Edited down to be less verbose.

Author: BethanyG

exercises/shared/.docs/tests.md

@@ -1,86 +1,67 @@
 # Tests
 
+
 We use [pytest][pytest: Getting Started Guide] as our website test runner.
-You will need to install `pytest` on your development machine if you want to download and run exercise tests for the Python track locally.
+You will need to install `pytest` on your development machine if you want to run tests for the Python track locally.
 You should also install the following `pytest` plugins:
 
 - [pytest-cache][pytest-cache]
 - [pytest-subtests][pytest-subtests]
 
-We also recommend using the code linting program [pylint][pylint], as it is part of our automated feedback on the website and can be a very useful static code analysis tool.
-For ease-of-use, the [pytest-pylint][pytest-pylint] plugin for `pytest` will allow you to run `pylint` via `pytest` on the command line.
-
-Pylint configuration can be a bit much, so this [tutorial][tutorial from pycqa.org]  from pycqa.org can be helpful for getting started, as can this overview of [Code Quality: Tools and Best Practices][Code Quality: Tools and Best Practices] from Real Python.
-
-
-## Installing pytest
-
-Pytest can be installed and updated using the built-in Python utility [`pip`][pip].
-
-For additional tips, Brett Cannon has a nice [quick-and-dirty guide on how to install packages for python][brett cannon: quick-and-dirty], along with a great explanation on [why you should use `python -m pip`][brett cannon: python-m-pip].
-For more on Python's command line arguments, see [command line and environment][python command line arguments] in the Python documentation.
+Extended information can be found in our website [Python testing guide][Python track tests page].
 
-**Note:** `Python3` may or may not be an alias for Python on your system.
-Please adjust the install commands below accordingly.
-To install `pytest` in a virtual environment, ensure the environment **is activated** prior to executing commands.
-Otherwise, the pytest installation will be global.
 
+### Running Tests
 
-#### Windows
-
-```powershell
-PS C:\Users\foobar> python3 -m pip install pytest pytest-cache pytest-subtests pytest-pylint
-Successfully installed pytest-6.2.5 ...
-```
-
-#### Linux / MacOS
+To run the included tests, navigate to the folder where the exercise is stored using `cd` in your terminal (_replace `{exercise-folder-location}` below with your path_).
+Test files usually end in `_test.py`, and are the same tests that run on the website when a solution is uploaded.
 
+Linux/MacOS
 ```bash
-$ python3 -m pip install pytest pytest-cache pytest-subtests pytest-pylint
-Successfully installed pytest-6.2.5 ...
-
+$ cd {path/to/exercise-folder-location}
 ```
 
-
-To check if installation was successful:
-
-```bash
-$ python3 -m pytest --version
-pytest 6.2.5
+Windows
+```powershell
+PS C:\Users\foobar> cd {path\to\exercise-folder-location}
 ```
 
-## Running the tests
+<br>
 
-To run the tests, go to the folder where the exercise is stored using `cd` in your terminal (_replace `{exercise-folder-location}` below with your path_).
+Next, run the `pytest` command in your terminal, replacing `{exercise_test.py}` with the name of the test file:
 
+Linux/MacOS
 ```bash
-$ cd {exercise-folder-location}
+$ python3 -m pytest -o markers=task {exercise_test.py}
+==================== 7 passed in 0.08s ====================
 ```
 
-The file you will want to run usually ends in `_test.py`.
-This file contains the tests for the exercise solution, and are the same tests that run on the website when a solution is uploaded.
-Next, run the following command in your terminal, replacing `{exercise_test.py}` with the location/name of the test file:
-
-```bash
-$ python3 -m pytest -o markers=task {exercise_test.py}
+Windows
+```pwowershell
+PS C:\Users\foobar> py -m pytest -o markers=task {exercise_test.py}
 ==================== 7 passed in 0.08s ====================
 ```
 
-### Common pytest options
 
-- `-o` : override default `ini` (_you can use this to avoid marker warnings_)
+### Common options
+- `-o` : override default `pytest.ini` (_you can use this to avoid marker warnings_)
 - `-v` : enable verbose output.
 - `-x` : stop running tests on first failure.
 - `--ff` : run failures from previous test before running other test cases.
 
-For other options, see `python3 -m pytest -h`.
+For additional options, use `python3 -m pytest -h` or `py -m pytest -h`.
 
 
 ### Fixing warnings
 
-If you do not use the `pytest -o markers=task` in the command above, is possible that you will get `warnings` about "unknown markers" when running a test that uses our _new_ syntax.
+If you do not use `pytest -o markers=task` when invoking `pytest`, you might receive a `PytestUnknownMarkWarning` for tests that use our new syntax:
 
-To avoid typing `pytest -o markers=task` for every test you run, you can use a `pytest.ini` configuration file, which can be downloaded from the top level of the Python track directory: [pytest.ini][pytest.ini].
+```bash
+PytestUnknownMarkWarning: Unknown pytest.mark.task - is this a typo?  You can register custom marks to avoid this warning - for details, see https://docs.pytest.org/en/stable/mark.html
+```
+
+To avoid typing `pytest -o markers=task` for every test you run, you can use a `pytest.ini` configuration file.
+We have made one that can be downloaded from the top level of the Python track directory: [pytest.ini][pytest.ini].
 
