[lyx.git] / lib / doc / Development.lyx

#LyX 2.2 created this file. For more info see http://www.lyx.org/
\lyxformat 501
\begin_document
\begin_header
\origin /systemlyxdir/doc/
\textclass scrartcl
\options BCOR8mm,captions=tableheading
\use_default_options false
\begin_modules
logicalmkup
\end_modules
\maintain_unincluded_children false
\begin_local_layout
Format 7
InsetLayout CharStyle:MenuItem
LyxType               charstyle
LabelString           menu
LatexType             command
LatexName             menuitem
Font
Family              Sans
EndFont
Preamble
\newcommand*{\menuitem}[1]{{\sffamily #1}}
EndPreamble
End
\end_local_layout
\language english
\language_package default
\inputencoding auto
\fontencoding global
\font_roman "lmodern" "default"
\font_sans "lmss" "default"
\font_typewriter "lmtt" "default"
\font_math "auto" "auto"
\font_default_family default
\use_non_tex_fonts false
\font_sc false
\font_osf false
\font_sf_scale 100 100
\font_tt_scale 100 100
\graphics default
\default_output_format default
\output_sync 0
\bibtex_command default
\index_command default
\paperfontsize 12
\spacing single
\use_hyperref true
\pdf_title "LyX's Development manual"
\pdf_author "LyX Team"
\pdf_subject "LyX's development documentation"
\pdf_keywords "LyX, Documentation, Development"
\pdf_bookmarks true
\pdf_bookmarksnumbered true
\pdf_bookmarksopen true
\pdf_bookmarksopenlevel 1
\pdf_breaklinks false
\pdf_pdfborder false
\pdf_colorlinks true
\pdf_backref false
\pdf_pdfusetitle false
\pdf_quoted_options "linkcolor=black, citecolor=black, urlcolor=blue, filecolor=blue, pdfpagelayout=OneColumn, pdfnewwindow=true, pdfstartview=XYZ, plainpages=false"
\papersize a4paper
\use_geometry false
\use_package amsmath 1
\use_package amssymb 1
\use_package cancel 0
\use_package esint 0
\use_package mathdots 1
\use_package mathtools 0
\use_package mhchem 1
\use_package stackrel 0
\use_package stmaryrd 0
\use_package undertilde 0
\cite_engine basic
\cite_engine_type default
\biblio_style plain
\use_bibtopic false
\use_indices false
\paperorientation portrait
\suppress_date false
\justification true
\use_refstyle 0
\notefontcolor #0000ff
\index Index
\shortcut idx
\color #008000
\end_index
\secnumdepth 3
\tocdepth 3
\paragraph_separation indent
\paragraph_indentation default
\quotes_language english
\papercolumns 1
\papersides 2
\paperpagestyle headings
\tracking_changes false
\output_changes false
\html_math_output 0
\html_css_as_file 0
\html_be_strict true
\end_header

\begin_body

\begin_layout Title
Developing \SpecialChar LyX

\end_layout

\begin_layout Subtitle
Version 2.2.x
\end_layout

\begin_layout Author
by the \SpecialChar LyX
 Team
\begin_inset Foot
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
\noindent
If you have comments or error corrections, please send them to the \SpecialChar LyX
 Documentatio
n mailing list, 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
\noindent
<lyx-docs@lists.lyx.org>
\end_layout

\end_inset

.
\end_layout

\end_inset


\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
\begin_inset CommandInset toc
LatexCommand tableofcontents

\end_inset


\end_layout

\begin_layout Section
Introduction
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
This manual documents some aspects of \SpecialChar LyX
 development.
 It is currently rather incomplete, but will hopefully be extended in the
 future.
 Meanwhile, additional information can be found in the 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
development
\end_layout

