Parallelization and Isolation

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Parallelization and Isolation

When to use this reference

Use this file when tests are flaky in CI, have hidden ordering dependencies, or need to scale execution speed safely.

Default execution model

• Swift Testing runs test functions in parallel by default.
• Execution order is randomized to expose hidden test dependencies.
• Parallelization applies to synchronous and asynchronous tests.

Example: hidden dependency exposed by parallel execution

import Testing

enum SharedStore {
 static var counter = 0
}

@Test func incrementsCounter() {
 SharedStore.counter += 1
 #expect(SharedStore.counter >= 1)
}

@Test func expectsFreshCounter() {
 // Flaky if tests run in parallel or random order.
 #expect(SharedStore.counter == 0)
}

Why this matters

• Faster CI feedback and shorter local iteration loops.
• Better detection of shared-state coupling and flaky behavior.
• More realistic stress on concurrency-sensitive code paths.

Isolation strategy first

• Make tests independent by default.
• Avoid shared mutable globals and singleton mutation across tests.
• Isolate state per test invocation (fresh suite instance helps).
• Prefer deterministic test data setup over implicit ordering assumptions.

Better pattern: isolate per test

import Testing

struct CounterStore {
 var counter = 0
 mutating func increment() { counter += 1 }
}

@Test func isolatedCounter() {
 var store = CounterStore()
 store.increment()
 #expect(store.counter == 1)
}

.serialized as a targeted tool

• Apply .serialized to suites when tests must run one-at-a-time.
• Use it as a transitional safety measure during migration from serial XCTest suites.
• Refactor toward parallel-safe tests before normalizing serialization everywhere.
• Serialized suites can still run alongside unrelated suites in parallel.

Transitional serialization example

import Testing

@Suite(.serialized)
struct LegacyDatabaseTests {
 @Test func migrationStepA() { #expect(true) }
 @Test func migrationStepB() { #expect(true) }
}

Shared resource scenarios

• If tests hit a shared DB/file/service, choose one:
  • isolate backing state per test
  • use in-memory substitutes
  • create separate serial test plan for integration path
• Prefer architecture that supports both fast in-memory tests and selective real integration tests.

Do / Don’t

• Do fix shared-state coupling before adding broad serialization.
• Do use in-memory fakes for the fast path.
• Don’t rely on execution order.
• Don’t mutate singletons across tests without reset/isolation.