manual_slop/conductor/archive/gui_sim_extension_20260224/spec.md

Specification: Extended GUI Simulation Testing

Overview

This track aims to expand the test simulation suite by introducing comprehensive, in-breadth tests that cover all facets of the GUI interaction. The original small test simulation will be preserved as a useful baseline. The new extended tests will be structured as multiple focused, modular scripts rather than a single long-running journey, ensuring maintainability and targeted coverage.

Scope

The extended simulation tests will cover the following key GUI workflows and panels:

• Context & Chat: Testing the core Context and Discussion panels, including history management and context aggregation.
• AI Settings: Validating AI settings manipulation, model switching, and provider changes (Gemini/Anthropic).
• Tools & Search: Exercising file exploration, MCP-like file tools, and web search capabilities.
• Execution & Modals: Testing the generation, explicit confirmation via modals, and execution of PowerShell scripts.

Functional Requirements

1. Modular Test Architecture: Implement a suite of independent simulation scripts under the simulation/ or tests/ directory (e.g., sim_context.py, sim_tools.py, sim_execution.py).
2. Preserve Baseline: Ensure the existing small test simulation remains functional and untouched.
3. Comprehensive Coverage: Each modular script must focus on a specific, complex interaction workflow, simulating human-like usage via the existing IPC/API hooks mechanism.
4. Validation and Checkpointing: Each script must include assertions to verify the GUI state, confirming that the expected panels are rendered, inputs are accepted, and actions produce the correct results.

Non-Functional Requirements

• Maintainability: The modular design should make it easy to add or update specific workflows in the future.
• Performance: Tests should run reliably without causing the GUI framework to lock up, utilizing the event-driven architecture properly.

Acceptance Criteria

• A new suite of modular simulation scripts is created.
• The existing test simulation is untouched and remains functional.
• The new tests run successfully and pass all verifications via the automated API hook mechanism.
• The scripts cover all four major GUI areas identified in the scope.