run-acceptance-tests

name	run-acceptance-tests
description	Guide for running acceptance tests for a Terraform provider. Use this when asked to run an acceptance test or to run a test with the prefix `TestAcc`, when a test fails with missing environment variables, or when diagnosing a failing or suspiciously passing acceptance test.
license	MPL-2.0
metadata	{"lifecycle-status":"active","copyright":"Copyright IBM Corp. 2026","version":"0.0.1"}

An acceptance test is a Go test function with the prefix TestAcc.

Before running: acceptance tests create real infrastructure against the provider's live API, which may incur cost. Confirm the configured credentials point at a test account before proceeding.

To run a focused acceptance test named TestAccFeatureHappyPath:

1. Run go test -run=TestAccFeatureHappyPath -timeout 60m with the following environment variables:

   • TF_ACC=1

   Default to non-verbose test output. Always pass an explicit -timeout: go test kills any test run after 10 minutes by default, and acceptance tests routinely exceed that.

2. The acceptance tests may require additional environment variables for specific providers. To discover which ones:

   • Read the test's PreCheck / testAccPreCheck function and search the test files: grep -rn "os.Getenv" --include="*_test.go".
   • Check the repository's README, CONTRIBUTING, or .env.example for documented test setup.
   • The provider's Configure method shows how credentials are resolved; use the provider-configuration skill (if available) to understand a credential provider chain.

   Set the variables for the single test invocation (EXAMPLE_API_KEY=... TF_ACC=1 go test ...) rather than exporting them into the shell profile, and never write secret values into files inside the repository.

To diagnose a failing acceptance test, use these options, in order. These options are cumulative: each option includes all the options above it.

1. Run the test again. Use the -count=1 option to ensure that go test does not use a cached result.
2. Offer verbose go test output. Use the -v option.
3. Offer debug-level logging. Enable debug-level logging with the environment variable TF_LOG=debug.
4. Offer to persist the acceptance test's Terraform workspace. Enable persistence with the environment variable TF_ACC_WORKING_DIR_PERSIST=1.

A passing acceptance test may be a false negative. To "flip" a passing acceptance test named TestAccFeatureHappyPath:

1. Edit the value of one of the TestCheckFuncs in one of the TestSteps in the TestCase.
2. Run the acceptance test. Expect the test to fail.
3. If the test fails, then undo the edit and report a successful flip. Else, keep the edit and report an unsuccessful flip.

If a test run is interrupted, real resources may be left behind; run the provider's sweepers if it registers them (see the provider-test-patterns skill's sweeper reference, if available). For writing or restructuring tests, use the provider-test-patterns skill.