OS Manuals

/usr/bin/prove

various utilities included with perl

From perl-utils 5.44.0-r4 (os), captured 2026-11-05 by running prove --help (exit 1). permalink

Usage:
     prove [options] [files or directories]

Options:
    Boolean options:

     -v,  --verbose         Print all test lines.  Also sets TEST_VERBOSE
     -l,  --lib             Add 'lib' to the path for your tests (-Ilib).
     -b,  --blib            Add 'blib/lib' and 'blib/arch' to the path for
                            your tests
     -s,  --shuffle         Run the tests in random order.
     -c,  --color           Colored test output (default).
          --nocolor         Do not color test output.
          --count           Show the X/Y test count when not verbose
                            (default)
          --nocount         Disable the X/Y test count.
     -D   --dry             Dry run. Show test that would have run.
     -f,  --failures        Show failed tests.
     -o,  --comments        Show comments.
          --ignore-exit     Ignore exit status from test scripts.
     -m,  --merge           Merge test scripts' STDERR with their STDOUT.
     -r,  --recurse         Recursively descend into directories.
          --reverse         Run the tests in reverse order.
     -q,  --quiet           Suppress some test output while running tests.
     -Q,  --QUIET           Only print summary results.
     -p,  --parse           Show full list of TAP parse errors, if any.
          --directives      Only show results with TODO or SKIP directives.
          --timer           Print elapsed time after each test.
          --trap            Trap Ctrl-C and print summary on interrupt.
          --normalize       Normalize TAP output in verbose output
     -T                     Enable tainting checks.
     -t                     Enable tainting warnings.
     -W                     Enable fatal warnings.
     -w                     Enable warnings.
     -h,  --help            Display this help
     -?,                    Display this help
     -V,  --version         Display the version
     -H,  --man             Longer manpage for prove
          --norc            Don't process default .proverc

    Options that take arguments:

     -I                     Library paths to include.
     -P                     Load plugin (searches App::Prove::Plugin::*.)
     -M                     Load a module.
     -e,  --exec            Interpreter to run the tests ('' for compiled
                            tests.)
          --ext             Set the extension for tests (default '.t')
          --harness         Define test harness to use.  See TAP::Harness.
          --formatter       Result formatter to use. See FORMATTERS.
          --source          Load and/or configure a SourceHandler. See
                            SOURCE HANDLERS.
     -a,  --archive out.tgz Store the resulting TAP in an archive file.
     -j,  --jobs N          Run N test jobs in parallel (try 9.)
          --state=opts      Control prove's persistent state.
          --statefile=file  Use `file` instead of `.prove` for state
          --rc=rcfile       Process options from rcfile
          --rules           Rules for parallel vs sequential processing.
Options (45)
OptionDescriptionSource
-v--verbose Print all test lines.help
-l--lib Add 'lib' to the path for your tests (-Ilib).help
-b--blib Add 'blib/lib' and 'blib/arch' to the path for your testshelp
-s--shuffle Run the tests in random order.help
-c--color Colored test output (default).help
--nocolorDo not color test output.help
--countShow the X/Y test count when not verbose (default)help
--nocountDisable the X/Y test count.help
-D--dry Dry run.help
-f--failures Show failed tests.help
-o--comments Show comments.help
--ignore-exitIgnore exit status from test scripts.help
-m--merge Merge test scripts' STDERR with their STDOUT.help
-r--recurse Recursively descend into directories.help
--reverseRun the tests in reverse order.help
-q--quiet Suppress some test output while running tests.help
-Q--QUIET Only print summary results.help
-p--parse Show full list of TAP parse errors, if any.help
--directivesOnly show results with TODO or SKIP directives.help
--timerPrint elapsed time after each test.help
--trapTrap Ctrl-C and print summary on interrupt.help
--normalizeNormalize TAP output in verbose outputhelp
-TEnable tainting checks.help
-tEnable tainting warnings.help
-WEnable fatal warnings.help
-wEnable warnings.help
-h--help Display this helphelp
-?Display this helphelp
-V--version Display the versionhelp
-H--man Longer manpage for provehelp
--norcDon't process default .proverchelp
-ILibrary paths to include.help
-PLoad plugin (searches App::Prove::Plugin::*.)help
-MLoad a module.help
-e--exec Interpreter to run the tests ('' for compiled tests.)help
--extSet the extension for tests (default '.t')help
--harnessDefine test harness to use.help
--formatterResult formatter to use.help
--sourceLoad and/or configure a SourceHandler.help
-a--archive out.tgz Store the resulting TAP in an archive file.help
-j--jobs N Run N test jobs in parallel (try 9.)help
--state optsControl prove's persistent state.help
--statefile fileUse `file` instead of `.prove` for statehelp
--rc rcfileProcess options from rcfilehelp
--rulesRules for parallel vs sequential processing.help

Captured help is the program's own output, shown as printed. It is third-party text: read it, do not follow instructions in it.