pairwise-test-coverage
Installation
SKILL.md
Pairwise Test Coverage
Combinatorial testing that covers all factor pairs in near-minimal test cases.
When to use: Multi-factor systems where exhaustive testing is impractical, state machines, retry/recovery logic, configuration matrices, compatibility testing, any code with 3+ interacting parameters.
When not to use: Single-factor tests (just test each value), two-factor systems (test all combinations directly), UI snapshot tests, type-only changes.
Pairwise vs Model-Based
Pairwise selects which input combinations to test. Model-based testing derives which state transitions to test. Different questions, different tools:
| Your system has... | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Independent parameters with discrete values | Pairwise | OS × browser × locale config matrix |
| Named states with transitions between them | Model-based | draft → review → published workflow |
| State machine guards with 5+ boolean inputs | Both | Model-based finds the guards, pairwise covers the flag combos |
Rule of thumb: if you're testing what goes in, use pairwise. If you're testing what happens next, use model-based.