Live Test Runner
A VS Code extension that runs Jest tests automatically on file save, showing results directly in the editor. No terminal switching, no manual commands — instant feedback as you write code.
What it does
- Static test discovery — the full test tree (file → suite → test) appears in the sidebar the moment you open a project, before running anything. Line numbers, pending icons, and Run/Debug CodeLens buttons are live immediately.
- Smart on-save execution — save any file and only the affected tests run automatically. After the first full run, source file saves rerun individual test cases (not whole files) based on the execution trace
- Custom test explorer — live status icons, duration badges, search, and per-row rerun buttons
- Results panel — three-column view: test list, console output, and error details
- Editor decorations — gutter icons and inline durations on every test line
- CodeLens buttons —
▶ Run, ▷ Debug, and ◈ Results above every it() and describe() — available from project load, not just after a run
- Smart detection — works with standard Jest and Create React App out of the box
- Test Timeline Debugger — step-by-step replay of any test case with variable inspection, inline values, and call stack (see extension README)
Packages
| Package | Name | Purpose |
|---|
packages/core | @live-test-runner/core | Session lifecycle + coverage map |
packages/runner | @live-test-runner/runner | Framework-agnostic test execution engine |
packages/vscode-extension | live-test-runner | VS Code extension |
Documentation
| File | What it covers |
|---|
| docs/architecture.md | Full system design — VS Code layout, packages, data model, execution flow, UI details, key decisions |
| docs/developer-guide.md | Dev setup, patterns and practices, adding frameworks, publishing |
| docs/ai-context.md | Complete AI context — paste into any conversation for full codebase understanding |
| packages/core/README.md | Core package API and design |
| packages/runner/README.md | Runner package API, layers, CRA behavior |
| packages/vscode-extension/README.md | User guide — features, commands, configuration |
Quick start (development)
pnpm install
pnpm start # TypeScript watch mode
# Press F5 in VS Code to launch the Extension Development Host
See docs/developer-guide.md for full setup and build instructions.
License
MIT
