Testing Strategies
Testing AI prompts is essential for ensuring consistent, high-quality outputs. This guide covers comprehensive testing strategies for Claro prompts, from development to production.Why Test Prompts?
AI prompts require testing because:- Variability - LLMs can produce different outputs for the same input
- Edge Cases - Unexpected inputs can lead to poor responses
- Version Changes - Updates may introduce unintended behavior
- Quality Assurance - Ensure prompts meet business requirements
Unlike traditional code, AI prompts can’t guarantee deterministic outputs. Testing focuses on quality patterns and acceptable ranges rather than exact matches.
Testing Before Deployment
Manual Testing in Dashboard
The fastest way to test prompts before publishing:1
Create Draft Version
In the Bayt OS dashboard, create a new draft or edit an existing prompt
2
Use Preview Mode
Test the prompt directly in the editor:
- Enter sample inputs
- Review generated outputs
- Test edge cases
- Verify tone and style
3
Iterate and Refine
Make adjustments based on test results, then re-test
4
Publish When Ready
Once satisfied with test results, publish the version
Test Input Categories
Test prompts with diverse input types:- Happy Path
- Edge Cases
- Adversarial
- Multilingual
Expected Use Cases
- Typical user queries
- Well-formed inputs
- Common scenarios
- Standard requests
Unit Testing with Mocked Responses
Testing Integration Code
Test your application’s integration with Claro independently:Testing LLM Integration
Test the complete flow with mocked LLM responses:Integration Testing
Testing with Real API Calls
Create integration tests that call the actual Claro API:Running Integration Tests
Separate integration tests from unit tests:A/B Testing Approaches
Comparing Prompt Versions
Test multiple versions side-by-side:Production A/B Testing
Gradually roll out new versions in production:Tracking A/B Test Results
Log metrics for each version:CI/CD Integration
GitHub Actions Example
Automate testing in your CI pipeline:Pre-commit Hooks
Test before committing:Best Practices
Test with Real User Inputs
Test with Real User Inputs
Don’t just test with synthetic data:
- Collect actual user queries from logs
- Test with real support tickets
- Use production-like scenarios
- Include edge cases from real usage
Automate Regression Testing
Automate Regression Testing
Create a test suite that runs automatically:
Monitor Quality Metrics
Monitor Quality Metrics
Track metrics across versions:
- Response time
- Token usage
- User satisfaction (thumbs up/down)
- Error rates
- Escalation rates (for support prompts)
Test Prompt Instructions Separately
Test Prompt Instructions Separately
Validate that prompts follow their instructions:
Use Version Pinning in Tests
Use Version Pinning in Tests
Always pin to specific versions in tests:
Test Failure Modes
Test Failure Modes
Test how your application handles errors:
Testing Tools and Frameworks
Recommended Testing Stack
pytest
Python testing framework
- Powerful fixtures
- Parametrized tests
- Great mocking support
pytest-mock
Mocking library
- Easy API mocking
- Patch functions
- Verify call counts
pytest-cov
Coverage reporting
- Track test coverage
- Identify untested code
- CI integration
Locust
Load testing
- Test at scale
- Simulate concurrent users
- Performance metrics
Load Testing Example
Test prompt performance under load:Troubleshooting Tests
Tests pass locally but fail in CI
Tests pass locally but fail in CI
Common causes:
- Environment variables not set in CI
- Different Python versions
- Timezone or locale differences
Flaky integration tests
Flaky integration tests
Common causes:
- Network timeouts
- Rate limiting
- Non-deterministic LLM outputs
Mocks not working as expected
Mocks not working as expected
Common causes:
- Patching wrong location
- Import order issues
- Mock not properly configured
Next Steps
Error Handling
Learn comprehensive error handling for robust tests
Performance Guide
Optimize prompt fetching and caching
Security
Secure API keys in test environments
Advanced Patterns
Production-ready integration patterns