cs249r_book/tinytorch/quarto/tito/testing.qmd

---
title: "Developer Testing Guide"
---

<div style="background: #fff3e0; padding: 2rem; border-radius: 0.5rem; margin: 2rem 0; text-align: center;">
<h2 style="margin: 0 0 1rem 0; color: #e65100;">For Developers Only</h2>
<p style="margin: 0; font-size: 1.1rem; color: #6c757d;">This guide is for TinyTorch contributors and maintainers. Students should use <code>tito module</code> commands.</p>
</div>

**Purpose**: Complete guide to TinyTorch's testing infrastructure. Understand the test hierarchy, run specific test types, and validate releases.


## Test Hierarchy Overview

TinyTorch uses a **progressive testing hierarchy** that mirrors how the framework builds from simple components to full functionality:

::: {#fig-tito-test-hierarchy fig-env="figure" fig-pos="htb" fig-cap="**TinyTorch test hierarchy.** Fast feedback tests (inline, unit, CLI) run frequently during development. Coordination tests (integration, end-to-end) verify that modules compose correctly. Milestone tests recreate historical ML results to prove the whole framework works. Release validation is destructive and runs only at release cuts." fig-alt="Seven stacked boxes connected by vertical arrows. From top: INLINE TESTS, UNIT TESTS, CLI TESTS (all blue for fast feedback), INTEGRATION TESTS, END-TO-END TESTS (orange for coordination), MILESTONE TESTS (green for validation), RELEASE VALIDATION (red for destructive). Side labels mark fast, mid, full, destructive scopes."}

![](../assets/images/svg/tito-test-hierarchy.svg)

:::

## Quick Reference

| Flag | What It Tests | When to Use |
|------|--------------|-------------|
| `--inline` | Embedded tests in `src/*.py` | After editing module source code |
| `--unit` | Pytest unit tests | Quick validation during development |
| `--cli` | CLI command tests | After modifying TITO commands |
| `--integration` | Cross-module tests | After changes affecting multiple modules |
| `--e2e` | End-to-end journeys | Before merging major features |
| `--milestone` | Historical ML tests | After full package changes |
| `--all` | Everything except release | Before pushing to dev branch |
| `--release` | Full destructive validation | Before releases only |

## The `tito dev test` Command

All testing is unified under a single command with specific flags:

```bash
# Default: runs unit tests only
tito dev test

# Run specific test types
tito dev test --inline         # Module source tests (progressive)
tito dev test --unit           # Pytest unit tests
tito dev test --cli            # CLI tests
tito dev test --integration    # Integration tests
tito dev test --e2e            # End-to-end tests
tito dev test --milestone      # Milestone tests

# Run all tests (except release)
tito dev test --all

# Full release validation (DESTRUCTIVE)
tito dev test --release
```

### Combining Flags

You can combine multiple flags:

```bash
# Run unit and CLI tests
tito dev test --unit --cli

# Run inline and integration tests
tito dev test --inline --integration
```

### Module-Specific Testing

Test a specific module with the `--module` flag (or `-m` shorthand):

```bash
# Run inline tests for module 06 only
tito dev test --inline --module 06

# Run unit tests for module 03
tito dev test --unit --module 03

# Shorthand works too
tito dev test --inline -m 06
```

### CI Mode

For automation, use `--ci` for JSON output:

```bash
tito dev test --all --ci
```


## Test Types Explained

### 1. Inline Tests (`--inline`)

**What**: Embedded tests inside `src/XX_module/XX_module.py` files using nbgrader format.

**Why**: These are the student-facing tests that validate each module's implementation before export.

**How It Works**:
1. Runs `tito module complete` for each module **progressively**
2. Module N requires modules 1 to N-1 to be already exported
3. Each module's inline tests must pass before proceeding

**Example inline test in source**:
```python
# %% nbgrader={"grade": true, "grade_id": "tensor_creation", "points": 5}
# Test tensor creation
t = Tensor([1, 2, 3])
assert t.shape == (3,), "Shape should be (3,)"
assert t.data[0] == 1, "First element should be 1"
```

**When to run**: After editing any `src/` file to ensure student tests still pass.


### 2. Unit Tests (`--unit`)

**What**: Pytest tests in `tests/01_tensor/`, `tests/02_activations/`, etc.

**Why**: Additional validation beyond inline tests. May test edge cases, error handling, or implementation details not covered in student exercises.

