Add a "prepare_verify" command

[sylmarch]

Idea

Add an optional prepare_verify command to perform some actions before all tests (i.e. just before verify command) and after converge / idempotence / side_effect commands.

Current drawback

Molecule version: molecule 4.0.1

There is a prepare command but it is run before converge command:

$ molecule matrix test
INFO     Test matrix
---                                                                                                                                                                                 
default:                                                                                                                                                                            
  - dependency                                                                                                                                                                      
  - lint                                                                                                                                                                            
  - cleanup                                                                                                                                                                         
  - destroy                                                                                                                                                                         
  - syntax                                                                                                                                                                          
  - create                                                                                                                                                                          
  - prepare                                                                                                                                                                         
  - converge                                                                                                                                                                        
  - idempotence                                                                                                                                                                     
  - side_effect                                                                                                                                                                     
  - verify                                                                                                                                                                          
  - cleanup                                                                                                                                                                         
  - destroy

Thus, if you install dependencies that are only needed for your tests during prepare command, you may alter the behavior of your tested role during converge / idempotence / side_effect commands.

I did not find a command that is aimed to prepare test environment:

$ molecule --help

...

Commands:
  check        Use the provisioner to perform a Dry-Run (destroy, dependency, create, prepare, converge).
  cleanup      Use the provisioner to cleanup any changes made to external systems during the stages of testing.
  converge     Use the provisioner to configure instances (dependency, create, prepare converge).
  create       Use the provisioner to start the instances.
  dependency   Manage the role's dependencies.
  destroy      Use the provisioner to destroy the instances.
  drivers      List drivers.
  idempotence  Use the provisioner to configure the instances and parse the output to determine idempotence.
  init         Initialize a new role or scenario.
  lint         Lint the role (dependency, lint).
  list         List status of instances.
  login        Log in to one instance.
  matrix       List matrix of steps used to test instances.
  prepare      Use the provisioner to prepare the instances into a particular starting state.
  reset        Reset molecule temporary folders.
  side-effect  Use the provisioner to perform side-effects to the instances.
  syntax       Use the provisioner to syntax check the role.
  test         Test (dependency, lint, cleanup, destroy, syntax, create, prepare, converge, idempotence, side_effect, verify, cleanup, destroy).
  verify       Run automated tests against instances.

I'm using testinfra framework for verify phase (not Ansible).

[amarao]

You can use additional side_effect with a custom playbook:

- create
- prepare
- converge
- side_effect  perpare_verify.yaml
- verify

[sylmarch]

I try this as you mention and it works.

Create a prepare-verify.yml file at the same level of molecule.yml

Add this in molecule.yml:

provisioner:
  name: ansible
  playbooks:
    side_effect: prepare-verify.yml

Run the command molecule test.

If you want to keep the container (e.g. to prototype your tests), don't forget to run the side-effect command as it is not included in verify, nor converge:

molecule converge

# command with a dash, not an underscore
molecule side-effect
molecule verify