qa-validation-loop

name	qa-validation-loop
description	Repeatable post-change QA workflow for Godot edits covering diagnostics, targeted tests, and deterministic regressions.
tier	operational
godot_version	4.6+
doc_anchors	["godot-docs/tutorials/editor/command_line_tutorial.rst","godot-docs/tutorials/scripting/debug/overview_of_debugging_tools.rst","godot-docs/tutorials/scripting/debug/the_profiler.rst","godot-docs/tutorials/io/saving_games.rst"]
tags	["qa","validation","workflow"]
depends_on	["godot-skills/godot-tertiary/editor-validation-suite-contract/SKILL.md"]

QA Validation Loop

Use When

• After changing GDScript, scenes/resources, or editor tools.
• Before merging changes that affect deterministic gameplay state.

Outcomes

• Parser/type/runtime diagnostics are clean for changed scope.
• Relevant test slice passes before broader validation gates run.
• Deterministic checks (save/load, replay, hash) are executed when impacted.

Required Rules

• Run diagnostics first; do not bury syntax/type errors under test noise.
• Execute the smallest relevant test slice before full-suite runs.
• Include deterministic regression checks when serialization or gameplay logic changes.
• Record first-failure location and reproduction command for every failure.

Workflow

1. Refresh diagnostics/indexing state once after edits.
2. Resolve parse/type errors before broader test runs.
3. Run smallest relevant test slice first.
4. Run deterministic validation/replay checks when impacted.
5. Record pass/fail evidence with first failure location.

Validation

• Trigger one controlled failure and confirm the loop captures first failing file/test.
• For save/load-affecting changes, perform round-trip check and replay verification.
• For performance-sensitive changes, compare profiler counters before/after.

Failure Modes

• Skipping diagnostics causes noisy downstream failures and wasted triage time.
• Running only full-suite tests hides local regressions and slows iteration.
• Deterministic checks are omitted after schema/state changes, shipping silent desyncs.

Local Doc Anchors

• godot-docs/tutorials/editor/command_line_tutorial.rst
• godot-docs/tutorials/scripting/debug/overview_of_debugging_tools.rst
• godot-docs/tutorials/scripting/debug/the_profiler.rst
• godot-docs/tutorials/io/saving_games.rst