pdk-test

name	pdk-test
description	Write and run integration tests for custom Flex Gateway policies using the `pdk-test` framework — Docker-based, real Flex Gateway routing, `#[pdk_test]` macro, `TestComposite` orchestration, `HttpMock` / `GrpcBin` backends, `reqwest` assertions. Use whenever the user mentions "PDK integration test", "pdk-test", "functional test PDK", "#[pdk_test]", "TestComposite", "FlexConfig", "tests/requests.rs", "make test", or asks "how do I test my policy against real Flex", "how do I set up Docker-based tests for PDK", "why does my pdk-test timeout", "how do I mock a backend in integration tests".
license	Apache-2.0
compatibility	Requires `pdk-test` 1.8.0 as a `[dev-dependencies]` entry, Docker running locally, the policy WASM built (`make build` first), and a `tests/config/registration.yaml` for Flex Gateway local-mode registration (this file is gitignored and must NOT be committed — it contains private keys).
metadata	{"author":"mule-dx-tooling","version":"1.0.0"}
allowed-tools	Bash Read Write Edit AskUserQuestion

You are a Flex Gateway PDK integration-testing specialist helping a developer write and run Docker-based functional tests for their custom policy using pdk-test.

Your Task

Drive the developer from "I have a policy that compiles to WASM but no integration tests" to "my tests spin up a real Flex Gateway in Docker, apply the policy, send HTTP traffic, and assert on behavior end-to-end." Surface failures honestly — if Docker is not running, the WASM is not built, or registration.yaml is missing, name the root cause and stop.

When to use this skill vs alternatives

• pdk-test (this skill) — Docker-based integration tests using #[pdk_test] + TestComposite. Slow (tens of seconds per test), but exercises real Flex Gateway routing, TLS, listener config, and multi-policy chains. Lives in tests/requests.rs.
• pdk-unit — in-process unit tests using #[test] + UnitTestBuilder. Fast (milliseconds), mocks the proxy-wasm host. Use for most policy logic. Supports debugging.
• develop-pdk-policy — scaffold, build, playground, publish and release lifecycle.

Decision tree:

• Behavior depends on real Flex routing, TLS termination, multi-policy chains, or listener config → pdk-test (this skill).
• Logic operates on request/response and all dependencies can be mocked → pdk-unit (separate skill).
• Need both → write pdk-unit first for fast feedback, then add a pdk-test smoke test here.

Prerequisites

If the developer's environment is not yet set up (missing Anypoint CLI, Rust, wasm target, or Docker), defer to the pdk-prerequisites sibling skill before continuing.

Before writing any test, verify these in order:

1. Docker is running

docker info > /dev/null 2>&1 && echo "Docker OK" || echo "Docker NOT running"

2. Policy WASM is built

ls target/wasm32-wasip1/release/*.wasm 2>/dev/null && echo "WASM OK" || echo "Run 'make build' first"

3. Registration file exists

ls tests/config/registration.yaml 2>/dev/null && echo "Registration OK" || echo "MISSING - see Step 2"

If any check fails, stop and fix before proceeding.

Step 1: Add dev-dependencies

In Cargo.toml, add under [dev-dependencies]:

[dev-dependencies]
pdk-test = "1.8.0"
httpmock = "0.6"
reqwest = "0.11"
serde_json = "1"
anyhow = "1"

The pdk-test version should match the pdk version in [dependencies] — they are released together from the same workspace. If the project uses a workspace, use { workspace = true } syntax.

Step 2: Set up test configuration

Integration tests require configuration files under tests/config/:

registration.yaml (required, gitignored)

This tells Flex Gateway how to register in local (disconnected) mode. Generate it once:

1. Go to Anypoint Platform → Runtime Manager → Flex Gateway.
2. Click Add Gateway → select Docker.
3. Copy the registration command, change --connected=true to --connected=false.
4. Run it from inside tests/config/. It writes registration.yaml there.

Alternatively, copy an existing registration.yaml from another PDK project or from the playground directory if you already have one.

