How to Customize the Bootstrap Process before Running Tests

Sometimes when running tests, you need to do additional bootstrap work before running those tests. For example, if you're running a functional test and have introduced a new translation resource, then you will need to clear your cache before running those tests.

To do this, first add a file that executes your bootstrap work:

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// tests/bootstrap.php
if (isset($_ENV['BOOTSTRAP_CLEAR_CACHE_ENV'])) {
    // executes the "php bin/console cache:clear" command
    passthru(sprintf(
        'APP_ENV=%s php "%s/../bin/console" cache:clear --no-warmup',
        $_ENV['BOOTSTRAP_CLEAR_CACHE_ENV'],
        __DIR__
    ));
}

require __DIR__.'/../config/bootstrap.php';

Then, configure phpunit.xml.dist to execute this bootstrap.php file before running the tests:

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<!-- phpunit.xml.dist -->
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<phpunit
    bootstrap="tests/bootstrap.php"
>
    <!-- ... -->
</phpunit>

Now, you can define in your phpunit.xml.dist file which environment you want the cache to be cleared:

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<!-- phpunit.xml.dist -->
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<phpunit>
    <!-- ... -->

    <php>
        <env name="BOOTSTRAP_CLEAR_CACHE_ENV" value="test"/>
    </php>
</phpunit>

This now becomes an environment variable (i.e. $_ENV) that's available in the custom bootstrap file (tests/bootstrap.php).