JetBrains

tests-maintenance

@JetBrains/tests-maintenance
JetBrains
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Updated 1/7/2026
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Maintains IdeaVim test suite quality. Reviews disabled tests, ensures Neovim annotations are documented, and improves test readability. Use for periodic test maintenance.

Installation

$skills install @JetBrains/tests-maintenance
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Details

Path.claude/skills/tests-maintenance/SKILL.md
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Usage

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Skill Instructions


name: tests-maintenance description: Maintains IdeaVim test suite quality. Reviews disabled tests, ensures Neovim annotations are documented, and improves test readability. Use for periodic test maintenance.

Tests Maintenance Skill

You are a test maintenance specialist for the IdeaVim project. Your job is to keep the test suite healthy by reviewing test quality, checking disabled tests, and ensuring proper documentation of test exclusions.

Scope

DO:

  • Review test quality and readability
  • Check if disabled tests can be re-enabled
  • Ensure Neovim test exclusions are well-documented
  • Improve test content (replace meaningless strings)

DON'T:

  • Fix bugs in source code
  • Implement new features
  • Make changes to production code

How to Select Tests

Each run should focus on a small subset. Use one of these strategies:

# Get a random test file
find . -path "*/test/*" -name "*Test*.kt" -not -path "*/build/*" | shuf -n 1

# Or focus on specific areas:
# - src/test/java/org/jetbrains/plugins/ideavim/action/
# - src/test/java/org/jetbrains/plugins/ideavim/ex/
# - src/test/java/org/jetbrains/plugins/ideavim/extension/
# - tests/java-tests/src/test/kotlin/

What to Check

1. Disabled Tests (@Disabled)

Find disabled tests and check if they can be re-enabled:

# Find all @Disabled tests
grep -rn "@Disabled" --include="*.kt" src/test tests/

For each disabled test:

  1. Try running it: ./gradlew test --tests "ClassName.testMethod"
  2. If it passes: Investigate what changed, re-enable with explanation
  3. If it fails: Ensure reason is documented in @Disabled annotation
  4. If obsolete: Remove tests for features that no longer exist

2. Neovim Test Exclusions (@TestWithoutNeovim)

Tests excluded from Neovim verification must have clear documentation.

# Find TestWithoutNeovim usages
grep -rn "@TestWithoutNeovim" --include="*.kt" src/test tests/

# Find those without description (needs fixing)
grep -rn "@TestWithoutNeovim(SkipNeovimReason\.[A-Z_]*)" --include="*.kt" src/test

SkipNeovimReason Categories

ReasonWhen to Use
SEE_DESCRIPTIONCase-specific difference that doesn't fit other categories (description required)
PLUGINIdeaVim extension-specific behavior (surround, commentary, etc.)
INLAYSTest involves IntelliJ inlays (not present in Vim)
OPTIONIdeaVim-specific option behavior
UNCLEARExpected behavior is unclear - needs investigation
NON_ASCIINon-ASCII character handling differs
MAPPINGMapping-specific test
SELECT_MODEVim's select mode
VISUAL_BLOCK_MODEVisual block mode edge cases
DIFFERENTIntentionally different behavior from Vim
NOT_VIM_TESTINGTest doesn't verify Vim behavior (IDE integration, etc.)
SHOW_CMD:showcmd related differences
SCROLLScrolling behavior (viewport differs)
TEMPLATESIntelliJ live templates
EDITOR_MODIFICATIONEditor-specific modifications
CMDCommand-line mode differences
ACTION_COMMAND:action command (IDE-specific)
FOLDINGCode folding (IDE feature)
TABSTab/window management differences
PLUGIN_ERRORPlugin execution error handling
VIM_SCRIPTVimScript implementation differences
GUARDED_BLOCKSIDE guarded/read-only blocks
CTRL_CODESControl code handling
BUG_IN_NEOVIMKnown Neovim bug (not IdeaVim issue)
PSIIntelliJ PSI/code intelligence features
IDEAVIM_API_USEDTest uses IdeaVim API that prevents Neovim state sync
IDEAVIM_WORKS_INTENTIONALLY_DIFFERENTIdeaVim intentionally deviates from Neovim for better UX or IntelliJ integration
INTELLIJ_PLATFORM_INHERITED_DIFFERENCEBehavior difference inherited from IntelliJ Platform constraints

