Automating PHP Tests with GitLab CI

GitLab CI defines stages and jobs for installing dependencies and running PHP tests.

What It Does

GitLab CI defines stages and jobs for installing dependencies and running PHP tests. The following examples distinguish a normal use case, a boundary case and a practical application.

Requirements and Compatibility

A local Composer project with a compatible PHPUnit version and isolated fixtures or stubs.

The code focuses on the core concept. Production implementation may also need routes, validation, persistence, authorization or deployment tooling.

Example 1: Basic Behavior

A GitLab CI pipeline uses the composer image to install dependencies and execute tests.

image: composer:2
stages: [validate, test]
validate:
  stage: validate
  script:
    - composer validate --strict
    - composer install --no-interaction --prefer-dist
test:
  stage: test
  script:
    - composer install --no-interaction --prefer-dist
    - vendor/bin/phpunit

This is a YAML configuration example; use it in its appropriate file or shell, not in the PHP source editor.

Example 2: Another Case

Verify that the CI image provides the PHP version and extensions expected by composer.lock.

php -v
composer check-platform-reqs

This is a command-line example; use it in its appropriate file or shell, not in the PHP source editor.

Practical Example: Putting It to Use

Use test fixtures independent of production credentials.

<?php
function priceTotal(int $n): int { return 100 * $n; }
if (priceTotal(2) !== 200) throw new RuntimeException("Regression");
echo "OK";

Important Behavior and Edge Cases

Keep test environments isolated and never expose deployment credentials to untrusted branches.

Comparison with Related Functions or Approaches

Common Beginner Mistakes

Key Takeaways

• GitLab CI defines stages and jobs for installing dependencies and running PHP tests.
• Keep test environments isolated and never expose deployment credentials to untrusted branches.
• Use a .gitlab-ci.yml pipeline with reproducible dependencies.

Before adapting these examples, verify the return values, test the failure paths and confirm that your application meets its security and environment requirements.