Mocha timeout issue when running Zapier platform tests

[elizabeths]

I keep running into timeout problems when testing my Zapier integration. The error happens frequently but not every single time I execute the test command. Sometimes adding debug flags helps but not consistently.

Here’s my test setup:

const should = require('should');
const zapier = require('zapier-platform-core');
const MyApp = require('../app');
const testRunner = zapier.createAppTester(MyApp);

describe('My Custom Auth Integration', () => {
  it('should validate API credentials successfully', (done) => {
    const testBundle = {
      authData: {
        apiKey: 'test123',
        secretKey: 'secret456',
        clientCode: '789'
      }
    };

    testRunner(MyApp.authentication.test, testBundle)
      .then((result) => {
        result.status.should.eql(200);
        done();
      })
      .catch(done);
  });
});

The error message I get is:

Error: Timeout of 2000ms exceeded. For async tests and hooks, ensure “done()” is called; if returning a Promise, ensure it resolves

I tried using this.timeout(5000) before defining my test bundle but got an error saying timeout is not a function.

Here’s my authentication module:

const validateCredentials = (z, bundle) => {
  return z.request({
    url: `https://api.example.com/v1/account/${bundle.authData.clientCode}/info`
  }).then((result) => {
    if (result.status === 401) {
      throw new Error('Invalid API credentials provided');
    }
    return result;
  });
};

module.exports = {
  type: 'custom',
  fields: [
    {
      key: 'apiKey',
      label: 'API Key',
      required: true,
      type: 'string'
    },
    {
      key: 'secretKey',
      label: 'Secret Key',
      required: true,
      type: 'string'
    },
    {
      key: 'clientCode',
      label: 'Client Code',
      required: true,
      type: 'string'
    }
  ],
  test: validateCredentials,
  connectionLabel: 'API Connection Test'
};

Any ideas on how to fix this timeout issue?

[marcoMingle]

The Problem:

You’re experiencing timeout errors when testing your Zapier integrations using the Zapier CLI. The zapier test command is timing out before your asynchronous requests complete, returning the error “Error: Timeout of 2000ms exceeded.” This is particularly frustrating because the timeout occurs inconsistently, sometimes working and other times failing. This suggests an issue with how your asynchronous code handles network requests and the inherent limitations of Zapier’s testing environment’s short timeout.

Understanding the “Why” (The Root Cause):

Zapier’s default timeout for zapier test is 2000ms, which is often insufficient for network requests, especially when dealing with external APIs or slow network connections. Your asynchronous code using z.request returns a Promise, and if the Promise isn’t handled correctly (e.g., by using .then() to wait for the result before the function exits), the zapier test command will time out prematurely. The inconsistent nature of the timeout likely stems from variations in network latency and API response times.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Increase the Timeout: The most direct solution is to increase the timeout duration for your tests. You attempted to use this.timeout(5000), but this won’t work directly within the context of an arrow function because arrow functions do not have their own this context. Instead, use a regular function declaration for your test case and set the timeout within that function.

describe('My Custom Auth Integration', () => {
  it('should validate API credentials successfully', function(done) { // Use a regular function
    this.timeout(10000); // Set timeout to 10 seconds

    const testBundle = {
      authData: {
        apiKey: 'test123',
        secretKey: 'secret456',
        clientCode: '789'
      }
    };

    testRunner(MyApp.authentication.test, testBundle)
      .then((result) => {
        result.status.should.eql(200);
        done();
      })
      .catch(done);
  });
});

2. Add a Timeout to z.request: For even more robust handling, add a timeout directly to the z.request options within your validateCredentials function:

const validateCredentials = (z, bundle) => {
  return z.request({
    url: `https://api.example.com/v1/account/${bundle.authData.clientCode}/info`,
    timeout: 8000 // 8-second timeout
  }).then((result) => {
    if (result.status === 401) {
      throw new Error('Invalid API credentials provided');
    }
    return result;
  });
};

This ensures that individual requests will time out gracefully, preventing your entire test from hanging.

3. Implement Retry Logic (Advanced): For highly unreliable network conditions, consider adding retry logic with exponential backoff. This involves adding code to automatically retry failed requests after increasing delays. This is more advanced but can significantly improve robustness.

Common Pitfalls & What to Check Next:

• API Availability: Confirm that the https://api.example.com API is consistently available and responding within a reasonable timeframe. Network issues on the API side can manifest as random timeouts.
• Network Connectivity: Ensure that your testing environment has a stable network connection. Intermittent connectivity problems can lead to inconsistent timeout behavior.
• Zapier’s Testing Environment: Remember that Zapier’s testing environment may differ slightly from a production environment. Test your integration in a staging environment before deploying to production to identify potential environmental issues.

Still running into issues? Share your (sanitized) config files, the exact command you ran, and any other relevant details. The community is here to help!

[avamtz]

try using a beforeEach to set the timeout, instead of calling this.timeout directly. also, check if your API endpoint is responding; sometimes the external service could be slow or down, which may lead to those random timeouts.

[Harry47]

I’ve hit the same timeout issues with Zapier tests. The default 2000ms is way too short for network requests. Don’t use this.timeout(5000) outside the test - put it inside the actual function:

it('should validate API credentials successfully', function(done) {
  this.timeout(10000); // Set timeout to 10 seconds
  // rest of your test code
});

Switched to a regular function since arrow functions don’t have their own this context. Also add error handling to your validateCredentials function - network issues can cause hanging requests. Adding a request timeout in z.request options helps too.

[John_Fast]

I hit this exact same issue with external APIs in Zapier tests. Your z.request probably doesn’t have a timeout set, and the API’s taking too long to respond. Just add a timeout to your z.request options in validateCredentials:

return z.request({
  url: `https://api.example.com/v1/account/${bundle.authData.clientCode}/info`,
  timeout: 8000 // 8 second timeout
})

Since it’s happening randomly, you’re probably dealing with network latency. I added retry logic with exponential backoff and that fixed most of these flaky timeouts. Zapier’s platform has connectivity hiccups sometimes that cause random failures even when your code’s fine.