\end_inset

 subfolder of the \SpecialChar LyX
 source code distribution.
 This document is not translated, since the development language of \SpecialChar LyX
 is
 english.
 If you want to use \SpecialChar LyX
 you don't need to read this manual.
 However, if you want to learn more about how \SpecialChar LyX
 is developed, or even want
 to participate in \SpecialChar LyX
 development, you may find some interesting information.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Section
File formats
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
\SpecialChar LyX
 uses several custom file formats for configuration files and documents.
 This chapter contains some background concerning these file formats.
 Several file formats are also described in detail in the regular user documenta
tion.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Subsection
File Format Numbers
\end_layout

\begin_layout Subsection
When is an update of the .lyx file format number needed?
\begin_inset CommandInset label
LatexCommand label
name "sec:When-is-an"

\end_inset


\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
When you are working on a new feature you may ask yourself whether it needs
 an update of the .lyx file format number.
 Whether an update is needed or not is not always obvious.
 Below you can find a list of reasons for file format updates with explanations:
\end_layout

\begin_layout Description
New
\begin_inset space ~
\end_inset

document
\begin_inset space ~
\end_inset

setting Whenever you introduce a new setting that is stored in the document
 header, a file format update is needed.
 This is also true if you add a new valid value to an existing setting,
 e.
\begin_inset space \thinspace{}
\end_inset

g.
\begin_inset space \space{}
\end_inset

a new language that is stored in 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout

\backslash
language
\end_layout

\end_inset

.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Description
Removed
\begin_inset space ~
\end_inset

document
\begin_inset space ~
\end_inset

setting If a certain setting becomes obsolete and gets removed, a file format
 update is needed.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Description
New
\begin_inset space ~
\end_inset

inset Of course a new inset requires a file format update.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Description
New
\begin_inset space ~
\end_inset

style in any layout file or module shipped with \SpecialChar LyX
, or new shipped layout
 file or module.
 These requirements are currently under discussion and might change in the
 future.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Description
Automatically
\begin_inset space ~
\end_inset

loaded
\begin_inset space ~
\end_inset

math
\begin_inset space ~
\end_inset

package Any new math package that is automatically loaded needs a file format
 update.
 The reason for this is that there is no true ERT inset for math formulas:
 Each command is parsed, and if a user happens to defne a local command
 with the same name as a command that triggers an automatic load of a package,
 he needs to be able to switch off the automatic loading of that package.
 This switch is stored by the 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
use_package
\end_layout

\end_inset

 header setting.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
If you are still unsure, please ask on the development list.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Subsection
How to update the file format number of .lyx files
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Once you came to the conclusion that a file format update is needed you
 should use the following procedure to perform the update:
\end_layout

\begin_layout Enumerate
Implement and test the new feature, including the reading and writing of
 .lyx files.
 Note that any file produced at this stage does not use a valid format,
 so do not use this version of \SpecialChar LyX
 for working on any important documents.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Enumerate
Describe the new format in 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
development/FORMAT
\end_layout

\end_inset

.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Enumerate
Update the \SpecialChar LyX
 file format number in 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
src/version.h
\end_layout

\end_inset

.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Enumerate
Add an entry to both format lists (for conversion and reversion) in
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset


\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
lib/lyx2lyx/lyx_2_2.py
\end_layout

\end_inset

.
 Add a conversion routine if needed (e.
\begin_inset space \thinspace{}
\end_inset

g.
\begin_inset space \space{}
\end_inset

a new header setting always needs a conversion that adds the new setting,
 a new document language does not need one).
 Add a reversion routine if needed.
 While the conversion routine is required to produce a document that is
 equivalent to the old version, the requirements of the reversion are not
 that strict.
 If possible, try to produce a proper reversion, using ERT if needed, but
 for some features this might be too complicated.
 In this case, the minimum requirement of the reversion routine is that
 it produces a valid document which can be read by an older \SpecialChar LyX
.
 If absolutely needed, even data loss is allowed for the reversion.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Enumerate
Since tex2lyx has several implicit file format dependencies caused by sharing
 code with \SpecialChar LyX
, updating the file format of .lyx files produced by tex2lyx at
 the same time as updating the main .lyx file format is strongly recommended.
 Therefore, a compiler warning will be issued if the \SpecialChar LyX
 and tex2lyx .lyx file
 format numbers differ.
 In many cases the tex2lyx update requires only the first and last item
 of the list below:
\begin_inset Separator parbreak
\end_inset


