Understanding Chutzpah Architecture

Test Adapter and Execution Environment

Chutzpah integrates with Visual Studio Test Explorer and uses configuration files (chutzpah.json) to define test runners, references, and includes. It executes tests in a headless browser environment using PhantomJS or an external browser.

Script Referencing and Dependency Loading

Chutzpah relies on explicitly defined paths to test and reference files. Modern module loaders (like ES6 modules or webpack) require configuration workarounds to function within Chutzpah's legacy loading strategy.

Common Symptoms

• Chutzpah does not discover or run any tests
• ReferenceError or undefined is not a function in test output
• PhantomJS crashes or returns blank console output
• Tests pass locally but fail in CI builds (Azure DevOps, Jenkins, TeamCity)
• Tests using ES6 modules or TypeScript fail to load dependencies

Root Causes

1. Misconfigured chutzpah.json File

Incorrect references, tests, or include paths result in missing script dependencies, leading to test failures or silent skipping.

2. PhantomJS Compatibility Limitations

PhantomJS does not support modern JavaScript (ES6+), causing tests using let, const, or arrow functions to fail unless transpiled.

3. Test Framework Mismatch

Chutzpah must be explicitly configured to use Jasmine, Mocha, or QUnit. A mismatch between the actual test code and the configured framework leads to non-discovery of tests.

4. Incorrect Test File Naming or Placement

Tests not matching the expected naming pattern (e.g., *.test.js) or outside the tests directory are ignored during discovery.

5. Incompatible Module Bundlers

Webpack or ES modules use dynamic loading mechanisms that Chutzpah cannot parse natively. These must be pre-bundled before test execution.

Diagnostics and Monitoring

1. Enable Chutzpah Console Logging

Use chutzpah.console.exe with /trace to capture detailed logs. This reveals script load order, test discovery, and runtime stack traces.

2. Validate Test Runner Configuration

Confirm that framework in chutzpah.json matches the syntax and structure of the test cases (e.g., Jasmine vs Mocha).

3. Use a Pre-Build Task to Transpile Code

Ensure TypeScript or Babel output is written to a dist folder and referenced directly in Chutzpah’s configuration.

4. Monitor PhantomJS Execution

Inspect crash logs and run tests with --engine Phantom to isolate PhantomJS-specific failures. Consider switching to a modern browser engine if supported.

5. Inspect CI Logs and Artifacts

In Jenkins or Azure DevOps, capture full Chutzpah output including XML results and any pre-step scripts for analysis.

Step-by-Step Fix Strategy

1. Repair chutzpah.json Configuration

Ensure proper relative paths for references, tests, and set framework explicitly. Use compile section for TypeScript output control.

2. Preprocess JavaScript to ES5

Use Babel or TypeScript compiler with target: ES5. Bundle dependencies into a flat test file and reference it directly.

3. Update PhantomJS or Use Alternate Runner

Though PhantomJS is deprecated, use the latest stable version. Consider switching to headless Chrome or launching via browser engine flags if supported.

4. Standardize Test Naming Conventions

Name files with .test.js or .spec.js and ensure placement inside known test directories included in the config.

5. Clean and Rebuild in CI

Always clean artifacts before running Chutzpah in pipelines. Ensure node_modules and dist folders are available or cached properly.

Best Practices

• Modularize your tests and separate test logic from build output
• Bundle ES6+ test files before running under Chutzpah
• Use consistent and version-controlled chutzpah.json across projects
• Export JUnit-style XML for integration into CI dashboards
• Use local test verification before CI to avoid environment-specific errors

Conclusion

Chutzpah remains a valuable tool for legacy and integrated .NET + JavaScript testing workflows. However, its limitations with modern JS features and reliance on PhantomJS require deliberate configuration and preprocessing. By standardizing chutzpah.json, transpiling tests, and isolating test runner behavior, developers can maintain stable, reliable test pipelines even in complex CI environments.

FAQs

1. Why are my tests not discovered by Chutzpah?

Ensure the test framework is correctly set in chutzpah.json and that the test file follows naming and placement conventions.

2. How do I run ES6 tests in Chutzpah?

Transpile ES6 code to ES5 using Babel or TypeScript and reference the output in Chutzpah. PhantomJS cannot parse native ES6 syntax.

3. What causes PhantomJS crashes in Chutzpah?

Likely due to unsupported JS features or large DOM interactions. Switch to a lighter test page or pre-bundle dependencies.

4. Can Chutzpah be used with headless Chrome?

Not directly. Chutzpah primarily supports PhantomJS. Consider migrating to Karma or Jest for Chrome-based testing if needed.

5. How do I integrate Chutzpah test results into Jenkins?

Use the /junit output flag to generate XML, then publish results via Jenkins' JUnit plugin for test reports.