---
summary: "How to run tests locally (vitest) and when to use force/coverage modes"
read_when:
  - Running or fixing tests
title: "Tests"
---

# Tests

- Full testing kit (suites, live, Docker): [Testing](/help/testing)

- `pnpm test:force`: Kills any lingering gateway process holding the default control port, then runs the full Vitest suite with an isolated gateway port so server tests don’t collide with a running instance. Use this when a prior gateway run left port 18789 occupied.
- `pnpm test:coverage`: Runs the unit suite with V8 coverage (via `vitest.unit.config.ts`). Global thresholds are 70% lines/branches/functions/statements. Coverage excludes integration-heavy entrypoints (CLI wiring, gateway/telegram bridges, webchat static server) to keep the target focused on unit-testable logic.
- `pnpm test` on Node 24+: OpenClaw auto-disables Vitest `vmForks` and uses `forks` to avoid `ERR_VM_MODULE_LINK_FAILURE` / `module is already linked`. You can force behavior with `OPENCLAW_TEST_VM_FORKS=0|1`.
- `pnpm test`: runs the fast core unit lane by default for quick local feedback.
- `pnpm test:channels`: runs channel-heavy suites.
- `pnpm test:extensions`: runs extension/plugin suites.
- Gateway integration: opt-in via `OPENCLAW_TEST_INCLUDE_GATEWAY=1 pnpm test` or `pnpm test:gateway`.
- `pnpm test:e2e`: Runs gateway end-to-end smoke tests (multi-instance WS/HTTP/node pairing). Defaults to `vmForks` + adaptive workers in `vitest.e2e.config.ts`; tune with `OPENCLAW_E2E_WORKERS=<n>` and set `OPENCLAW_E2E_VERBOSE=1` for verbose logs.
- `pnpm test:live`: Runs provider live tests (minimax/zai). Requires API keys and `LIVE=1` (or provider-specific `*_LIVE_TEST=1`) to unskip.

## Local PR gate

For local PR land/gate checks, run:

- `pnpm check`
- `pnpm build`
- `pnpm test`
- `pnpm check:docs`

If `pnpm test` flakes on a loaded host, rerun once before treating it as a regression, then isolate with `pnpm vitest run <path/to/test>`. For memory-constrained hosts, use:

- `OPENCLAW_TEST_PROFILE=low OPENCLAW_TEST_SERIAL_GATEWAY=1 pnpm test`

## Model latency bench (local keys)

Script: [`scripts/bench-model.ts`](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/blob/main/scripts/bench-model.ts)

Usage:

- `source ~/.profile && pnpm tsx scripts/bench-model.ts --runs 10`
- Optional env: `MINIMAX_API_KEY`, `MINIMAX_BASE_URL`, `MINIMAX_MODEL`, `ANTHROPIC_API_KEY`
- Default prompt: “Reply with a single word: ok. No punctuation or extra text.”

Last run (2025-12-31, 20 runs):

- minimax median 1279ms (min 1114, max 2431)
- opus median 2454ms (min 1224, max 3170)

## CLI startup bench

Script: [`scripts/bench-cli-startup.ts`](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/blob/main/scripts/bench-cli-startup.ts)

Usage:

- `pnpm tsx scripts/bench-cli-startup.ts`
- `pnpm tsx scripts/bench-cli-startup.ts --runs 12`
- `pnpm tsx scripts/bench-cli-startup.ts --entry dist/entry.js --timeout-ms 45000`

This benchmarks these commands:

- `--version`
- `--help`
- `health --json`
- `status --json`
- `status`

Output includes avg, p50, p95, min/max, and exit-code/signal distribution for each command.

## Onboarding E2E (Docker)

Docker is optional; this is only needed for containerized onboarding smoke tests.

Full cold-start flow in a clean Linux container:

```bash
scripts/e2e/onboard-docker.sh
```

This script drives the interactive wizard via a pseudo-tty, verifies config/workspace/session files, then starts the gateway and runs `openclaw health`.

## QR import smoke (Docker)

Ensures `qrcode-terminal` loads under Node 22+ in Docker:

```bash
pnpm test:docker:qr
```
