PhpStorm 2016.1 Help

Run/Debug Configuration: NodeUnit

In this dialog box, create configurations to run unit tests for NodeJS applications.

On this page:

Getting Access to the Run/Debug Configuration: NodeUnit Dialog Box

  1. Install and enable the Node.js plugin. The plugin is not bundled with PhpStorm, but it can be installed from the JetBrains plugin repository as described in Installing, Updating and Uninstalling Repository Plugins and Enabling and Disabling Plugins. The plugin is not bundled with PhpStorm, but it can be installed from the JetBrains plugin repository as described in Installing, Updating and Uninstalling Repository Plugins and Enabling and Disabling Plugins.
  2. Download and install the NodeJS runtime environment that contains the Node Package Manager(npm).
  3. Install the Nodeunit testing framework in one of the following ways:

NodeUnit-Specific Configuration Settings

ItemDescription
Node Interpreter In this field, specify the NodeJS installation home. Type the path to the NodeJS executable file manually, or click the Browse button browseButton.png and select the location in the dialog box, that opens.
Working Directory In this text box, specify the folder to find tests under. This can be the project root folder or the parent directory for the test folder. Type the path manually or click the Browse button browseButton.png and select the location in the dialog box, that opens.
Environment Variables In this field, specify the environment variables for the NodeJS executable file, if applicable. Click the Browse button browseButton.png to the right of the field and configure a list of variables in the Environment Variables dialog box, that opens:
  • To define a new variable, click the Add toolbar button add.png and specify the variable name and value.
  • To discard a variable definition, select it in the list and click the Delete toolbar button delete.png.
  • Click OK, when ready

The definitions of variables are displayed in the Environment variables read-only field with semicolons as separators. The acceptable variables are:

  • NODE_PATH: A :-separated list of directories prefixed to the module search path.
  • NODE_MODULE_CONTEXTS: Set to 1 to load modules in their own global contexts.
  • NODE_DISABLE_COLORS: Set to 1 to disable colors in the REPL.
Nodeunit Module In this text box, specify the installation folder of the Nodeunit framework. Type the path manually or click the browseButton button and choose the folder in the dialog box that opens.
Run From this drop-down list, choose the scope of tests to execute. The available options are:
  • All JavaScript test files in the directory: choose this option to to have PhpStorm run all the test files in a folder. In the Directory text box below, specify the path to the test folder relative to the working directory.
  • JavaScript test file: choose this option to have a specific test executed. In the JavaScript test file text box, type the path to the file relative to the working directory.

Toolbar

ItemShortcutDescription
add Alt+Insert Click this button to add a new configuration to the list.
delete Alt+Delete Click this button to remove the selected configuration from the list.
copy Ctrl+D Click this button to create a copy of the selected configuration.
settings Edit defaultsClick this button to edit the default configuration templates. The defaults are used for newly created configurations.
arrowUp or arrowDown Alt+Up or Alt+Down Use these buttons to move the selected configuration or folder up and down in the list.

The order of configurations or folders in the list defines the order in which configurations appear in the Run/Debug drop-down list on the main toolbar.

sortAlphabetically Sort configurations Click this button to sort configurations in alphabetical order.

Common options

ItemDescription
NameIn this text box, specify the name of the current run/debug configuration. This field does not appear for the default run/debug configurations.
Defaults This node in the left-hand pane of the dialog box contains the default run/debug configuration settings. Select the desired configuration to change its default settings in the right-hand pane. The defaults are applied to all newly created run/debug configurations.
Share Select this check box to make the run/debug configuration available to other team members.

The shared run/debug configurations are kept in separate xml files under .idea\runConfigurations folder, while the local run/debug configurations are kept in the .idea\workspace.xml.

This check box is not available when editing the run/debug configuration defaults.

Single instance onlyIf this check box is selected, this run/debug configuration cannot be launched more than once.

Every time a new run/debug configuration is launched, PhpStorm checks the presence of the other instances of the same run/debug configuration, and displays a confirmation dialog box. If you click OK in the confirmation dialog box, the first instance of the runner will be stopped, and the next one will take its place.

This makes sense when the usage of certain resources can cause conflicts, or when launching two run/debug configurations of the same type consumes too much of the CPU and memory resources.

If this check box is not selected, it is possible to launch as many instances of the runner as required. So doing, each runner will start in its own tab of the Run tool window.

Before launchSpecify which tasks must be performed before applying the run/debug configuration. The specified tasks are performed in the order they appear in the list.
ItemKeyboard shortcutDescription
add Alt+Insert Click this icon to add a task to the list. Select the task to be added:
  • Run External tool. Select this option to run an application which is external to PhpStorm. In the dialog that opens, select the application or applications that should be run. If the necessary application is not defined in PhpStorm yet, add its definition. For more information, see Configuring Third-Party Tools and External Tools.
  • Run Another Configuration. Select this option to have another run/debug configuration executed. In the dialog that opens, select the configuration to run.

    This option is available only if you have already at least one run/debug configuration in the current project.

  • Run File Watchers. Select this option to have PhpStorm apply all the currently active file watchers, see Using File Watchers for details.
  • Generate CoffeeScript Source Maps. Select this option to have the source maps for your CoffeeScript sources generated. In the dialog that opens, specify where your CoffeeScript source files are located. For more information, see CoffeeScript Support.
  • Run Phing target: Add this task to execute the specified Phing target prior to running or debugging. To appoint a Phing target, click the Browse button browse and select the desired target in the Choose Phing Target to Execute dialog box, that opens.
  • Run Remote External tool: Add a remote SSH external tool. Refer to the section Remote SSH External Tools for details.
delete Alt+Delete Click this icon to remove the selected task from the list.
edit1 Enter Click this icon to edit the selected task. Make the necessary changes in the dialog that opens.
arrowUp Alt+Up Click this icon to move the selected task one line up in the list.
arrowDown Alt+Down Click this icon to move the selected task one line down in the list.
Show this page Select this check box to have the run/debug configuration settings shown prior to actually starting the run/debug configuration.
Active tool windowSelect this option if you want the Run/Debug tool windows to be activated automatically when you run/debug your application. This option is enabled by default.

See Also

Last modified: 12 July 2016