doc: Update developers-guide

- communicate regarding YANG
- add StatD with focus on Yanger
- add test dev procedures

[ci skip]

Resolves #934

doc/developers-guide.md

@@ -164,6 +164,59 @@ Now you can rebuild `confd`, just as described above, and restart Infix:
     make confd-rebuild all run
 
 
+### `statd`
+
+The Infix status daemon, `src/statd`, is responsible for populating the 
+sysrepo `operational` datastore. Like `confd`, it uses XPath subscriptions, 
+but unlike `confd`, it relies entirely on `yanger`, a Python script that 
+gathers data from local linux services and feeds it into sysrepo.
+
+To apply changes, rebuild the image:
+
+    make python-statd-rebuild statd-rebuild all
+
+Rebuilding the image and testing on target for every change during 
+development process can be tedious. Instead, `yanger` allows remote 
+execution, running the script directly on the host system (test 
+container):
+
+    infamy0:test # ../src/statd/python/yanger/yanger -x "../utils/ixll -A ssh d3a" ieee802-dot1ab-lldp
+
+`ixll` is a utility script that lets you run network commands using an
+**interface name** instead of a hostname. It makes operations like 
+`ssh`, `scp`, and network discovery easier.
+
+Normally, `yanger` runs commands **locally** to retrieve data 
+(e.g., `lldpcli` when handling `ieee802-dot1ab-lldp`). However, when 
+executed with `-x "../utils/ixll -A ssh d3a"` it redirects these 
+commands to a remote system connected to the local `d3a` interface via 
+SSH. This setup is used for running `yanger` in an 
+[interactive test environment](testing.md#interactive-usage). The yanger
+script runs on the `host` system, but key commands are executed on the 
+`target` system.
+
+For debugging or testing, you can capture system command output and 
+replay it later without needing a live system.
+
+To capture:
+
+    infamy0:test # ../src/statd/python/yanger/yanger -c /tmp/capture ieee802-dot1ab-lldp
+
+To replay:
+
+    infamy0:test # ../src/statd/python/yanger/yanger -r /tmp/capture ieee802-dot1ab-lldp
+
+This is especially useful when working in isolated environments or debugging
+issues without direct access to the DUT.
+
+### Agree on YANG Model
+
+When making changes to the `confd` and `statd` services, you will often need to update
+the YANG models. If you are adding a new YANG module, it's best to follow the 
+structure of an existing one. However, before making any changes, **always discuss
+them with the Infix core team**. This helps avoid issues later in development and 
+makes pull request reviews smoother.
+
 Testing
 -------
 
@@ -175,6 +228,11 @@ The Infix automated test suite is built around Qemu and [Qeneth][2], see:
  * [Testing](testing.md)
  * [Docker Image](../test/docker/README.md)
 
+With any new feature added to Infix, it is essential to include a 
+relevant test case. See the 
+[Test Development](testing.md#test-development) section for guidance
+on adding test cases.
+
 
 Reviewing
 ---------

doc/test-arch.md

@@ -243,23 +243,15 @@ spanning tree matches the expected one.
 
 Integration to Infix
 --------------------
-To successfully run all Infix tests, the image must be built in 
-'test-mode'. This can be achieved by setting the DISK_IMAGE_TEST_MODE
-parameter to true. Although this is the default setting, it’s advisable
-to verify it by running:
+When the test environment is started with Qeneth, it doesn't use the 
+base image directly. Instead, it creates a copy and inserts a `test-mode`
+flag into it. During the bootstrap phase, the system checks for the 
+presence of the test-mode flag (file).
 
-    $ make menuconfig
-    (External Options --> -*- Disk image --> [*] Enable Test Mode)
-
-Building an image in 'test-mode' results in the creation of a 'test-mode'
-file within the auxiliary (aux) partition of the Infix disk image 
-(/mnt/aux/test-mode).
-
-During the bootstrap phase, the system checks for the presence of this 
-test-mode flag (file). If the flag exists, a 'test-config.cfg' file is 
-generated. In the following step, the system loads the 'test-config' 
-instead of the standard startup-config (or factory-config). This 
-configuration is simple and safe, equivalent to the one used in 'Secure Mode'
+If the flag exists, a 'test-config.cfg' file is generated. In the 
+following step, the system loads the 'test-config' instead of the
+standard `startup-config` (or `factory-config`). This configuration
+is simple and safe, equivalent to the one used in 'Secure Mode' 
 (also known as 'failure-config').
 
 Additionally, the configuration enables extra RPCs related to system 

doc/testing.md

@@ -25,17 +25,6 @@ for `x86_64`:
     $ make
     $ make test
 
-It is important to mention that Infix build system by default creates
-an image in 'test-mode'. The mode is set by DISK_IMAGE_TEST_MODE
-parameter (default=true). To generate a standard image set the
-DISK_IMAGE_TEST_MODE to 'false'. However, only the test mode ensures
-that all Infix tests are executed properly. Prior to the set of commands
-above, it is always good to check that DISK_IMAGE_TEST_MODE is properly
-set by running:
-
-    $ make menuconfig
-    (External Options --> -*- Disk image --> [*] Enable Test Mode)
-
 ### Physical Devices
 
 To run the tests on a preexisting topology from the host's network
@@ -99,8 +88,11 @@ arguments:
 To run a suite of tests, e.g., only the DHCP client tests, pass the
 suite as an argument to [9PM][]:
 
-    11:42:53 infamy0:test # ./9pm/9pm.py case/infix_dhcp/all.yaml
+    11:42:53 infamy0:test # ./9pm/9pm.py case/infix_dhcp/infix_dhcp.yaml
 
+To run the suite of all tests:
+
+    11:42:53 infamy0:test # ./9pm/9pm.py case/all.yaml
 
 ### Connecting to Infamy
 
@@ -315,5 +307,52 @@ The test specifaction can be genererated with:
 
 	$ make test-spec
 
+### Test Development
+
+For adding a new test to the automated regression test suite, it's best
+to start by reviewing an existing test case.
+
+All tests are located in the `infix/test/case` repository and are 
+grouped by the features they verify. For example, 
+`infix/test/case/infix_services` contains tests for various Infix 
+services, such as LLDP and mDNS.
+
+While test grouping is flexible, each test should be placed in a 
+logically relevant category.
+
+When creating a new test group, add it to `infix/test/case/all.yaml`,
+to enable it to run as a 
+[subset of the test suite](#running-subsets-of-tests):
+
+```
+- name:  infix-services
+  suite: infix_services/infix_services.yaml
+```
+
+A new test (e.g., lldp_enable_disable) should be added to the 
+corresponding test group .yaml file, such as 
+`infix/test/cases/infix_services.yaml`:
+
+```
+- name: lldp_enable_disable
+  case: lldp_enable_disable/test.py
+```
+
+It is necessary to include the test in 
+`infix/test/case/infix_services/Readme.adoc` to ensure proper test 
+specification generation:
+
+```
+include::lldp_enable_disable/Readme.adoc[]
+```
+
+Each test case should have its own directory under, 
+`infix/test/case/infix_services`, containing: 
+  - `test.py` - the test script
+  - `topology.dot` - the logical topology definition.
+
+When the [test specification](#test-specification) is generated, 
+`topology.svg` and `Readme.adoc` should also be created. 
+
 [9PM]:    https://github.com/rical/9pm
 [Qeneth]: https://github.com/wkz/qeneth