\end_layout

\begin_deeper
\begin_layout Enumerate
Update the tex2lyx file format number in 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
src/version.h
\end_layout

\end_inset

.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Enumerate
If the lyx2lyx conversion from the old to the new format is empty, or if
 tex2lyx does not yet output the changed feature, you do not need any further
 tex2lyx changes.
 Otherwise, search for the changed feature in tex2lyx, and adjust the output
 according to the lyx2lyx changes.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Enumerate
Update the tex2lyx test references as described in 
\begin_inset CommandInset ref
LatexCommand formatted
reference "sec:Updating-test-references"

\end_inset

.
\end_layout

\end_deeper
\begin_layout Enumerate
If you did not implement full tex2lyx support of the new feature, add a
 line to 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
src/tex2lyx/TODO.txt
\end_layout

\end_inset

 describing the missing bits.
 Note that it is perfectly fine if you do not add full tex2lyx support for
 a new feature: The updating recommendation above is only issued for the
 syntax of the produced .lyx file.
 It is no problem if some features supported by \SpecialChar LyX
 are still output as ERT
 by tex2lyx, since the problems in the past that resulted in the update
 recommendation were related to mixed version syntax, not ERT.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Enumerate
It would be nice if you could create a .lyx test file which contains instances
 of all changed or added features.
 This could then be used to test lyx2lyx and tex2lyx.
 Unfortunately it has not yet been decided how to collect such examples,
 so please ask on the development list if you want to create one.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Subsection
Backporting new styles to the stable version
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Starting with the stable \SpecialChar LyX
 2.1 branch, there is a mechanism in place to backport
 new styles to the stable version without the need to update the file format.
 The basic idea is that the new style definition is automatically copied
 to the document preamble, so that it can even be used by older minor revisions
 that did not yet include the style.
 To backport a new style to the stable version, the following steps are
 needed:
\end_layout

\begin_layout Enumerate
Add the line 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
ForceLocal -1
\end_layout

\end_inset

 to the style definition in the development version.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Enumerate
Copy the style definition to the stable version, but use 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
ForceLocal 1
\end_layout

\end_inset

 instead.
 If needed adjust the format to the one used by the stable version (see
 the customization manual for details of the layout file format).
\end_layout

\begin_layout Enumerate
For each update of the style in a later stable version, increase the argument
 of 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
ForceLocal
\end_layout

\end_inset

 by one (in the stable version, the development version should not be touched).
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
For details about the 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
ForceLocal
\end_layout

\end_inset

 flag see the customization manual.
 No 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
lyx2lyx
\end_layout

\end_inset

 support is needed for backported styles: Since the style of the development
 version has an infinite version number, it will always be used.
 Furthermore, since its version number is less than one, the style will
 not be written anymore to the document header for files saved by the new
 version.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
\begin_inset Newpage newpage
\end_inset


\end_layout

\begin_layout Section
Tests
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Automated tests are an important tool to detect bugs and regressions in
 software development.
 Some projects like gcc even require each bug fix to be accompanied by a
 test case for the automatic test suite, that would detect this bug.
 Testing interactive features automatically is of course very hard, but
 core functionality like document import and export can be tested quite
 easily, and some tests of this kind exist.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Subsection
\SpecialChar LyX
 tests
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Some tests are located in the 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
development/autotests
\end_layout

\end_inset

 subfolder of the \SpecialChar LyX
 source code distribution.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Subsubsection
Running the tests
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
cmake is required to run the \SpecialChar LyX
 tests, running them is not implemented for
 autotools.
 The \SpecialChar LyX
 tests can be run by the commands 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
ctest
\end_layout

\end_inset

 (all platforms) or 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
make test
\end_layout

\end_inset

 (when using a make based build system and not MSVC) in the 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
autotests
\end_layout

