qa-specs/README.rst

QA Specs Repository

This is a git repository for doing design review on QA enhancements as part of the OpenStack program. This provides an ability to ensure that everyone has signed off on the approach to solving a problem early on.

This repository includes the Tempest and DevStack projects.

Repository Structure

The structure of the repository is as follows:

specs/
    devstack/
    implemented/

Expected Work Flow

1. Create a blueprint stub in tempest or devstack blueprint repository
2. Propose review to qa-specs repository (ensure bp:blueprint_name is in the commit message. DevStack specs should go into the devstack/ subdirectory but otherwise follow the same process.
3. Link Read the full specification to the gerrit address of the spec
4. Bring forward the proposed item to the openstack-qa meeting for summary
5. Review happens on proposal by qa-core members and others
6. Iterate until review is Approved or Rejected

Once a Review is Approved...

1. Update blueprint, Copy summary text of blueprint to there
2. Link Read the full specification to the git address of the spec
3. Profit!

Revisiting Specs

We don't always get everything right the first time. If we realize we need to revisit a specification because something changed, either we now know more, or a new idea came in which we should embrace, we'll manage this by proposing an update to the spec in question.

Learn as we go

This is a new way of attempting things, so we're going to be low in process to begin with to figure out where we go from here. Expect some early flexibility in evolving this effort over time.

Tempest Specs For New Tests

If you're writing a new spec to improve the testing coverage in Tempest the requirements for what is included in the specification are slightly less stringent and different from other proposals. This is because blueprints for more tests are more about tracking the effort in a single place and assigning a unified topic in gerrit for ease of review, it's less about the implementation details. Blueprints/specifications for new tests should only ever be opened for overarching development efforts. For example there should only ever only need to be a single blueprint for adding tests for a project.

Most of these efforts require a method to track the work items outside of launchpad. Both etherpad and google docs have been used very successfully for this. The goal is to list out all the tests that need to be written and allow people to mark that they intend to work on a specific test. This prevents duplication of effort as well as provide overall status tracking. An external tool like etherpad or google docs is better at this because it allows concurrent use and more dynamic editing than launchpad.

The only details required in the proposed change section for a spec about new tests are:

• What is being tested and the scope of what will be covered by the blueprint
• What external tool is being used to track the development.
  • If no external tracking is being used just explain why.

DevStack Specs

Specs for DevStack fall into a couple of broad categories:

• Support for new {projectcool widget}

  This is where the discussion of "Does this support belong in the DevStack repo?" should take place.

• Significant re-factoring

  One primary section that these types of changes require is an analysis of backward compatibility and Grenade impacts.

The existing template is mostly suitable for DevStack use, a quick s/tempest/devstack/ handles the majority of changes.