Golden Images

TestAnyware boots every VM from a pre-built golden image. Golden image creation is a one-time setup step per platform and takes 10-40 minutes depending on the OS.

Shared properties (all platforms)

All golden images share these properties:

  • User — admin, with autologin to desktop session.
  • testanyware-agent — HTTP service on port 8648, started automatically on boot.
  • Solid gray wallpaper — clean background for screenshot analysis.
  • Notifications and widgets disabled — no visual clutter during tests.

macOS (testanyware-golden-macos-tahoe)

  • macOS Tahoe (Apple Silicon, via Cirrus Labs vanilla image).
  • Agent autostart — LaunchAgent at /usr/local/bin/testanyware-agent (label com.linkuistics.testanyware-agent).
  • Accessibility — TCC grant via system TCC database with code signing requirement (SIP disable/enable cycle during image creation).
  • Package manager — Homebrew (/opt/homebrew/bin/brew).
  • Dev tools — Xcode Command Line Tools (swift, clang, git, make).
  • SSH key auth — host's public key in authorized_keys (used during golden image creation).
  • Session restore disabled — apps don't reopen old windows.
  • SIP enabled — standard security posture after image creation.

Linux (testanyware-golden-linux-24.04)

  • Ubuntu 24.04 Desktop (ARM64, via Cirrus Labs vanilla image + ubuntu-desktop-minimal).
  • Agent autostart — systemd user service (testanyware-agent.service).
  • Accessibility — AT-SPI2 enabled, python3-pyatspi for bindings, xdotool for window management fallback.
  • Package manager — apt.
  • SSH key auth — host's public key in authorized_keys (used during golden image creation).
  • Silent boot — GRUB hidden, Plymouth splash, no text-mode console output.
  • Screen lock and blanking disabled — no interruptions during tests.
  • NetworkManager — configured via netplan (replaces systemd-networkd from base image).

Windows (testanyware-golden-windows-11)

  • Windows 11 Pro (ARM64, installed from Microsoft evaluation ISO via QEMU).
  • Agent autostart — Task Scheduler logon task (TestAnywareAgent).
  • Accessibility — UI Automation via FlaUI (built into Windows).
  • Package manager — Chocolatey.
  • No SSH — agent binary installed from autounattend media; all communication via agent HTTP.
  • First-logon animation disabled — clones boot straight to desktop without OOBE.
  • UEFI + TPM 2.0 — standard Windows 11 secure boot via swtpm.
  • VirtIO networking — virtio-net-pci driver installed during setup.

Creating the golden images

./provisioner/scripts/vm-create-golden-macos.sh
./provisioner/scripts/vm-create-golden-linux.sh

For Windows, first download the Windows 11 ARM64 ISO from Microsoft, then pass it to the script:

./provisioner/scripts/vm-create-golden-windows.sh --iso ~/Downloads/Win11_ARM64.iso

The ISO is cached after first use — subsequent runs don't need --iso. The Windows installation is fully automated via autounattend.xml (typical time: 20-40 minutes).

Where they live

  • macOS / Linux goldens: tart-managed, under ~/.tart/vms/.
  • Windows goldens: ${XDG_DATA_HOME:-~/.local/share}/testanyware/golden/.

Use testanyware vm list to see all goldens (tart + QEMU) and their running clones. Use testanyware vm delete <name> to remove one.