\end_inset

 subfolder of the build directory.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Subsection
tex2lyx tests
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
The tex2lyx tests are located in the 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
src/tex2lyx/test
\end_layout

\end_inset

 subfolder of the \SpecialChar LyX
 source code distribution.
 The actual testing is performed by the simple python script 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
src/tex2lyx/test/runtests.py
\end_layout

\end_inset

.
 Each test consists of two files: 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
<test name>.tex
\end_layout

\end_inset

 contains the \SpecialChar LaTeX
 code that should be tested.
 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
<test name>.lyx.lyx
\end_layout

\end_inset

 contains the expected output of tex2lyx.
 When a test is run, the actual produced output is compared with the stored
 reference output.
 The test passes if both are identical.
 The test machinery is also able to generate a file 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
<test name>.lyx.tex
\end_layout

\end_inset

 by exporting the produced .lyx file with \SpecialChar LyX
 again.
 This may be useful for roundtrip comparisons.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Subsubsection
Running the tests
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
The tex2lyx tests can be run in several ways.
 When in the 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
src/tex2lyx
\end_layout

\end_inset

 subfolder of the build directory, the commands 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
ctest
\end_layout

\end_inset

 (cmake, all platforms), 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
make test
\end_layout

\end_inset

 (cmake, when using a make based build system and not MSVC) or 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
make alltests
\end_layout

\end_inset

 (autotools) will run the tex2lyx tests.
 Alternatively, in the root of the build directory, the command 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
ctest -R tex2lyx
\end_layout

\end_inset

 runs all tests whose names match the regex 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset

tex2lyx
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset

.
 Another way to run the tex2lyx tests in the root build directory is to
 instead use the command 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
ctest -L '(cmplyx|roundtrip)'
\end_layout

\end_inset

, which runs all tests categorized with the label 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset

roundtrip
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset

 or 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset

cmplyx
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset

.
 If a test fails, the differences between the expected and actual results
 are output in unified diff format.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Subsubsection
Updating test references
\begin_inset CommandInset label
LatexCommand label
name "sec:Updating-test-references"

\end_inset


\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
In some cases a changed tex2lyx output is not a test failure, but wanted,
 e.
\begin_inset space \thinspace{}
\end_inset

g.
\begin_inset space \space{}
\end_inset

if a tex2lyx bug was fixed, or a new feature was added.
 In these cases the stored references need to be updated.
 To do so if using autotools, call 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
make updatetests
\end_layout

\end_inset

 in the 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
src/tex2lyx
\end_layout

\end_inset

 subdirectory of the build directory.
 If instead using CMake, call 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
make updatetex2lyxtests
\end_layout

\end_inset

 in the build directory or in the 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
src/tex2lyx/test
\end_layout

\end_inset

 subdirectory of the build directory.
\begin_inset Foot
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
Note that this is a case where a make target in the build directory can
 affect the source directory, which might not be advisable.
\end_layout

\end_inset

 On Windows do the following:
\end_layout

\begin_layout Itemize
Assure that the path to the python.exe is in your system PATH variable.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Itemize
Double-click on the file 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
updatetex2lyxtests.vcxproj
\end_layout

\end_inset

 in the build directory or in the 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
src/tex2lyx/test
\end_layout

\end_inset

 subdirectory of your build directory.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Itemize
In the appearing MSVC program right-click on the project 
\family sans
updatetex2lyxtests
\family default
 in the project explorer and chose 
\family sans
Create
\family default
.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
For convenience, these commands also produce re-exported roundtrip .lyx.tex
 files.
 Please examine the changed output carefully before committing the changed
 files to the repository: Since the test machinery does not do a roundtrip
 test .tex 
\begin_inset Formula $\Rightarrow$
\end_inset

