Netlify Plugin - Jest

Netlify build plugin to run Jest unit tests and set a simple status in GitHub on the pull request/commit that triggered the build. Failed tests will stop the build so no build time is wasted.

Tests are not run if it's determined there are no commits. This determination is made based solely on Git not based on the history of the Netlify builds themselves. See: Netlify Plugins - Git Utility

Jest unit tests are run via a simple command line before the build (onPrebuild). The json results are extracted to get some summary info. GitHub status messages are set when tests start and with the summary when finished. If the tests fail, the plugin cancels the build. If there are plugin or other errors the build will be failed. Otherwise, the build will proceed.

The Github status details link will go to the Netlify deploy log, so someone can see details on the failed tests or errors.

Install (manual)

npm install netlify-plugin-jest

Usage

Add this plugin to the plugins array in your netlify.toml configuration file:

[[plugins]]
package = "netlify-plugin-jest"

  [plugins.inputs]
  # all inputs for this plugin are required, but have default values

Configuration

The plugin requires a GitHub personal access token to be set as an environment variable named GITHUB_PERSONAL_TOKEN . It is used to set a simple GitHub repo status.

• name: testCommand
  • description: The command line used to trigger the tests and any other features. Separating this out allows for easier customization and future development. Change cautiously.
  • default: jest --collectCoverage --json --outputFile jest.results.json
  • required: true
• name: skipTests
  • description: Skip unit tests but leave the plugin present
  • default: false
  • required: true
• name: skipStatusUpdate
  • description: Skip Github status updates
  • default: false
  • required: true
• name: testFailureErrorMessage
  • description: String that exists inside of the error message indicating tests failed.
  • default: Command failed with exit code 1
  • required: true
• name: gitHubStatusName
  • description: Context/name for the status in GitHub, should be pretty unique
  • default: Jest Tests
  • required: true
• name: extraLogging
  • description: Display some extra console logging.
  • default: false
  • required: true

Environment Variable Overrides

NETLIFY_PLUGIN_JEST_EXTRA_LOGGING= true. Setting this environment variable will cause the plugin to display extra logging details. This allows Nelifty site builds to temporarily display plugin extra logging for troubleshooting.

NETLIFY_PLUGIN_JEST_FORCE_TESTS = true. Setting this environemnt variable will cause the plugin to run tests regardless of whether any commits exist indicating a changed build.

Development

Explanation of the plugin's logic

1. Checks if configured to skip tests

2. Sets a GitHub status of pending/running...

3. Run the testing command

4. Determine success, plugin error or testing failure. Testing failure is soley deteremined by the presence of the testFailureErrorMessage string in the error response. This is because all regular testing failures are still returned as errors.

5. If success: a. Set the GitHub status b. Continue on building

6. If testing failure: a. Parse the test results that are written to a json file and construct a short summary for the GitHub status. b. Set the GitHub status c. Cancel the Netlify build

7. If other error: a. Set the GitHub status b. Fail the Netlify build

Develop Locally

The plugin can be developed locally most easily by including it as a relative path in another locally functioning Netlify site that is linked to Netlify.

Example netlify.toml for local site to reference the local plugin (plugin-local-install-core is necessary)

[[plugins]]
package = "..\\netlify-plugins\\netlify-plugin-jest\\"

  [plugins.inputs]
  extraLogging = true

[[plugins]]
package = "@netlify/plugin-local-install-core"

Remember the GITHUB_PERSONAL_TOKEN needs to be set in the local Netlify site not the plugin itself. This will allow netlify build on the Netlify site (not the plugin) to run the plugin. It will also set the status on the commit for the the site's repo if there is a pull request present. Not all Netlify environment values are present locally: DEPLOY_URL etc.

Testing plugin on an actual Netlify Build/Deploy without a released npm

The plugin can be tested without using an actual released npm package by doing the following:

1. Figure out the branch/tag/commit etc of the plugin to test, and install it as a package in the Netlify site you will use for testing: npm install UWHealth/netlify-plugin-jest#<branch/tag/commit>

2. Change the Netlify site's toml configuration:

   [[plugins]]
   package = "./node_modules/netlify-plugin-jest"
   
     [plugins.inputs]
     extraLogging = true
   
   [[plugins]]
   package = "@netlify/plugin-local-install-core"

3. Make sure to clear the build/deploy cache when you build/redeploy the testing site on Netlify. This will pull down a clean copy of the plugin code from the branch/tag/commit specified in the package.json after the npm install.

4. Uninstall the Github sourced npm afterwards if the site is to be used for production purposes.

Future Ideas

• Configure the plugin to use a Github App.

• Set test failure information as annotations on files in the form of more advanced GitHub Status Check.

• Display Jest testing coverage information on GitHub repo.