doc: document the test kernel

src/backend/tools/README.md

@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+# Backend Tools Directory
+
+## Test Kernel
+
+The **Test Kernel** is a drop-in replacement for Puter's main kernel. Instead of
+actually initializing and running services, it only registers them and then invokes
+a test iterator through all the services.
+
+The Test Kernel is ideal for running unit and integration tests against individual services, ensuring they behave correctly.
+
+### Test Kernel Notes
+
+1. **Logging**:  
+   A custom `TestLogger` is provided for simplified logging output during tests.
+   Since LogService is never initialized, this is never replaced.
+
+2. **Context Management**:  
+   The Test Kernel uses the same `Context` system as the main Kernel. This gives test environments a consistent way to access global state, configuration, and service containers.
+
+3. **Assertion & Results Tracking**:  
+   The Test Kernel includes a simple testing structure that:
+   - Tracks passed and failed assertions.
+   - Repeats assertion outputs at the end of test runs for clarity.
+   - Allows specifying which services to test via command-line arguments.
+
+### Typical Workflow
+
+1. **Initialization**:  
+   Instantiate the Test Kernel, and add any modules you want to test.
+   
+2. **Module Installation**:  
+   The Test Kernel installs these modules (via `_install_modules()`), making their services available in the `Container`.
+
+3. **Service Testing**:  
+   After modules are installed, each service can be constructed and tested. Tests are implemented as `_test()` methods on services, using simple assertion helpers (`testapi.assert` and `testapi.assert.equal`).
+
+4. **Result Summarization**:  
+   Once all tests run, the Test Kernel prints a summary of passed and failed assertions, aiding quick evaluation of test outcomes.

src/backend/tools/test.js

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+// METADATA // {"ai-commented":{"service":"claude"}}
 /*
  * Copyright (C) 2024 Puter Technologies Inc.
  *
@@ -24,6 +25,10 @@ const { Context } = require("../src/util/context");
 const { Kernel } = require("../src/Kernel");
 const { HTTPThumbnailService } = require("../src/services/thumbnails/HTTPThumbnailService");
 
+
+/**
+ * A simple implementation of the log interface for the test kernel.
+ */
 class TestLogger {
     constructor () {
         console.log(
@@ -44,6 +49,16 @@ class TestLogger {
     }
 }
 
+
+/**
+* TestKernel class extends AdvancedBase to provide a testing environment for Puter services
+* Implements a simplified version of the main Kernel for testing purposes, including:
+* - Module management and installation
+* - Service container initialization
+* - Custom logging functionality
+* - Context creation and management
+* Does not include full service initialization or legacy service support
+*/
 class TestKernel extends AdvancedBase {
     constructor () {
         super();
@@ -51,6 +66,12 @@ class TestKernel extends AdvancedBase {
         this.modules = [];
         this.useapi = useapi();
 
+
+        /**
+        * Initializes the useapi instance for the test kernel.
+        * Defines base Module and Service classes in the useapi context.
+        * @returns {void}
+        */
         this.useapi.withuse(() => {
             def('Module', AdvancedBase)
             def('Service', BaseService)
@@ -63,6 +84,12 @@ class TestKernel extends AdvancedBase {
         this.modules.push(module);
     }
 
+
+    /**
+    * Adds a module to the test kernel's module list
+    * @param {Module} module - The module instance to add
+    * @description Stores the provided module in the kernel's internal modules array for later installation
+    */
     boot () {
         const { consoleLogManager } = require('../src/util/consolelog');
         consoleLogManager.initialize_proxy_methods();
@@ -85,6 +112,7 @@ class TestKernel extends AdvancedBase {
         }, 'app');
         globalThis.root_context = root_context;
 
+
         root_context.arun(async () => {
             await this._install_modules();
             // await this._boot_services();
@@ -94,6 +122,10 @@ class TestKernel extends AdvancedBase {
         Error.stackTraceLimit = 200;
     }
 
+
+    /**
+    * Installs modules into the test kernel environment
+    */
     async _install_modules () {
         const { services } = this;
 
@@ -144,9 +176,15 @@ k.boot();
 
 const do_after_tests_ = [];
 
-// const do_after_tests = (fn) => {
-//     do_after_tests_.push(fn);
-// };
+
+/**
+* Executes a function immediately and adds it to the list of functions to be executed after tests
+*
+* This is used to log things inline with console output from tests, and then
+* again later without those console outputs.
+*
+* @param {Function} fn - The function to execute and store for later
+*/
 const repeat_after = (fn) => {
     fn();
     do_after_tests_.push(fn);
@@ -155,6 +193,12 @@ const repeat_after = (fn) => {
 let total_passed = 0;
 let total_failed = 0;
 
+
+/**
+* Tracks test results across all services
+* @type {number} total_passed - Count of all passed assertions
+* @type {number} total_failed - Count of all failed assertions
+*/
 const main = async () => {
     console.log('awaiting services readty');
     await k.services.ready;
@@ -178,6 +222,7 @@ const main = async () => {
         let passed = 0;
         let failed = 0;
 
+
         repeat_after(() => {
             console.log(`\x1B[33;1m=== [ Service :: ${name} ] ===\x1B[0m`);
         });