Start CSS programmatically

[angelo-v]

Is it possible to start CSS programmatically, e.g. to run integration tests against an in-memory server with some given data?

[joachimvh]

Yes, the AppRunner class contains functions to do this. Here is an example: https://github.com/CommunitySolidServer/hello-world-component/blob/main/test/integration/Server.test.ts

Looking at it, I should actually update that example as CSS has sensible defaults these days. The typeChecking parameter described there doesn't need to be added explicitly anymore. (If it is missing by the time you click this link that means I already updated it in the meantime).

The only way to already initiate the server with data is by using pod seeding.

[joachimvh]

This made me discover that I forgot to update that file for v7, which changed the input of that function. Thanks for making me have a look at it 😀.

[angelo-v]

This made me discover that I forgot to update that file for v7, which changed the input of that function. Thanks for making me have a look at it 😀.

You're welcome 😁. Cool that it is possible, very nice. I would also like to see it in the official documentation, I think it is a great use case for CSS.

Regarding data seeding: I know I can seed accounts, but is it also possible to seed specific data to the pod? How would that be done, especially for in-memory pods? Didn't find that in documentation

[joachimvh]

I would also like to see it in the official documentation

I see that repository as part of the official documentation. But that part is indeed a bit hidden in there. Should perhaps add it to https://communitysolidserver.github.io/CommunitySolidServer/latest/usage/dev-configuration/ .

is it also possible to seed specific data to the pod?

Sort of, but probably not what you intend. There is no way to have custom contents for every pod defined in the pod seeding. But you can change the default template of what a pod gets when being initialized. What the pods contain is defined by the template used for pods. You can create your own template and configure the server to use that. The configuration generator has an example on how to do that (additional customization -> pod template folder).

[angelo-v]

Hi, I cannot get the example running in my code, the test runs into a timeout during new AppRunner().create() It is unclear to me what I should put into loaderProperties / mainModulePath. I am not developing a CSS module. But it is not optional.

[joachimvh]

You want the directory of your project there. It might be that using the directory of the CSS dependency itself also works. I should investigate and set that as a default if that is the case.

[angelo-v]

I just saw that the hello-world project sets a jest timeout of 60000. So it really just took too long to boot the server. After setting the same timeout it works for me as well. Thank you very much!

I think adding this info to https://communitysolidserver.github.io would help other developers as well.