Improve Code Coverage

Improve test coverage for a Bazel C++ test target or source file path.

Input Resolution

1. Bazel test target (starts with //, e.g. //src/v/bytes/tests:iobuf_test):

use it directly.

1. Source file path (e.g. src/v/bytes/iobuf.cc): find the test target:

``bash bazel query "kind('.*_test', rdeps(//src/v/..., //$(dirname $FILE):$(basename $FILE .cc), 1))" 2>/dev/null ` If multiple targets match, pick the one in the closest tests/` directory. If none match, tell the user and stop.

Workflow

Step 1: Baseline Coverage

Run coverage and read the LLM report:

tools/run-cov <target> -r llm

Note the total line coverage percentage — this is the baseline to beat.

Read the report and identify:

• Uncovered functions — highest impact. One test can cover many lines.
• Partially covered functions — uncovered branches indicate missing

error-path or edge-case tests.

• Zero-coverage files in scope — may need new test cases entirely.

Step 2: Understand the Code

Read the source files named in the report. Focus on:

• Uncovered functions: what they do, inputs, preconditions.
• The existing test file: patterns, fixtures, helpers.

Key codebase patterns:

• redpandaccgtest targets use GTest (TEST(), TEST_F()).

redpandaccbtest targets use Seastar Boost test (SEASTARTHREADTEST_CASE). Match whichever the test file uses.

• Many functions are ss::future<> coroutines — test with

SEASTARTHREADTEST_CASE or the Seastar GTest runner.

• Use ss namespace prefix for Seastar types.
• Use EXPECT for most checks, ASSERT only when continuing would crash.

Step 3: Write Tests

Prioritize by impact:

1. Uncovered functions — call each one. A 20-line function = 20 lines covered.
2. Uncovered error paths — trigger the uncovered branches in partially

covered functions.

1. Zero-coverage files — add smoke tests if practical.

Rules:

• Add tests to the existing test file. Don't create new files or BUILD

targets unless necessary.

• Follow existing naming conventions in the file.
• One logical behavior per test case.
• Prefer deterministic tests — construct error conditions directly.
• Do NOT add comments that restate the code.

Step 4: Verify Build

bazel build <target>

Fix compilation errors before proceeding.

Step 5: Verify Coverage

Re-run coverage:

tools/run-cov <target> -r llm

Compare to the baseline. Report:

Coverage: X.Y% → A.B% (+N.N%)
New lines covered: <count>

If coverage did not improve, investigate:

• Build errors preventing the new tests from running?
• Code compiled out by preprocessor guards?
• Template instantiations not triggered by test types?

Step 6: Summary

Report:

• Which functions/paths are now covered
• What test cases were added
• Before/after coverage numbers
• Remaining significant gaps and suggestions