How to use debian/tests/test_modules/ "correctly"?

[Julian Gilbey <julian@d-and-j.net>]

Hi!

I'm trying to package tape-catch (a test-time dependency of
gulp-uglify).  It has a test-time dependency run-series, which is
sufficiently small that it does not seem worth building a separate
package for it.

One of the guidelines on the Wiki
(https://wiki.debian.org/Javascript/GroupSourcesTutorial) says:

  "if component is a test dependency or a build dependency (that does
  not inject code) and/or if your main component has more dependencies
  than this component, don't export it, neither install it"

so I don't think I should export or install run-series.

But now I'm stuck and can't figure out how to package tape-catch:

* If I add run-series as a component, so it's listed in d/watch, then
  it has to be installed at the top level

* If I want to run run-series's tests, I have to include it in
  d/nodejs/additional_components

* If I don't want it installed, I have to have a blank
  d/nodejs/submodules file

* But then autopkgtest fails because it can't find run-series

An alternative is that I unpack the run-series package into
d/tests/test_modules/ and don't use the components facility of dpkg,
or list it in d/watch or in d/nodejs/additional_components.  I also
then cannot run the tests for run-series.

A third alternative is that I install it under tape-catch, but don't
export or install it as a top-level module.  But that seems wrong, as
it's only needed for running tests.

What would you suggest I do in this case?

Best wishes, from a confused

   Julian