Testing Basics

8 examples to get you started with Solana program testing - 5 basic and 3 intermediate. Covers the testing pyramid: LiteSVM 0.6.x unit tests, Mollusk instruction tests, Anchor TS integration, and validator E2E.

Prerequisites

• Anchor 0.32.1 workspace with anchor test configured.
• Rust 1.91.1 toolchain.
• Optional: @solana/kit 7.0.0 for client-side tests.

anchor --version  # 0.32.1
cargo test --version

Basic Examples

1. Run Anchor Tests

Default integration test spins local validator.

anchor test

• Compiles program, deploys to local validator, runs tests/*.ts.
• Uses provider cluster from Anchor.toml.
• Slower than LiteSVM but exercises full RPC path.

Related: Anchor TS Tests

2. LiteSVM Smoke Test

In-process SVM without validator process.

use litesvm::LiteSVM;
use solana_sdk::{signature::Keypair, signer::Signer, transaction::Transaction};
 
let mut svm = LiteSVM::new();
let payer = Keypair::new();
svm.airdrop(&payer.pubkey(), 1_000_000_000).unwrap();

• Sub-millisecond iteration for instruction logic.
• Load .so with svm.add_program.
• Ideal for security negative tests.

Related: LiteSVM

3. Mollusk Instruction Harness

Lightweight instruction-level runner in Rust tests.

use mollusk_svm::Mollusk;
use solana_sdk::instruction::{AccountMeta, Instruction};
 
let mollusk = Mollusk::new(&program_id, "target/deploy/my_program");
let ix = Instruction { program_id, accounts: vec![], data: vec![] };
mollusk.process_instruction(&ix, &accounts);

• Faster setup than full Anchor suite for pure Rust devs.
• Good middle layer between LiteSVM and validator.

Related: Mollusk

4. Assert Program Error

Negative tests are mandatory for security.

try {
  await program.methods.badWithdraw().rpc();
  throw new Error("expected fail");
} catch (e) {
  // expect anchor error code
}

• Match error codes from #[error_code] enum.
• Test missing signer, wrong mint, stale oracle paths.
• One test per catalog attack class.

Related: Sealevel Attacks Catalog

5. Reset Local Validator in CI

Deterministic CI requires clean ledger.

solana-test-validator --reset --quiet &
anchor test --skip-local-validator

• --reset clears state between runs.
• Pin Agave 4.1.1 validator binary in CI image.
• Kill orphaned validators on port 8899.

Related: Testing Against a Validator

Intermediate Examples

6. Test PDA Derivation

Client and program must agree on seeds.

const [pda] = PublicKey.findProgramAddressSync(
  [Buffer.from("vault"), user.toBuffer()],
  program.programId
);
const account = await program.account.vault.fetch(pda);

• Compare bump stored on-chain with client derivation.
• Fail tests if seed strings mismatch (b"vault" vs "vault").

Related: Testing CPIs & PDAs

7. Surfpool Fork Integration

DeFi tests need mainnet pool state.

surfpool start --rpc-url https://api.mainnet-beta.solana.com
export ANCHOR_PROVIDER_URL=http://127.0.0.1:8899
anchor test --skip-local-validator

• Surfpool 0.12.0 overlays fork state for realistic CPI chains.
• Use for Jupiter/AMM integration tests only when needed.

8. Fuzz Deposit Bounds

Property tests find overflow edges.

cargo fuzz run deposit_fuzz -- -max_total_time=300

• Trident/fuzz targets random amounts and account flags.
• Run extended fuzz before audit (Fuzzing Programs).

Stack versions: This page was written for Agave 4.1.1, Solana CLI 3.0.10, Anchor 0.32.1, anchor-lang 0.32.1, Rust 1.91.1, @solana/kit 7.0.0, Surfpool 0.12.0, and LiteSVM 0.6.x.