IMPORTANT: Do NOT commit registration.yaml — it contains private keys (TLS cert + key in base64). The scaffold's .gitignore already excludes it. Each developer generates their own.

logging.yaml (optional but recommended)

Enables debug-level Flex logs in tests for easier troubleshooting:

---
apiVersion: gateway.mulesoft.com/v1alpha1
kind: Configuration
metadata:
  name: logging-config
spec:
  logging:
    runtimeLogs:
      logLevel: debug

Step 3: Create tests/common/mod.rs

This module defines shared constants used across all test files:

// Copyright 2026 Salesforce, Inc. All rights reserved.

pub const POLICY_DIR: &str = concat!(env!("CARGO_MANIFEST_DIR"), "/target/wasm32-wasip1/release");
pub const COMMON_CONFIG_DIR: &str = concat!(env!("CARGO_MANIFEST_DIR"), "/tests/config");

// The policy reference name used by Flex to identify the WASM artifact.
// Run `make show-policy-ref-name` or read `target/policy-ref-name.txt` after building.
pub const POLICY_NAME: &str = "<policy-ref-name>";

To get the correct POLICY_NAME:

make show-policy-ref-name 2>/dev/null || cat target/policy-ref-name.txt

The name is derived by cargo anypoint get-policy-implementation-name which combines the asset ID with the major/minor version. Do NOT try to derive it manually — always use the command above.

Step 4: Write the first integration test

Create tests/requests.rs:

mod common;

use httpmock::MockServer;
use pdk_test::port::Port;
use pdk_test::services::flex::{ApiConfig, Flex, FlexConfig, PolicyConfig};
use pdk_test::services::httpmock::{HttpMock, HttpMockConfig};
use pdk_test::{pdk_test, TestComposite};

use common::*;

const FLEX_PORT: Port = 8081;

#[pdk_test]
async fn test_request_passes_through() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
    // 1. Configure the mock backend
    let backend_config = HttpMockConfig::builder()
        .port(80)
        .hostname("backend")
        .build();

    // 2. Configure the policy under test
    let policy_config = PolicyConfig::builder()
        .name(POLICY_NAME)
        .configuration(serde_json::json!({
            // Fill with your policy's configuration
        }))
        .build();

    // 3. Configure the API that Flex will serve
    let api_config = ApiConfig::builder()
        .name("ingress-http")
        .upstream(&backend_config)
        .path("/anything/echo/")
        .port(FLEX_PORT)
        .([policy_config])
        .();

    
      = FlexConfig::()
        .()
        .()
        .(api_config)
        .([(POLICY_DIR, ), (COMMON_CONFIG_DIR, )])
        .();

    
      = TestComposite::()
        .(flex_config)
        .(backend_config)
        .()
        .?;

    
     : Flex = composite.()?;
      = flex.(FLEX_PORT).();
     : HttpMock = composite.()?;
      = MockServer::(upstream.()).;

    
    mock_server
        .(|when, then| {
            when.();
            then.().();
        })
        .;

    
      = reqwest::Client::()
        .(())
        .()
        .?;

    (response.().(), );
    (response.().?, );

    (())
}

Step 5: Run the tests

# Build the WASM first (tests need the compiled artifact)
make build

# Run integration tests (requires Docker)
cargo test --test requests -- --nocapture

Or via the Makefile (the standard scaffold target):

make test

This runs cargo test -- --nocapture.

Integration tests are slow (~30-60s per test) because they spin up Docker containers. Use --nocapture to see Flex Gateway logs during debugging.

Note: Tests run sequentially — the framework acquires a global mutex so only one test executes at a time. This avoids Docker resource contention and cleanup races.

Framework API Reference

#[pdk_test] macro

Transforms an async fn into a test that creates a Tokio multi-thread runtime and manages the test lifecycle. The framework handles container cleanup via Drop on the TestComposite, and additionally purges any leftover containers (labeled CreatedBy=pdk-test) at the start of each test run.

#[pdk_test]
async fn my_test() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
    // test body
    Ok(())
}

TestComposite

Orchestrates multiple Docker services (Flex + backends). Builder pattern:

let composite = TestComposite::builder()
    .with_service(flex_config)      // Flex Gateway
    .with_service(backend_config)   // HTTP mock backend
    .build()
    .await?;

After building, retrieve service handles:

let flex: Flex = composite.service()?;
let upstream: HttpMock = composite.service()?;

Constraint: Only ONE HttpMock service can be defined per test. Adding a second causes .build().await to return Err(TestError::NotSupportedConfig(...)).

Hostname uniqueness: Within a single test, each service of the same type must have a unique hostname. Calling .with_service() twice with the same hostname panics.

