Upgrading Moodle or applying major configuration changes can significantly improve performance, security, and usability, but they can also introduce new risks. Even a small update can affect course functionality, enrollment logic, or plugin behavior. Automated testing helps administrators and developers ensure that these upgrades don’t break critical functionality or disrupt user experience. This article explores proven strategies for implementing automated testing in Moodle, covering functionality verification, user experience checks, and post-upgrade validation workflows.
I recently migrated my site to Mindfield from another host, and the experience couldn’t have been better. Mindfield kept working until they were certain that my site was operating as well as it was before, and they even helped clean up a few issues to improve my site’s performance – issues my prior host never mentioned. I also found Mindfield’s communication to be excellent. Before the migration, they prepared me for what to expect, and during the migration they kept me well-informed. No small feat considering that changing hosts is inherently stressful! They also provided clear and concise explanations when required. I’d highly recommend Mindfield if you’re looking for an IT consultant, developer, or host.
Jim Benedek
Jim Benedek
Owner, Student First Media Inc.
review Source: Google Reviews
Outline
Why Automated Testing Matters After Moodle Upgrades
Upgrading Moodle is not just a technical event, it’s a system wide stress test. Each update modifies code dependencies, user interfaces, and plugin interactions. Without a structured testing process, new regressions can quietly slip in and go unnoticed until hundreds of learners are affected.
Manual testing, comes with two major issues: it’s inconsistent and not scalable. It also depends heavily on human interpretation. An instructor might overlook a subtle change in course visibility or gradebook calculation that an automated script would flag instantly.
Common Risks Without Automation
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Broken Workflows: Activities such as quizzes, SCORM packages, or forums stop recording completions properly.
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UI and Theme Inconsistencies: Visual or responsive design issues appear due to CSS or JS conflicts.
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Plugin Incompatibility: Updates may invalidate database schemas or alter plugin dependencies.
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Integration Failures: External systems like payment gateways (Stripe), CRM systems (Salesforce, HubSpot, IMIS), or identity providers, stop syncing data.
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Performance Regression: Background tasks, cron jobs, or report generation become slower or time out.
Automated testing proactively detects these anomalies before they reach production, saving time, safeguarding data integrity, and preserving user trust.
Core Strategies for Automated Testing in Moodle
1. Establish a Baseline Test Environment
Before any code change, clone your production Moodle into a staging environment that mirrors your live configuration as closely as possible.
A well designed staging site allows you to:
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Reproduce real world conditions with anonymized data.
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Validate themes, cron tasks, and file upload processes.
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Run destructive tests safely without affecting learners.
Steps for creating a reliable baseline:
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Clone database and moodledata directories to staging using backup scripts.
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Sanitize sensitive data (emails, usernames) to avoid unintentional notifications.
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Modify
config.phpURLs to ensure staging points to the right environment. -
Automate resets after each test cycle using scripts or container snapshots.
Having a baseline environment ensures consistency across every automated test and allows rollback to a good state at any time.
2. Leverage Moodle’s Builtin Behat and PHPUnit Frameworks
Moodle comes with two powerful testing frameworks, Behat and PHPUnit, that together cover both backend logic and front end interaction.
PHPUnit (Unit and Integration Testing)
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Focuses on backend logic, APIs, and plugin data flow.
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Validates core functions like grade calculations, enrolment rules, and cron tasks.
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Ensures code changes don’t break existing logic across modules.
For instance, after an upgrade, a PHPUnit test might check that gradebook exports still generate accurate totals across all roles.
Behat (Behavioral/Acceptance Testing)
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Simulates how real users interact with Moodle.
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Covers logins, course navigation, activity completion, and dashboard usage.
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Detects visible changes, navigation failures, or missing links.
For example, Behat can simulate a teacher grading assignments, a student accessing SCORM modules, or an administrator running completion reports.
Combined use:
Running both frameworks together ensures a full spectrum of test coverage, PHPUnit catches hidden backend issues, while Behat validates user experience and accessibility.
3. Integrate Continuous Testing into Your Deployment Pipeline
Automated testing is most powerful when embedded into a continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD) pipeline.
Instead of running tests manually, every code commit, theme update, or configuration change automatically triggers validation.
Key Steps:
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Use Git branching aligned with Moodle versions (e.g., MOODLE_405_STABLE).
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Set up CI tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI, or GitHub Actions.
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Run Behat and PHPUnit automatically upon each merge request.
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Store artifacts and logs for review and regression tracking.