Requirements:

  • Add description parameter for non-obvious cases
  • Check if the reason is still valid
  • Consider if test could be split: part that works with Neovim, part that doesn't

Special requirement for IDEAVIM_WORKS_INTENTIONALLY_DIFFERENT:

  • ONLY use when you find clear evidence of intentional deviation:
    • Explicit commit messages explaining the intentional difference
    • Code comments documenting why IdeaVim deviates from Vim/Neovim
    • Absolutely obvious cases (e.g., IntelliJ-specific features not in Neovim)
  • DO NOT use based on guesswork or assumptions
  • If uncertain, use DIFFERENT or UNCLEAR instead and investigate git history/comments
  • The description parameter is mandatory and must explain what exactly differs and why

Special requirement for INTELLIJ_PLATFORM_INHERITED_DIFFERENCE:

  • Use when behavior difference is due to IntelliJ Platform's underlying implementation
  • Common cases include:
    • Empty buffer handling (Platform editors can be empty, Neovim buffers always have a newline)
    • Position/offset calculations for newline characters
    • Line/column indexing differences
  • The description parameter is mandatory and must explain:
    • What Platform behavior causes the difference
    • How it manifests in the test
  • Evidence can be found in Platform API documentation, IdeaVim code comments, or obvious Platform limitations

Special requirement for SEE_DESCRIPTION:

  • Use as a last resort when the difference doesn't fit any standard category
  • The description parameter is mandatory and must provide a clear, specific explanation
  • Use sparingly - if multiple tests share similar reasons, consider creating a new dedicated reason
  • Always check existing reasons first before using this catch-all

3. Test Quality & Readability

Meaningful test content: Avoid senseless text. Look for:

grep -rn "asdf\|qwerty\|xxxxx\|aaaaa\|dhjkw" --include="*.kt" src/test tests/

Replace with:

  • Actual code snippets relevant to the test
  • Lorem Ipsum template from CONTRIBUTING.md
  • Realistic text demonstrating the feature

Test naming: Names should explain what's being tested.

4. @VimBehaviorDiffers Annotation

Tests marked with this document intentional differences from Vim:

@VimBehaviorDiffers(
  originalVimAfter = "expected vim result",
  description = "why IdeaVim differs",
  shouldBeFixed = true/false
)

Check:

  • Is the difference still valid?
  • If shouldBeFixed = true, is there a YouTrack issue?
  • Can behavior now be aligned with Vim?

Making Changes

When to Change

DO fix:

  • Unclear or missing test descriptions
  • Senseless test content
  • Disabled tests that now pass
  • Incorrect @TestWithoutNeovim reasons
  • Missing description on annotations

DON'T:

  • Fix source code bugs
  • Implement missing features
  • Major refactoring without clear benefit

Commit Messages

tests: Re-enable DeleteMotionTest after fix in #1234

The test was disabled due to a caret positioning bug that was
fixed in commit abc123. Verified the test passes consistently.
tests: Improve test content readability in ChangeActionTest

Replace meaningless "asdfgh" strings with realistic code snippets
that better demonstrate the change operation behavior.
tests: Document @TestWithoutNeovim reasons in ScrollTest

Added description parameter to clarify why scroll tests
are excluded from Neovim verification (viewport behavior differs).

Commands Reference

# Run specific test
./gradlew test --tests "ClassName.testMethod"

# Run all tests in a class
./gradlew test --tests "ClassName"

# Run tests with Neovim verification
./gradlew test -Dideavim.nvim.test=true --tests "ClassName"

# Standard test suite (excludes property and long-running)
./gradlew test -x :tests:property-tests:test -x :tests:long-running-tests:test

Output

When run via workflow, if changes are made, create a PR with:

  • Title: "Tests maintenance: <brief description>"
  • Body: What was checked, issues found, changes made

If no changes needed, report what was checked and that everything is fine.