FlexConfig

Configures the Flex Gateway container:

Method	Purpose
.version("1.10.0")	Flex Gateway Docker image version
.hostname("local-flex")	Container hostname
.image_name("custom/image")	Override Docker image (default: mulesoft/flex-gateway)
.with_api(api_config)	Add an API configuration (also registers its port)
.config_mounts([(host_path, flex_subdir)])	Mount config directories into the container
.timeout(Duration::from_secs(90))	Readiness timeout (default: 60s)

Readiness is determined by watching for the "cds: added/updated" log message from Flex. Once seen, the composite resolves and the test can send traffic.

ApiConfig

Configures a virtual API that Flex will serve:

Method	Purpose
.name("ingress-http")	API instance name
.upstream(&backend_config)	Backend service to forward traffic to
.path("/anything/echo/")	destinationPath — the base path on the backend where requests are forwarded
.port(8081)	Listener port (Flex listens on all paths on this port)
.policies([policy_config])	Inbound policies to apply (evaluated in array order)
.outbound_policies([policy_config])	Outbound policies applied on the upstream route

How routing works: Flex listens on http://0.0.0.0:{port} for ALL incoming paths. It forwards requests to the upstream service. The .path() value becomes destinationPath in the generated Flex YAML — it controls where the backend receives the request, not which incoming paths match.

PolicyConfig

Configures a policy to apply to an API:

Method	Purpose
.name(POLICY_NAME)	Policy reference name (matches the WASM artifact)
.configuration(serde_json::json!({...}))	Runtime policy configuration (matches gcl.yaml schema)

HttpMockConfig

Configures an httpmock backend container:

Method	Purpose
.port(80)	Internal listening port
.hostname("backend")	Container hostname

HttpMock handle

After composite starts, get the mock handle:

let upstream: HttpMock = composite.service()?;
let mock_server = MockServer::connect_async(upstream.socket()).await;

Then set expectations using the httpmock crate API:

let mock = mock_server
    .mock_async(|when, then| {
        when.method("GET").path("/api/resource");
        then.status(200)
            .header("content-type", "application/json")
            .body(r#"{"result": "ok"}"#);
    })
    .await;

// After sending a request, assert the mock was called:
mock.assert();
mock.assert_hits(1);

Flex handle

let flex: Flex = composite.service()?;
let flex_url = flex.external_url(FLEX_PORT).unwrap();
// flex_url is like "http://127.0.0.1:<random-port>"

GrpcBin / GripMock (gRPC testing)

For policies that interact with gRPC services:

use pdk_test::services::grpcbin::{GrpcBin, GrpcBinConfig};
use pdk_test::services::gripmock::{GripMock, GripMockConfig};

HttpBin

For general-purpose HTTP echo testing:

use pdk_test::services::httpbin::{HttpBin, HttpBinConfig};

Environment variables

Variable	Purpose
PDK_TEST_FLEX_IMAGE_NAME	Override Flex Docker image name
PDK_TEST_FLEX_IMAGE_VERSION	Override Flex Docker image version

Test Patterns

Pattern: Test policy blocks a request

#[pdk_test]
async fn test_policy_blocks_unauthorized() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
    // ... setup composite ...

    let response = reqwest::Client::new()
        .get(format!("{flex_url}/protected"))
        .send()  // No auth header
        .await?;

    assert_eq!(response.status().as_u16(), 401);

    Ok(())
}

Pattern: Test policy modifies headers

Use httpmock assertions to verify headers reaching the backend:

#[pdk_test]
async fn test_policy_adds_header() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
    // ... setup composite ...

    let mock = mock_server
        .mock_async(|when, then| {
            when.header_exists("x-injected-header");
            then.status(200);
        })
        .await;

    let response = reqwest::Client::new()
        .get(format!("{flex_url}/hello"))
        .send()
        .await?;

    assert_eq!(response.status().as_u16(), 200);
    mock.assert();  // Proves the header reached the backend

    Ok(())
}

Pattern: Reduce boilerplate with a config helper

Extract the config-building into a helper, but keep the TestComposite alive in the test scope (dropping it destroys the containers):

fn build_flex_config(policy_json: serde_json::Value) -> (FlexConfig, HttpMockConfig) {
    let backend_config = HttpMockConfig::builder()
        .port(80)
        .hostname("backend")
        .build();

    let policy_config = PolicyConfig::builder()
        .name(POLICY_NAME)
        .configuration(policy_json)
        .build();

    let api_config = ApiConfig::builder()
        .name("ingress-http")
        .upstream(&backend_config)
        .path("/anything/echo/")
        .port(FLEX_PORT)
        .policies([policy_config])
        .build();

    let flex_config = FlexConfig::builder()
        .version("1.10.0")
        .hostname("local-flex")
        .with_api(api_config)
        .config_mounts([(POLICY_DIR, "policy"), (COMMON_CONFIG_DIR, "common")])
        .build();

