First glance to documenting how to run tests

Author: tcoch

README.md

@@ -35,12 +35,13 @@ with [FrankenPHP](https://frankenphp.dev) and [Caddy](https://caddyserver.com/)
 3. [Support for extra services](docs/extra-services.md)
 4. [Deploying in production](docs/production.md)
 5. [Debugging with Xdebug](docs/xdebug.md)
-6. [TLS Certificates](docs/tls.md)
-7. [Using MySQL instead of PostgreSQL](docs/mysql.md)
-8. [Using Alpine Linux instead of Debian](docs/alpine.md)
-9. [Using a Makefile](docs/makefile.md)
-10. [Updating the template](docs/updating.md)
-11. [Troubleshooting](docs/troubleshooting.md)
+6. [Running tests](docs/testing.md)
+7. [TLS Certificates](docs/tls.md)
+8. [Using MySQL instead of PostgreSQL](docs/mysql.md)
+9. [Using Alpine Linux instead of Debian](docs/alpine.md)
+10. [Using a Makefile](docs/makefile.md)
+11. [Updating the template](docs/updating.md)
+12. [Troubleshooting](docs/troubleshooting.md)
 
 ## License
 

docs/testing.md

@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+# Running tests
+
+Since the `APP_ENV` value hardcoded as an environment value in the php container,
+running `composer dump-env test` will not override this. Therefore, it is not natively possible
+to run tests in the `test` environment when using your development container(s).
+
+## I want to run tests on my server
+
+Simple: you only need to set up and deploy you project the same way as for the dev environment,
+but you will need to set APP_ENV to test.
+
+You can set this value in `compose.override.yaml` directly, or provide your environment values
+with a specific `env-file`:
+
+```
+docker compose --env-file <your-env-file> up --wait
+```
+
+## I want to run tests on my desktop
+
+On your desktop, your container is most likely running in the `dev` environment.
+And since `APP_ENV` is hardcoded as one of the container environment values,
+you won't be able to override it.
+So if you try to use `php bin/phpunit`, you will execute your tests in the
+`dev` environment. That's not ideal for unit tests, and clearly bad if you run
+tests against your database.
+
+The solution is to use a Makefile
+(https://symfony.com/doc/current/the-fast-track/en/17-tests.html#automating-your-workflow-with-a-makefile).
+You can start from this template:
+
+```makefile
+SHELL := /bin/bash
+CONTAINER_EXEC := docker exec -i -e APP_ENV=test <your_dev_container> php
+
+tests:
+	$(CONTAINER_EXEC) bin/console doctrine:database:drop --force || true
+	$(CONTAINER_EXEC) bin/console doctrine:database:create
+	$(CONTAINER_EXEC) bin/console doctrine:migrations:migrate -n
+	$(CONTAINER_EXEC) bin/console doctrine:fixtures:load -n
+	$(CONTAINER_EXEC) bin/phpunit $(MAKECMDGOALS)
+.PHONY: tests
+```
+
+That way, you can actually override the `APP_ENV` value to `test`.
+
+> [!NOTE]
+>
+> Be mindful about your databases names and/or the value of `APP_DATABASE`:
+> if you use the same for both dev and test environment, execution of fixtures
+> and tests will break your dev database.
+> Using `[email protected]_suffix: "_test"` is a possible solution
+> to have both databases in the database container.