Python Jira API: Updating Test Execution Status

Other Questions Jira
1

Attempting to update a Jira test execution from ‘TODO’ to ‘PASS’ returns a 401 error. Below is an alternate Python code sample:

import requests

BASE_URL = 'https://jira.example.com'
USERNAME = 'user_example'
API_KEY = 'token_example'
ISSUE_ID = 'RO-6665'

headers = {'Content-Type': 'application/json'}
auth_credentials = (USERNAME, API_KEY)

def get_issue_status(issue):
    url = f"{BASE_URL}/rest/api/3/issue/{issue}"
    resp = requests.get(url, headers=headers, auth=auth_credentials)
    return resp.json() if resp.status_code == 200 else None

def change_status(issue, target):
    transition_url = f"{BASE_URL}/rest/api/3/issue/{issue}/transitions"
    resp = requests.get(transition_url, headers=headers, auth=auth_credentials)
    if resp.status_code == 200:
        for trans in resp.json().get('transitions', []):
            if trans.get('to', {}).get('name') == target:
                payload = {'transition': {'id': trans['id']}}
                result = requests.post(transition_url, json=payload, headers=headers, auth=auth_credentials)
                return result.status_code == 204
    return False

issue_info = get_issue_status(ISSUE_ID)
if issue_info and issue_info['fields']['status']['name'] == 'TODO':
    if change_status(ISSUE_ID, 'PASS'):
        print('Status successfully updated.')
    else:
        print('Status update failed.')
else:
    print('Issue is not in the expected status.')
2

hey, try verifying that your api token and user perms allows transitions. i had similar issues when i forgot to update the trans id or use the proper endpoint. might be a permissions problem too

3

Based on my experience, I found that a 401 error during a status transition often indicates an issue with how the authentication is handled. I’ve had success by double-checking that the endpoint used for transitions matches the Jira API documentation and that the credentials are correctly formatted. It might help to try a simple GET request on the transitions endpoint to confirm that you have access before proceeding with the POST call. Reviewing the Jira configuration settings may also reveal missing permissions, so ensure that the user has the necessary rights for executing transitions.

4

In my experience, a 401 error often stems from subtle discrepancies between the expected authentication setup and what is actually provided. After spending some time checking my configuration, I realized that it was not merely a token issue, but rather an oversight in the format in which the credentials were being transmitted. I revised the authentication method to strictly follow the guidance in the latest Jira API documentation and added a simple diagnostic GET to the transitions endpoint to verify access. This approach helped isolate the exact point of failure and led me to review the token’s creation process as well as permissions assigned to the user in Jira. Identifying these details earlier helped me save time and provided clarity on how robust authentication checks can prevent similar issues in the future.

5

hey, try re-checkin your api token and cache issues too. sometimes i had a 401 because of token caching or slight config errors in the endpoint url. make sure every detail, even typos, is sorted.