 .lyx 
\begin_inset Formula $\Rightarrow$
\end_inset

 .tex, and does not compare the produced dvi or pdf output, it assumes that
 the stored .lyx reference produces correct output if processed by \SpecialChar LyX
.
 There is only one chance to detect wrong output: before committing a new
 reference.
 Once it is committed, it is quite difficult to verify whether it is correct.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Please 
\emph on
do not
\emph default
 update the test references by opening them with \SpecialChar LyX
 or directly running lyx2lyx
 on them.
 This would not work, since lyx2lyx and \SpecialChar LyX
 produce slightly different files
 regarding insignificant whitespace and line breaks.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Subsubsection
Adding a new test
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
In many cases tests for new features may be added to one of the existing
 test files, but sometimes this is not possible or not wanted.
 Then a new test file needs to be added:
\end_layout

\begin_layout Enumerate
Create the new file 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
src/tex2lyx/test/<test name>.tex
\end_layout

\end_inset

 and run tex2lyx in roundtrip mode to produce the file 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
src/tex2lyx/test/<test name>.lyx.lyx
\end_layout

\end_inset

.
 This file will be the new reference.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Enumerate
Once you confirmed that the tex2lyx output is correct, add the new files
 to the corresponding lists in 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
src/tex2lyx/test/runtests.py
\end_layout

\end_inset

, 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
src/tex2lyx/Makefile.am
\end_layout

\end_inset

 and 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
src/tex2lyx/test/CMakeLists.txt
\end_layout

\end_inset

.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Enumerate
Commit the changes to the repository, or send a patch to the development
 list and ask for committing if you do not have commit rights.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Subsection
Export tests
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
The export tests are integration tests.
 They take longer to run and are more likely to break than the tex2lyx tests.
 Nevertheless, they have caught many regressions and without a better alternativ
e it is important to keep them up-to-date and understand how they work.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Subsubsection
Expectations of LyX developers
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Because the export tests are integration tests and take a long time to run,
 LyX developers are rarely expected to run all of the tests.
 Here are some good practices to follow by developers:
\end_layout

\begin_layout Itemize
When making a non-trivial change to a .layout file, run the export and layout
 tests corresponding with that .layout file.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Itemize
When making non-trivial changes to a .lyx file, run the export tests correspondin
g to that .lyx file.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Itemize
When making non-trivial changes to LyX's LaTeX export code (e.g.
 touching the encoding code or package handling code that you expect will
 change the exported LaTeX in some way), consider running all of the export
 tests before and after your change.
 If there are differences, please reconcile these (i.e.
 fix the bug or fix the tests) 
\emph on
before
\emph default
 committing.
 Ask for help if you're not sure what to do or if you do not want to run
 the tests, post the patch on the list and others will run the tests.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Itemize
Understand how to interpret test failures.
 If your commit is found to have broken a test, you should be able to interpret
 the test results when made aware of them.
 See Section 
\begin_inset CommandInset ref
LatexCommand ref
reference "subsec:Interpreting-export-tests"

\end_inset

.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Subsubsection
Configuring the tests
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
To enable these tests when using CMake, add the 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
-DLYX_ENABLE_EXPORT_TESTS=ON
\end_layout

\end_inset

 flag.
 For example:
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
cmake -DLYX_ENABLE_EXPORT_TESTS=ON /path/to/source
\end_layout

\end_inset


\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
\noindent
This flag will increase the time for the cmake command by several seconds,
 mainly because of the process of inverting tests (see Section 
\begin_inset CommandInset ref
LatexCommand ref
reference "subsec:Interpreting-export-tests"

\end_inset

).
\end_layout

\begin_layout Subsubsection
Running the tests
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
To run all tests, in the build directory simply run the command 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
ctest
\end_layout

\end_inset

.
 To run only some of the tests, use the command 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
ctest -R <pattern>
\end_layout

\end_inset

, where 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
<pattern>
\end_layout

\end_inset

 is a regular expression that matches test names.
 To run only the export tests, you can use 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
ctest -L export
\end_layout

\end_inset

.
 For the list of test categories available in addition to 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset

export
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset

, run 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
ctest \SpecialChar nobreakdash
\SpecialChar nobreakdash
print-labels
\end_layout

\end_inset

.
 It is often useful to list the tests without running them (e.g.
 if you want to know how many tests there are or whether your 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
<pattern>
\end_layout