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Deploy only when all tests pass, ensuring confidence in production pushes.
Benefits of Continuous Testing
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Rapid feedback loops for developers.
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Early detection of regressions.
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Version controlled test history for compliance.
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Ability to roll back or isolate breaking changes instantly.
This practice transforms Moodle upgrades from high risk maintenance events into predictable, data driven workflows.
4. Automate Plugin Compatibility Checks
Since Moodle’s flexibility depends on plugins, they’re also the NO.1 source of post-upgrade issues.
Testing plugin compatibility should therefore be an automated, repeatable process.
Recommended Workflow:
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Maintain a plugin manifest listing all versions and dependencies.
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Run dependency scanners before each upgrade to detect conflicts.
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Create plugin specific Behat scripts to confirm critical behaviors (e.g., Stripe payment, Iomad tenant isolation, H5P rendering).
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Automate version rollback if a plugin breaks testing criteria.
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Monitor logs for deprecation warnings after each update.
For example, Mindfield’s testing routines often automate validation of:
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Edwiser Stripe & SSO plugins for payment and authentication flows.
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Iomad permission isolation for tenant based sites.
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Custom API connectors syncing Moodle data to external CRMs.
Automated plugin testing is not just technical diligence, it’s operational insurance against data loss or business disruption.
Enhancing User Experience Testing
A functional Moodle isn’t always a usable Moodle.
User Experience (UX) testing ensures that learners, teachers, and admins can still navigate easily, access resources, and complete tasks efficiently after changes.
1. Visual Regression Testing
Automated visual comparison tools like BackstopJS, Applitools, or Percy capture screenshots before and after upgrades.
These tools instantly highlight misalignments, missing icons, or unintended color scheme changes.
This is especially critical for custom themes (e.g., Edwiser RemUI, Lambda, or Boost variants) where CSS changes can cascade unpredictably.
Example tests:
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Compare dashboard layouts across devices.
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Verify accessibility of course tiles and navigation menus.
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Ensure header/footer consistency on custom login pages.
2. Performance and Load Testing
Performance testing ensures that an upgraded Moodle still performs efficiently under peak loads.
Using Apache JMeter, k6, or Locust, simulate hundreds of users logging in, enrolling, or submitting quizzes simultaneously.
Metrics to monitor:
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Page load times under 3 seconds.
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Server response time under concurrent logins.
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Database query performance.
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Cron and background task completion rates.
Automating these tests after each upgrade prevents performance surprises and gives administrators measurable confidence in scalability.
3. Accessibility and Mobile UX Validation
Accessibility should never regress after an upgrade.
Integrate tools like axecore, WAVE, or Lighthouse CI into your CI/CD process to automatically check:
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WCAG 2.1 compliance (contrast, ARIA labels, alt texts).
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Mobile responsiveness across iOS and Android.
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Keyboard navigation and screen reader behavior.
This ensures that improvements don’t inadvertently disadvantage users with accessibility needs or mobile first learners.
Post-Upgrade Monitoring and Maintenance
Even with a successful test run, the job isn’t done.
Real users can still uncover edge case behaviors your tests missed.
Post-upgrade monitoring provides continuous assurance.
1. Logging and Analytics
Regularly review:
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PHP, Nginx, and cron logs.
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Logstore data for error spikes.
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Slow queries via
mdl_logstore_standard_log.
Automate alerts for recurring errors, such as dml_read_exception or invalid course module ID.
2. Scheduled Re-Tests
Set up nightly or weekly automated test runs to catch new regressions introduced by plugin updates or data changes.
Version tagging and report comparison make it easy to pinpoint when an issue appeared.
3. User Feedback Loop
Encourage instructors and learners to submit post-upgrade feedback directly within Moodle. Combine these reports with automated logs to prioritize fixes efficiently.
From Risk to Reliability: The Expert Advantage
When your Moodle site evolves through upgrades, integrations, and design changes, the expertise behind its testing and maintenance becomes the difference between confidence and chaos. Hiring Moodle experts ensures every update is validated with precision, core features, plugins, and integrations are tested through automated pipelines that mirror real world use. Professionals bring deep familiarity with Moodle’s testing frameworks, from PHPUnit and Behat to CI/CD orchestration, ensuring functionality remains intact while user experience improves with every release.
Beyond technical assurance, seasoned Moodle teams also bring strategic insight: optimizing database queries, detecting UX regressions, and aligning performance with your organization’s learning goals. With testing automation, institutions gain not only stability but agility, upgrades become opportunities for growth rather than disruption.
