Testing Local Validator

Local testing workflows for programs and clients. Results appear in the same fence: same-line // comments when short, multiline // blocks below the sample when not.

solana-test-validator

Run a local cluster.

// solana-test-validator
// RPC http://127.0.0.1:8899

Airdrop

Fund test accounts.

// await connection.requestAirdrop(pubkey, 2 * LAMPORTS_PER_SOL)

Anchor Test

Build + local validator + mocha/jest style tests.

// anchor test

LiteSVM

In-process SVM for fast unit tests (Rust/TS bindings).

// let mut svm = LiteSVM::new();
// svm.airdrop(&pk, lamports);

BanksClient

solana-program-test BanksClient API.

// let mut context = ProgramTest::new(...).start_with_context().await;

Warp Slot

Advance clock/slot in program-test.

// context.warp_to_slot(slot)

Deploy Program BPF

Load .so into local validator.

// solana program deploy target/deploy/prog.so

Clone Account

Clone mainnet accounts into local for integration tests.

// solana-test-validator --clone <pubkey>

Surfpool

Surfpool tooling for local-like workflows.

// surfpool start (see current CLI)

Assert Logs

Match program logs in tests.

// expect logs to contain "Instruction: Initialize"

Concurrent Tests

Isolate keypairs/mints per test.

// Keypair.generate() per case

Reset Validator

Ledger reset when state is dirty.

// solana-test-validator --reset

Commitment Processed

Local tests often use processed/confirmed.

// commitment: "processed"

Fake Clock

Set unix_timestamp in program-test sysvars.

// context.set_sysvar(&Clock { ... })

CI Cache Builds

Cache cargo/anchor builds in CI for speed.

// cache ~/.cargo and target/

Related

• Client Kit TypeScript - point clients at localhost
• Anchor Program Basics - anchor test
• Program Errors and Logs - assert logs

Stack versions: This page was written for Agave 4.1.1, Solana CLI 3.0.10, Anchor 0.32.1, Rust 1.91.1, and @solana/kit 7.0.0.