\end_inset

 regular expression did what you expected).
 This can be done with the 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
-N
\end_layout

\end_inset

 or 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
\SpecialChar nobreakdash
\SpecialChar nobreakdash
show-only
\end_layout

\end_inset

 argument.
 We are still working on getting the tests to run in parallel which is supported
 by the 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
ctest
\end_layout

\end_inset

 command with the 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
-j <jobs>
\end_layout

\end_inset

 or 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
\SpecialChar nobreakdash
\SpecialChar nobreakdash
parallel <jobs>
\end_layout

\end_inset

 argument.
 However, when running the tests in parallel, sometimes tests fail that
 pass when run sequentially.
 A reasonable approach is to first run the tests in parallel and then run
 the failed tests sequentially.
 For example, to run 8 jobs at a time:
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
ctest -j8
\end_layout

\end_inset


\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
ctest \SpecialChar nobreakdash
\SpecialChar nobreakdash
rerun-failed
\end_layout

\end_inset


\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
\noindent
Note that some tests cannot be run in parallel.
 These tests are marked in the code with the 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
\noindent
RUN_SERIAL ON
\end_layout

\end_inset

 CMake property.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
In some situations the option 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
\SpecialChar nobreakdash
\SpecialChar nobreakdash
timeout <seconds>
\end_layout

\end_inset

 is useful.
 There have been bugs in LyX and in LaTeX which cause compilation to hang,
 and without a timeout a test might never stop (in one case there was even
 a memory leak).
 If a test times out, the 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
ctest
\end_layout

\end_inset

 command exits with error, but you can distinguish between a timed out test
 and a failed test in the output reported at the end of the 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
ctest
\end_layout

\end_inset

 command.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Subsubsection
\begin_inset CommandInset label
LatexCommand label
name "subsec:Interpreting-export-tests"

\end_inset

Interpreting the export test results
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
A test can fail for several reasons, not all of them bad.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Enumerate
The .lyx file could have been added recently and some formats are not expected
 to work well.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Enumerate
A dependency is not met (e.g.
 the LaTeX class file).
 One hint that this is the case is that the corresponding 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status open

\begin_layout Plain Layout
check_load
\end_layout

\end_inset

 test will likely also fail.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Enumerate
An export that previously failed to compile now compiles.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Enumerate
An external dependency was updated (e.g.
 TeX Live).
\end_layout

\begin_layout Enumerate
A recent code change introduced a bug.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Enumerate
\begin_inset CommandInset label
LatexCommand label
name "enu:exposed"

\end_inset

A change in a document exposed the incompatibility of that class with an
 export format (e.g.
 LuaTeX).
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Because the .lyx files are exported in several formats, it is not surprising
 that many of the exports fail.
 This expectation of failure is addressed by 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset

inverting
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset

 the tests, that is, by marking the test as 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset

passing
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset

 if the export exits with error and as 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset

failing
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset

 if the export succeeds
\emph on
.

\emph default
 It follows that these expected failures will not show up as failed tests
 in the test results and thus will not pollute the 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset

good
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset

 tests.
 If the export actually succeeds, then the test will fail.
 The purpose of this failure is to get your attention—something has changed,
 possibly for the better.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
We try to document why a test is inverted or ignored.
 See the comment (prefixed with 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
#
\end_layout

\end_inset

) above the block in which the test is listed as inverted or ignored in
 the files 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
development/autotests/revertedTests
\end_layout

\end_inset

 and 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
development/autotests/ignoredTests
\end_layout

\end_inset

.
 It is possible that an export goes from succeeding to failing just because
 the document was changed and the document was never expected to work with
 a certain export format in the first case.
 Once this is confirmed to be the situation, the test can be inverted.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
A good question is why do we enable the tests for non-default formats? The
 answer is that if a non-default route is broken it is often because a bug
 was introduced in LyX and not because a document-specific change was made
 that is not supported by the route.
 In other words, there is a high signal/noise ratio in the export tests
 for the non-default formats.
 
