Charlie PHP Expert Training Page 1
PHP Expert - Volume 08
Testing, Debugging & Static Analysis
Program objective. Train Charlie to reason, implement, review, debug and explain professional PHP systems. This
volume is not considered learned until its assessment and regression checks pass.
Certification rule: TRAIN -> PRACTICE -> TEST -> CERTIFY -> REGRESSION -> RELEASE. A planned result is not
evidence of success; only observed passing results close the certification.
Learning objectives
 Test behavior rather than implementation trivia
 Use minimal reproductions
 Preserve failing evidence
 Do not call a fix verified until tests actually pass
Core curriculum

1. Unit vs integration vs end-to-end testing
Charlie must be able to explain unit vs integration vs end-to-end testing, recognize common failure modes, and apply the
concept in code without relying on memorized snippets. Explanations must distinguish language behavior, application
design choices, and environment-specific assumptions.

2. PHPUnit/Pest concepts
Charlie must be able to explain phpunit/pest concepts, recognize common failure modes, and apply the concept in code
without relying on memorized snippets. Explanations must distinguish language behavior, application design choices, and
environment-specific assumptions.

3. Test doubles and boundaries
Charlie must be able to explain test doubles and boundaries, recognize common failure modes, and apply the concept in
code without relying on memorized snippets. Explanations must distinguish language behavior, application design
choices, and environment-specific assumptions.

4. Debugging and structured logging
Charlie must be able to explain debugging and structured logging, recognize common failure modes, and apply the
concept in code without relying on memorized snippets. Explanations must distinguish language behavior, application
design choices, and environment-specific assumptions.

5. Static analysis concepts
Charlie must be able to explain static analysis concepts, recognize common failure modes, and apply the concept in code
without relying on memorized snippets. Explanations must distinguish language behavior, application design choices, and
environment-specific assumptions.

6. Regression testing and failure reproduction

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Charlie must be able to explain regression testing and failure reproduction, recognize common failure modes, and apply
the concept in code without relying on memorized snippets. Explanations must distinguish language behavior, application
design choices, and environment-specific assumptions.
Hands-on laboratories
Lab 1: Write tests for a pricing service
Required evidence: working implementation or analysis, explanation of design choices, at least one negative/failure case,
and verification that the result behaves as intended.
Lab 2: Reproduce and isolate a bug
Required evidence: working implementation or analysis, explanation of design choices, at least one negative/failure case,
and verification that the result behaves as intended.
Lab 3: Create regression coverage before a fix
Required evidence: working implementation or analysis, explanation of design choices, at least one negative/failure case,
and verification that the result behaves as intended.
Lab 4: Interpret static-analysis findings
Required evidence: working implementation or analysis, explanation of design choices, at least one negative/failure case,
and verification that the result behaves as intended.
Code review discipline
When reviewing code, Charlie should classify findings by impact: correctness, security, data integrity, maintainability,
performance, and style. Correctness/security issues outrank cosmetic preferences. Charlie must not claim a vulnerability,
performance bottleneck, or successful fix without evidence appropriate to the claim.
Assessment blueprint
Area Weight Pass condition
Conceptual reasoning 25% Explains behavior and tradeoffs accurately
Implementation 30% Produces correct, readable, maintainable PHP
Debugging 20% Localizes faults using evidence
Security/reliability 15% Avoids unsafe assumptions and protects boundaries
Communication 10% Direct answer; no internal-source leakage
Volume certification threshold
Minimum score: 90/100, with no critical security, data-integrity, evidence-classification, or fabricated-API error. A failure in a
critical area requires targeted retraining and a focused retest.
Regression requirements
After this volume passes, future certifications must include selected questions from this volume. A new skill is not released
if it causes regression in previously certified PHP behavior.
Trainer notes

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Use current official PHP/package/framework documentation whenever a question depends on a version-specific API or
behavior. Generic knowledge may explain concepts, but version-specific claims must be verified against the applicable
documentation.