Production code changes remain covered by commit-time automated test gates

test-018

Intent

Production code should continue to pass through routine automated build and test gates before merge. Removing those gates weakens feedback and lets regressions reach later stages unnecessarily.

Applicability

Applies when the diff changes CI workflows, presubmit rules, path filters, or repository test gating for production code. Return unknown when the change does not affect merge-time automation.

What to inspect

Look at workflow triggers, path filters, required jobs, test targets, and whether production-code paths still execute automated validation before merge.

Pass criteria

Production code changes still trigger routine automated build or test validation in the normal integration path.

Fail criteria

The diff removes or bypasses commit-time automated test gating for production code, or narrows workflow filters so relevant production changes no longer run tests.

Do not flag

Documentation-only path filters, duplication cleanup that preserves equivalent gating, or movement of the same required job under a renamed workflow.

Confidence guidance

HIGH when required test jobs or path coverage are directly removed. MEDIUM when gating moves behind indirect workflow includes. LOW when required-status policy lives outside the repository.

Remediation

Keep automated tests in the merge path for production code and restore path coverage for the affected components.

Pass example

on:
  pull_request:
    paths:
      - 'src/**'
jobs:
  test:
    steps:
      - run: npm test

Fail example

on:
  pull_request:
    paths:
      - 'docs/**'

# Production code under src/ no longer runs automated tests at commit time.

Sources

  • Accelerate + DORA reports book