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
What action should you take if a test fails? First, check manually that
 when the compilation succeeded before the resulting PDF was good.
 In fact, sometimes it is an improvement when a test fails.
 If you check manually, it might be the case that the export was succeeding
 before but showing garbled text in a PDF output.
 Now it might fail with a clear message of "language xyz not supported".
 It is always good to check manually why something fails and if it passes
 if the PDF output is good.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Sometimes a test is fixed by accident.
 We should uninvert a test (remove it from the 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
revertedTests
\end_layout

\end_inset

 file) in order to preserve the fix.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
When a test or several tests fail, consider checking the files in the 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
Testing/Temporary/
\end_layout

\end_inset

 subdirectory of your build directory.
 In this subdirectory are three files: the file 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
LastTestsFailed.log
\end_layout

\end_inset

 simply lists the tests that failed on your last 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
ctest
\end_layout

\end_inset

 command; the 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
LastTest.log
\end_layout

\end_inset

 file contains the output from the tests (and often has details explaining
 why a test failed); and the 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
CTestCostData.txt
\end_layout

\end_inset

 file lists the times that it took to run the tests.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Subsubsection
Suspended tests
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Some inverted tests are 'suspended'.
 This means, they are not executed using 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
ctest -L export
\end_layout

\end_inset

 or 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
ctest -L reverted
\end_layout

\end_inset

.
 From time to time they still have to be checked.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
These tests are suspended, because they fail for known reasons which cannot
 ATM be resolved.
 But it is expected the reason might disappear in the future.
 Be it new TL or better handling in \SpecialChar LyX
.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
For ctest commands without the 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
-L
\end_layout

\end_inset

 parameter nothing changes.
 Suspended or not, tests will be executed depending only on the regexes
 parameters given to the ctest command.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Subsection
check_load tests
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
These tests check whether a .lyx file loads without any terminal messages.
 They correspond to the manual operations of simply opening a .lyx file on
 the terminal, exiting LyX once the file is loaded, and then checking whether
 there is any output from the terminal.
 These tests are useful for catching malformed .lyx files and parsing bugs.
 They can also be used to find a .lyx file in which an instance of something
 happens.
 To do this, compile LyX with a local patch that outputs something to the
 terminal when an instance is found, and then run the check_load tests to
 see if any fail, which would mean that the situation occurs in the LyX
 documentation files corresponding to the failed tests.
 These tests are expectedly fragile: any LyX diagnostic message, which is
 not necessarily an error, would cause the tests to fail.
 Similarly, any message output by a library (e.g.
 Qt) would also cause failure.
 There are some messages that the check_load tests are instructed to ignore,
 which are stored in the file 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
development/autotests/filterCheckWarnings
\end_layout

\end_inset

.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Subsection
URL tests
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
The URL tests are enabled with the 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
-DLYX_ENABLE_URLTESTS=ON
\end_layout

\end_inset

 CMake flag and are useful for finding broken links in our documentation
 files.
 If a URL test fails, to see which link in particular was reported as broken,
 see the output in 
\begin_inset Flex Code
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
LastTest.log
\end_layout

\end_inset

.
 These tests are extremely fragile (e.g.
 a test can depend on your Internet connection) and a failed URL test should
 not be taken too seriously.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Section
Development policies
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
This chapter lists some guidelines that should be followed.
 This list is not complete, and many guidelines are in separate chapters,
 such as 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset

When is an update of the .lyx file format number needed?
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset

 in Section 
\begin_inset CommandInset ref
LatexCommand ref
reference "sec:When-is-an"

\end_inset

.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Subsection
When to set a fixed milestone?
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Only set a fixed milestone (like 2.1.4 or 2.2.0) if at least one of the following
 holds:
\end_layout

