Run Go tests and subtests seamlessly with native VS Code integration.
Better Go Test integrates your Go test files directly into the native VS Code Testing API, providing a powerful, visual, and lightweight test runner. No more messy terminal command pasting—run whole files, individual functions, or specific subtests directly from the UI.
✨ Features
📂 Native Test Explorer Integration: Discovers all your *_test.go files and organizes them in a neat, expandable tree view in the VS Code Test panel.
🗂️ Table-Driven (Subtest) Parsing: Automatically parses table-driven test definitions (t.Run) to extract individual subtest cases dynamically without compiling.
🟢 Gutter Play/Debug Buttons: Shows executable indicators directly in the editor margin (gutter) next to the test functions and inside the struct literals for individual subtest cases.
⚡ Editor Title Bar Button: Quickly execute the active test file with a dedicated play icon on the editor's top-right toolbar.
⚙️ Background Execution: Spawns test runs as clean child processes and streams stdout/stderr directly into the native VS Code Test Output window.
⏹️ Execution Cancellation: Stop running tests at any time using the stop button in the VS Code Test UI.
🛠️ How to Use
Method 1: The Test Explorer (Recommended)
Open the Testing tab in the sidebar (Beaker icon).
Expand the folders to see your test files, test functions, and individual subtests.
Click the Play button next to any test item to execute it, or use the Debug button to debug it.
Method 2: From the Editor Gutter
Next to any func TestXxx(t *testing.T) declaration or individual table-test struct case ({ name: "..." }), click the Play button in the margin to run just that specific test.
Method 3: From the Editor Tab / Context Menu
While editing any *_test.go file, click the Play icon in the editor's title bar (top right).
Alternatively, right-click the file in the Explorer side bar and select Run Go Test File.
📋 Requirements
VS Code ^1.85.0
Go toolchain installed and available in your system path (go test).