 You can also create your own `pytest.ini` file with the following content:
 
@@ -90,65 +71,23 @@ markers =
     task: A concept exercise task.
 ```
 
-Placing this file in the _root_ or _working_ directory for the Python track exercises will register the marks and stop the warnings.
+Placing the `pytest.ini` file in the _root_ or _working_ directory for your Python track exercises will register the marks and stop the warnings.
 More information on pytest marks can be found in the `pytest` documentation on [marking test functions][pytest: marking test functions with attributes] and the `pytest` documentation on [working with custom markers][pytest: working with custom markers].
 
-_More information on customizing pytest configurations can be found in the pytest documentation on [configuration file formats][pytest: configuration file formats]_
-
-
-### Recommended Workflow
-
-We recommend using the following commands to make your debugging easier and (possibly) faster:
-
-First change your working directory to the directory of the exercise you want to test:
-
-```bash
-$(my_venv) cd path/to/exercise
-```
-
-Then, run the tests together with the previously explained arguments `-x` and`--ff`:
-
-```bash
-$(my_venv) python3 -m pytest -o markers=task -x --ff <example_file_test.py>
-```
-
-This will test your solution.
-When `pytest` encounters a failed test, the program will stop and tell you which test failed.
-When you make fixes and run the test again, `pytest` will first run the previous test that failed, then continue with the remaining tests.
-
-
-### Using PDB, the Python Debugger, with pytest
-
-You can use the `--pdb` argument after the `pytest` command and drop into the built-in [Python debugger][pdb], `PDB` on test failure:
-
-```bash
-$(my_venv) python3 -m pytest -o markers=task -x --ff --pdb <example_file_test.py>
-=============== 4 passed in 0.15s ===============
-```
+Information on customizing pytest configurations can be found in the `pytest` documentation on [configuration file formats][pytest: configuration file formats].
 
-Dropping into `PDB` will allow you to step through your code viewing the current scope, as well as checking the value of variables and the signature of different functions.
-More details on the `PDB` module can be found in the [Python documentation on PDB][pdb].
-Additionally, the [pytest docs on PDB][pytest-pdb] and [this guide from Real Python](https://realpython.com/python-debugging-pdb/) are extremely helpful.
 
-## Extending your IDE
+### Extending your IDE or Code Editor
 
-If you'd like to extend your IDE with some tools that will help you with testing and improving your code, the Python track [tools page][Python track tools page] on exercism.org goes over some options.
+Many IDEs and code editors have built-in support for using `pytest` and other code quality tools.
+Some community-sourced options can be found on our [Python track tools page][Python track tools page].
 
-[Code Quality: Tools and Best Practices]: https://realpython.com/python-code-quality/
 [Pytest: Getting Started Guide]: https://docs.pytest.org/en/latest/getting-started.html
 [Python track tools page]: https://exercism.org/docs/tracks/python/tools
-[brett cannon: python-m-pip]: https://snarky.ca/why-you-should-use-python-m-pip/
-[brett cannon: quick-and-dirty]: https://snarky.ca/a-quick-and-dirty-guide-on-how-to-install-packages-for-python/
-[pdb]: https://docs.python.org/3.9/library/pdb.html
-[pip]: https://pip.pypa.io/en/stable/getting-started/
-[pylint]: https://pylint.pycqa.org/en/latest/user_guide/
+[Python track tests page]: https://exercism.org/docs/tracks/python/tests
 [pytest-cache]:http://pythonhosted.org/pytest-cache/
-[pytest-pdb]: https://docs.pytest.org/en/6.2.x/usage.html#dropping-to-pdb-python-debugger-on-failures
-[pytest-pylint]:https://github.com/carsongee/pytest-pylint
 [pytest-subtests]:https://github.com/pytest-dev/pytest-subtests
 [pytest.ini]: https://github.com/exercism/python/blob/main/pytest.ini
 [pytest: configuration file formats]: https://docs.pytest.org/en/6.2.x/customize.html#configuration-file-formats
 [pytest: marking test functions with attributes]: https://docs.pytest.org/en/6.2.x/mark.html#raising-errors-on-unknown-marks
 [pytest: working with custom markers]: https://docs.pytest.org/en/6.2.x/example/markers.html#working-with-custom-markers
-[python command line arguments]: https://docs.python.org/3/using/cmdline.html
-[tutorial from pycqa.org]: https://pylint.pycqa.org/en/latest/tutorial.html