I'm using mocha-steps to build test sequens. In my case i have, let's call them "main", test and several sub-tests for each of them. Looks like:

1. Test 1
   
   
   • sub-test
   
   
   • sub-test
   
   


2. Test 2
   
   
   • sub-test
   
   
   • sub-test
   
   

step("Test 1", () => )
describe("Sub-test 1", () => 
 it("Sub-Test 1", () => )
 it("Sub-Test 1", () => )
)
step("Test 2", () => )
describe("Sub-test 2", () => 
 it("Sub-Test 2", () => )
 it("Sub-Test 2", () => )
)

So i expect them to run as written, but actually its:

✓ Test 1
✓ Test 2
 Sub-test 1
 ✓ Sub-Test 1
 ✓ Sub-Test 1
 Sub-test 2
 ✓ Sub-Test 2
 ✓ Sub-Test 2

In this case if "Test 2" fails, Sub-test won't run at all, but i need "Sub-test 1" to be completed because they depends only on "Test 1" and not "Test 2"

I tried to separate all test in different "describes", but then "step" does not work at all

My Solution:

I found that default way mocha execute describe is:

• other code


• it


• describe

This behavior defined in mocha/lib/runner.js
So i found nothing else then redefine runner (and Suite) myself after mocha is required

I still want to find solution without changing mocha's code.
If someone interested in, i can paste code on gist for example.

Nest them and set a flag when step 1 is successful, then assert on that flag in step 2:

const assert = require('assert');

let step1Success = false;
describe('Test 1', function () 
 step('Test 1', function () 
 // ... Test 1 code
 step1Success = true;
 )
 describe('Sub-test 1', function () 
 it('Sub-Test 1', function () )
 it('Sub-Test 1', function () )
 )
)
describe('Test 2', function () 
 step('Test 2', function () 
 assert.ok(step1Success);
 // ... Test 2 code
 )
 describe('Sub-test 2', function () 
 it('Sub-Test 2', function () )
 it('Sub-Test 2', function () )
 )
)

Details

"Any failing step will abort the parent describe immediately" so a failure in either step will abort its parent describe and not run the associated sub-tests.

In addition, if 'Test 1' does not complete then the flag will not be set and step 2 will fail immediately.

(Normal functions used since "passing arrow functions (aka "lambdas") to Mocha is discouraged")