# Test gates

Choose GitHub Checks, an isolated local run, or a controlled fallback.

| Mode | Behavior | Best for |
| --- | --- | --- |
| checks | Wait only for GitHub Checks | Production repositories |
| local | Clone, set up, and test locally | Fast feedback or no CI |
| auto | Prefer checks; use local only if none appear | Early adoption |

## Required checks

When requiredChecks is non-empty, every named check must appear and finish with success. Missing, skipped, neutral, cancelled, or failed required checks do not pass.

```
{
  "testGate": "checks",
  "requiredChecks": ["lint", "unit", "integration"]
}
```

## Local setup

Auto setup selects npm ci, pnpm, Yarn, Bun, or npm install from the repository lockfile. A setup failure ends the gate before tests run. Set setupCommand to none only for a self-contained test command.

```
{
  "setupCommand": "auto",
  "testCommand": "npm test",
  "testGate": "local"
}
```

## Retries

A failed gate may resume the same agent with a bounded test-output excerpt. maxRetries is capped at three. Every attempt re-reads the PR head SHA before gating again.