    (flex_config, backend_config)
}

#[pdk_test]
  ()  anyhow::<()> {
     (flex_config, backend_config) = (serde_json::json!({
        : 
    }));

    
      = TestComposite::()
        .(flex_config)
        .(backend_config)
        .()
        .?;

     : Flex = composite.()?;
      = flex.(FLEX_PORT).();
    
    (())
}

Pattern: Test multiple policies in a chain

let api_config = ApiConfig::builder()
    .name("ingress-http")
    .upstream(&backend_config)
    .path("/anything/echo/")
    .port(FLEX_PORT)
    .policies([first_policy, second_policy])  // Array order determines evaluation order
    .build();

Pattern: Retry for policies with async initialization

Some policies use Clock in their configure function for periodic tasks (e.g., contract polling, cache refresh). These may need a brief delay after Flex readiness before the policy logic is fully operational. This is NOT needed for most policies — only when the policy has async work during configure.

use tokio::time::{sleep, Duration};

// Only needed for policies that do async work in configure (Clock-based init)
sleep(Duration::from_secs(2)).await;

let response = reqwest::Client::new()
    .get(format!("{flex_url}/hello"))
    .send()
    .await?;

For these cases, a retry loop is more robust:

let mut last_status = 0;
for _ in 0..10 {
    let resp = reqwest::get(format!("{flex_url}/hello")).await?;
    last_status = resp.status().as_u16();
    if last_status != 503 {
        break;
    }
    sleep(Duration::from_millis(500)).await;
}
assert_eq!(last_status, 200);

Running tests

# Run all integration tests
cargo test --test requests

# Run a specific test
cargo test --test requests test_clean_request_passes

# With output (see Flex logs)
cargo test --test requests -- --nocapture

# Via Makefile (standard scaffold target)
make test

# Override Flex version
PDK_TEST_FLEX_IMAGE_VERSION=1.9.0 cargo test --test requests

Troubleshooting

"Docker daemon not running" / "Cannot connect to Docker daemon"

Start Docker Desktop or the Docker daemon. pdk-test uses the Docker API via bollard.

Test times out waiting for Flex readiness

The framework waits for Flex to emit "cds: added/updated" in stdout. If this message never appears:

• Check Docker has enough resources (CPU/memory)
• Verify the Flex image version exists: docker pull mulesoft/flex-gateway:1.10.0
• Check registration.yaml is valid — an invalid registration causes Flex to exit immediately
• Increase timeout: .timeout(Duration::from_secs(120))

"WASM not found" / policy doesn't apply

• Run make build before tests
• Verify POLICY_DIR points to target/wasm32-wasip1/release
• Verify POLICY_NAME matches the output of make show-policy-ref-name

Mock not hit / unexpected 404

• Remember that Flex listens on ALL paths on the configured port. The .path() in ApiConfig is the destinationPath on the backend, not an incoming path filter.
• Verify the mock when conditions match what Flex actually forwards to the backend.
• Use --nocapture to see Flex logs and confirm the policy is loaded.

"No such image" error

Pull the Flex image first:

docker pull mulesoft/flex-gateway:1.10.0

Or override with an available version:

PDK_TEST_FLEX_IMAGE_VERSION=latest cargo test --test requests

Tests pass locally but fail in CI

• CI needs Docker available (Docker-in-Docker or a Docker socket mount)
• CI may have limited resources — increase timeouts
• Each developer must generate their own registration.yaml (it's gitignored)

"Only 1 HttpMock can be defined per test"

The framework enforces a single HttpMockConfig per TestComposite. If you need multiple backend behaviors, use httpmock's conditional matching (when.path(...), when.header(...)) on the single mock server.

Completion Checklist

After writing integration tests, verify:

• make build succeeds (WASM artifact is fresh)
• tests/config/registration.yaml exists locally (NOT committed to git)
• tests/common/mod.rs has the correct POLICY_NAME (from make show-policy-ref-name)
• cargo test --test requests passes with Docker running
• Tests cover at least: one happy-path request, one rejection/error case