---
name: "runtest"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "dejagnu"
version: "1.6.3-21"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/runtest"
---

# runtest(1)

DejaGnu test driver

## NAME

runtest - DejaGnu test driver

## SYNOPSIS

**runtest** \[OPTION\]...

## DESCRIPTION

*DejaGnu* is a framework for testing programs using Expect. **runtest** is the driver program for *DejaGnu.* It controls what tests to run and how to run them.

## OPTIONS

- **--all, -a**

  Output all test results. By default, only unexpected results are displayed.

- **--build** *TRIPLET*

  The configuration TRIPLET for the build system.

- **--debug**

  Turn on **Expect** internal debugging output. The output is logged to a file called **dbg.log**.

- **--directory** *DIRECTORY*

  Run only tests in the specified DIRECTORY.

- **--global\_init** *NAME*

  The NAME to use for the global init file in libdir. The default is **site.exp** if this option is not given.

- **--help**

  Prints a usage message and then exits.

- **--host** *TRIPLET*

  The configuration TRIPLET for the host system.

- **--host\_board** *NAME*

  The host board definition to use.

- **--ignore** *test1.exp test2.exp ...*

  Do not run the specified tests.

- **--local\_init** *NAME*

  The NAME to use for the testsuite local init file in both the current directory and objdir. The default is **site.exp** if this option is not given.

- **--log\_dialog**

  Emit Expect output to standard output.

- **--mail** *´name1 name2 ...´*

  Electronic mail addresses to receive test results.

- **--objdir** *PATH*

  *PATH* is a directory containing compiled test code.

- **--outdir** *DIRECTORY*

  The name of a DIRECTORY for test log output.

- **--reboot**

  Reboot the target board when **runtest** initializes (if supported).

- **--srcdir** *PATH*

  *PATH* is a directory containing test directories.

- **--strace** *N*

  Turns on **Expect** internal tracing to *N* levels deep. The output is logged to a file called **dbg.log**.

- **--target** *TRIPLET*

  The configuration TRIPLET for the target.

- **--target\_board** *NAME*

  A list of target board NAMEs to run tests on.

- **--tool** *TOOLNAME*

  Specify the tool to be tested.  *TOOLNAME* controls the test suite applied, and the associated initialization module.

- **--tool\_exec** *PATH*

  Specify the PATH to the executable to test.

- **--tool\_opts** *OPTIONS*

  Additional OPTIONS to pass to the tool.

- **-v, --verbose**

  Turns on more debugging output from test cases and DejaGnu utility code. Use more than once to increase output further.

- **-V, --version**

  Prints out the versions of DejaGnu, Expect and Tcl.

- **-x, --xml**

  Generate XML output.  The output file is named after the tool with an .xml extension.

- **-D\[number\]**

  Activate the Tcl debugger.  **number** can be either 1 or 0. If it is 1, then the Expect shell will break when it starts to run. The interrupt key will cause DejaGnu to drop to the debugger prompt. If it is 0, DejaGnu starts as usual, but Control-C drops to the debugger prompt.

- Any file name on the command line is assumed to be a subset of the

  test names to run.  Usually these are the names of the test scripts (eg. foo.exp).

Makefile-style variables are used to specify tool names and their flags; these and other configuration dependent values are saved in the file **site.exp**, created during configuration.

### Exit status:

- 0

  if all tests passed including expected failures and unsupported tests,

- 1

  if any test failed, passed unexpectedly, or was unresolved,

- 2

  if Expect encountered any error in the test scripts.

## AUTHOR

Rob Savoye (rob@welcomehome.org)

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to \<bug-dejagnu@gnu.org\>.

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2005-2016, 2018, 2020 Free Software Foundation, Inc.

This is free software.  You may redistribute copies of it under the terms of the GNU General Public License \<http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html\>. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

## SEE ALSO

The full documentation for **DejaGnu** is maintained as a Texinfo manual.  If the **info** program is properly installed at your site, the command

-

  **info dejagnu**

should give you access to the complete manual.