\begin_layout Enumerate
Somebody is actively working on a fix.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Enumerate
The bug is so severe that it would block the release if it is not fixed.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
If a bug is important, but nobody is working on it, and it is no showstopper,
 use a milestone like 2.1.x or 2.2.x.
 For all other bugs, do not set a milestone at all.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Subsection
Can we add rc entries in stable branch?
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
No.
 We are supposed to increase the prefs2prefs version number with such things.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Section
Documentation policies
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
The main documentation consists of these files:
\end_layout

\begin_layout Description
splash.lyx it is the first file you see after an installation.
 We assume that a new user sees this.
 It is therefore designed to be as simple as possible.
 Therefore please don't add any new formatting, only fix typos etc.
 Splash.lyx is up to date for \SpecialChar LyX
 2.1.x, currently maintained by Uwe Stöhr.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Description
Intro.lyx This is the manual new users will read to learn \SpecialChar LyX
.
 It therefore uses a limited set of formatting.
 For example a standard document class.
 Since new users will first learn about the formatting possibilities of
 \SpecialChar LyX
 please keep this file that simple.
 Intro.lyx is up to date for \SpecialChar LyX
 2.1.x, currently maintained by Uwe Stöhr.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Description
Tutorial.lyx our tutorial.
 It must be always up to date.
 Normally there is nothing to add since we don't want to overwhelm new users
 with too much details.
 The will learn these details while using \SpecialChar LyX
 and we have special manuals.
 Tutorial.lyx is up to date for \SpecialChar LyX
 2.1.x, currently maintained by Uwe Stöhr.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Description
UserGuide.lyx our main user guide.
 It covers a mixture of basic and detailed information.
 Some information is also in the Math and EmbeddedObjects manual so that
 the UserGuide refers to these files.
 UserGuide.lyx is up to date for \SpecialChar LyX
 2.1.x, currently maintained by Uwe Stöhr.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Description
EmbeddedObjects.lyx a special manual to explain things like tables floats
 boxes etc.
 in all detail.
 EmbeddedObjects.lyx is up to date for \SpecialChar LyX
 2.1.x, currently maintained by Uwe
 Stöhr.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Description
Math.lyx a special manual to explain everything regarding math in all detail.
 Math.lyx is up to date for \SpecialChar LyX
 2.1.x, currently maintained by Uwe Stöhr.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Description
Additional.lyx this manual covers information that would be too much detail
 for the UserGuide or would make the UserGuide uncompilable or only compilable
 when installing a lot of special \SpecialChar LaTeX
-packages.
 What should be in the UserGuide or better in Additional is a matter of
 taste.
 it is up to you to decide that.
 Additional.lyx is not completely up to date for \SpecialChar LyX
 2.1.x.
 Only chapter
\begin_inset space ~
\end_inset

8 is up to date and currently maintained by Uwe Stöhr.
 It certainly needs a rewrite and update.
 For example many info in chapter
\begin_inset space ~
\end_inset

2 and 3 are already covered by the UserGuide and/or the EmbeddedObjects
 manual.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Description
Customization.lyx this manual covers information how to customize \SpecialChar LyX
 for certain
 output formats, operating systems, languages etc.
 It is currently completely out of date and needs a major rewrite and update.
 If you do this please assure that your information are given for all OSes
 and \SpecialChar LaTeX
 distributions (meaning be as objective as possible).
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
There are only 4
\begin_inset space ~
\end_inset

rules in editing the docs:
\end_layout

\begin_layout Enumerate
If you are not the maintainer of a doc file or a chapter/section, you MUST
 use change tracking so that the maintainer could review your changes
\end_layout

\begin_layout Enumerate
Respect the formatting of the document.
 The different files use different formatting styles.
 That is OK and has historic reasons nobody fully know ;-).
 But it is important to be consistent within one file.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Enumerate
All changes you make to a file in one language MUST also go the file in
 the other actively maintained languages.
 Normally the maintainer does this for you, if you are the maintainer, you
 must do this by copying or changing the changed or added text to the other
 files so that the translators sees the blue underlined text and know what
 they have to translate and what was changed.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Enumerate
You MUST assure that the document is compilable as 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset

PDF (pdflatex)
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset

 after your changes.
\end_layout

\end_body
\end_document