**Location**: `tinytorch/tests/` directory structure mirrors module structure.

**When to run**: Default test type. Run frequently during development.


### 3. CLI Tests (`--cli`)

**What**: Tests for the TITO command-line interface.

**Why**: Ensures all CLI commands work correctly, help text is consistent, and user-facing behavior is stable.

**Location**: `tinytorch/tests/cli/`

**When to run**: After modifying any command in `tito/commands/`.


### 4. Integration Tests (`--integration`)

**What**: Tests that verify cross-module functionality.

**Why**: Module 2 depends on Module 1. Integration tests ensure the dependencies work correctly together.

**Location**: `tinytorch/tests/integration/`

**Example**: Testing that `Tensor` from Module 1 works correctly with `Linear` from Module 5.

**When to run**: After changes that might affect module interactions.


### 5. End-to-End Tests (`--e2e`)

**What**: Complete user journey tests.

**Why**: Validates the entire workflow a student or developer would follow.

**Location**: `tinytorch/tests/e2e/`

**Example journeys tested**:
- Fresh setup → module start → module complete
- Module completion → milestone run
- Progress tracking across sessions

**When to run**: Before merging significant features.


### 6. Milestone Tests (`--milestone`)

**What**: Tests that validate the historical ML milestone scripts.

**Why**: Milestones are key student checkpoints. They MUST work reliably.

**Location**: `tinytorch/tests/milestones/`

**Milestones tested**:
1. **Perceptron (1958)** - First neural network
2. **XOR Crisis (1969)** - Multi-layer networks
3. **MLP Revival (1986)** - Backpropagation
4. **CNN Revolution (1998)** - Spatial networks
5. **Transformer Era (2017)** - Attention mechanism
6. **MLPerf (2018)** - Optimization techniques

**Requirements**: All modules must be exported to `tinytorch/core/` before milestone tests can run.

**When to run**: After any changes to core TinyTorch functionality.


### 7. All Tests (`--all`)

**What**: Runs inline, unit, cli, integration, e2e, and milestone tests.

**Why**: Comprehensive validation without the destructive reset of release validation.

**When to run**: Before pushing to the `dev` branch or creating PRs.


### 8. Release Validation (`--release`)

**What**: Full curriculum rebuild and validation.

**Why**: Ensures a fresh installation would work correctly.

:::{.callout-warning}
This is **DESTRUCTIVE**. It will:

1. Reset all progress tracking
2. Clean the `tinytorch/core/` directory
3. Export each module from scratch
4. Run all test types
5. Execute all milestones
:::

**When to run**: **Only before releases.** Never run casually.


## CI/CD Integration

The GitHub Actions workflow supports all test types:

```yaml
# .github/workflows/tinytorch-validate-dev.yml

# Quick tests on every push
- name: Run Quick Tests
  run: tito dev test --unit --cli

# Full tests on PR to dev
- name: Run Full Tests
  run: tito dev test --all

# Release validation (manual trigger only)
- name: Release Validation
  run: tito dev test --release
```


## Test Directory Structure

```
tinytorch/
├── tests/
│   ├── 01_tensor/           # Unit tests for Module 01
│   ├── 02_activations/      # Unit tests for Module 02
│   ├── ...
│   ├── cli/                 # CLI command tests
│   │   ├── test_cli_execution.py
│   │   ├── test_cli_help_consistency.py
│   │   └── test_cli_registry.py
│   ├── integration/         # Cross-module tests
│   ├── e2e/                 # End-to-end journey tests
│   │   └── test_user_journey.py
│   └── milestones/          # Milestone script tests
│       └── test_milestones_run.py
└── src/
    ├── 01_tensor/
    │   └── 01_tensor.py     # Contains inline tests
    ├── 02_activations/
    │   └── 02_activations.py
    └── ...
```


## Common Workflows

### Daily Development

```bash
# Quick validation while coding
tito dev test --unit

# After editing a module
tito dev test --inline --module 06

# Before committing
tito dev test --unit --cli
```

### Feature Development

```bash
# After implementing a feature
tito dev test --unit --integration

# Before creating PR
tito dev test --all
```

### Pre-Release

```bash
# Full validation (in clean environment)
tito dev test --release
```


## Troubleshooting

### "Module XX not found"

**Cause**: The module hasn't been exported yet.

**Solution**: Run `tito module complete XX` or `tito dev export XX` first.

### Milestone tests fail with import errors

**Cause**: Not all required modules are exported.

**Solution**: Run `tito dev test --inline` first to progressively build all modules.

### Tests pass locally but fail in CI

**Cause**: CI starts fresh without exported modules.

**Solution**: Ensure CI workflow runs module export before tests.


## Related Documentation

- **[Module Workflow](modules.qmd)** - How modules build progressively
- **[Milestone System](milestones.qmd)** - Understanding historical milestones
- **[Troubleshooting](troubleshooting.qmd)** - Common issues and solutions


*A well-tested framework is a trusted framework. Use this testing hierarchy to ensure TinyTorch remains reliable for students worldwide.*