specific tests to run as another parameter. For example, to
run the repository-related specs, you can execute:

```shell
bundle exec rspec qa/specs/features/browser_ui/3_create/repository
```

#### Running tests for transient bugs

A suite of tests have been written to test for [transient bugs](https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/engineering/quality/issue-triage/#transient-bugs).
Those tests are tagged `:transient` and therefore can be run via:

```shell
bundle exec rspec --tag transient
```

#### Overriding gitlab address

When running tests against GDK, the default address is `http://127.0.0.1:3000`. This value can be overridden by providing environment variable `QA_GITLAB_URL`:

```shell
QA_GITLAB_URL=https://gdk.test:3000 bundle exec rspec
```

#### Overriding the authenticated user

Unless told otherwise, the QA tests will run as the default `root` user seeded
by the GDK.

If you need to authenticate as a different user, you can provide the
`GITLAB_USERNAME` and `GITLAB_PASSWORD` environment variables:

```shell
GITLAB_USERNAME=jsmith GITLAB_PASSWORD=password bundle exec rspec
```

Some QA tests require logging in as an admin user. By default, the QA
tests will use the same `root` user seeded by the GDK.

If you need to authenticate with different admin credentials, you can
provide the `GITLAB_ADMIN_USERNAME` and `GITLAB_ADMIN_PASSWORD`
environment variables:

```shell
GITLAB_ADMIN_USERNAME=admin GITLAB_ADMIN_PASSWORD=myadminpassword GITLAB_USERNAME=jsmith GITLAB_PASSWORD=password bundle exec rspec
```

If your user doesn't have permission to default sandbox group
`gitlab-qa-sandbox`, you could also use another sandbox group by giving
`GITLAB_SANDBOX_NAME`:

```shell
GITLAB_USERNAME=jsmith GITLAB_PASSWORD=password GITLAB_SANDBOX_NAME=jsmith-qa-sandbox bundle exec rspec
```

All [supported environment variables are here](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-qa/blob/master/docs/what_tests_can_be_run.md#supported-environment-variables).

#### Sending additional cookies

The environment variable `QA_COOKIES` can be set to send additional cookies
on every request. This is necessary on gitlab.com to direct traffic to the
canary fleet. To do this set `QA_COOKIES="gitlab_canary=true"`.

To set multiple cookies, separate them with the `;` character, for example: `QA_COOKIES="cookie1=value;cookie2=value2"`

#### Headless browser

By default tests use headless browser. To override that, `WEBDRIVER_HEADLESS` must be set to `false`:

```shell
WEBDRIVER_HEADLESS=false bundle exec rspec
```

#### Log level

By default, the tests use the `info` log level. To change the test's log level, the environment variable `QA_LOG_LEVEL` can be set:

```shell
QA_LOG_LEVEL=debug bundle exec rspec
```

### Building a Docker image to test

Once you have made changes to the CE/EE repositories, you may want to build a
Docker image to test locally instead of waiting for the `gitlab-ce-qa` or
`gitlab-ee-qa` nightly builds. To do that, you can run **from the top `gitlab`
directory** (one level up from this directory):

```sh
docker build -t gitlab/gitlab-ce-qa:nightly --file ./qa/Dockerfile ./
```

### Quarantined tests

Tests can be put in quarantine by assigning `:quarantine` metadata. This means
they will be skipped unless run with `--tag quarantine`. This can be used for
tests that are expected to fail while a fix is in progress (similar to how
[`skip` or `pending`](https://relishapp.com/rspec/rspec-core/v/3-8/docs/pending-and-skipped-examples)
 can be used).

```shell
bundle exec rspec --tag quarantine
```

### Running tests with a custom bin/qa test runner

`bin/qa` is an additional custom wrapper script that abstracts away some of the more complicated setups that some tests require. This option requires test scenario and test instance's Gitlab address to be specified in the command. For example, to run any `Instance` scenario test, the following command can be used:

```shell
bundle exec bin/qa Test::Instance::All http://localhost:3000
```

#### Running tests with a feature flag enabled or disabled

Tests can be run with a feature flag enabled or disabled by using the command-line
option `--enable-feature FEATURE_FLAG` or `--disable-feature FEATURE_FLAG`.

For example, to enable the feature flag that enforces Gitaly request limits,
you would use the command:

```shell
bundle exec bin/qa Test::Instance::All http://localhost:3000 --enable-feature gitaly_enforce_requests_limits
```

This will instruct the QA framework to enable the `gitaly_enforce_requests_limits`
feature flag ([via the API](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/api/features.html)), run
all the tests in the `Test::Instance::All` scenario, and then disable the
feature flag again.

Similarly, to disable the feature flag that enforces Gitaly request limits,
you would use the command:

```shell
bundle exec bin/qa Test::Instance::All http://localhost:3000 --disable-feature gitaly_enforce_requests_limits
```

This will instruct the QA framework to disable the `gitaly_enforce_requests_limits`
feature flag ([via the API](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/api/features.html)) if not already disabled,
run all the tests in the `Test::Instance::All` scenario, and then enable the
feature flag again if it was enabled earlier.

Note: the QA framework doesn't currently allow you to easily toggle a feature
flag during a single test, [as you can in unit tests](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/development/feature_flags/index.html),
but [that capability is planned](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/quality/team-tasks/issues/77).

Note also that the `--` separator isn't used because `--enable-feature` and `--disable-feature`
are QA framework options, not `rspec` options.