From 9f127c5378e1c6d961a1ebc717559478a52f1592 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: swapnil <78632212+swapnilpaliwal-sd@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2026 12:44:01 -0700
Subject: [PATCH] test-impact: a helper beside the tests is the route, not a
 test; far tests listed apart

- A JavaScript / TypeScript function is never a test by its name (runners collect the callback handed to
  test()/it()), and a module-level Python test_* function counts only in a module pytest collects: a
  helper in test/helpers.js or tests/helpers.py was "1 test" in a file no runner collects.
- impact marks each test with loads_change: whether its file (or the fixture / conftest files its runner
  loads) imports the changed file, through the import closure.
- test-impact lists first the files that load the change within 3 hops, then "further out" the rest (a
  key or registration joins them, or the route is long), with its own run command.
- imports_fact resolves an ES module import written with its extension and a workspace package's
  specifier (package.json exports / main); IMPACT_VERSION 63.
- The import-time hop no longer fires from the module that merely declares a const asked about: its
  readers resolve, and every importer's module was listed again (exposed once .js imports resolved).

Co-authored-by: axiomcode-bot[bot] <334110751+axiomcode-bot[bot]@users.noreply.github.com>
---
 .../skills/axiomcode/scripts/ax_grep.py       | 17 +++-
 .../skills/axiomcode/scripts/axiomcode-impact | 95 ++++++++++++++++++-
 .../axiomcode/scripts/axiomcode-test-impact   | 38 +++++++-
 .../skills/axiomcode/scripts/dl/impact.dl     |  9 +-
 .../skills/axiomcode/scripts/graph_sql.py     | 16 ++++
 .../case.json                                 | 18 ++++
 .../package.json                              |  1 +
 .../packages/topics/index.js                  |  1 +
 .../packages/topics/package.json              |  1 +
 .../services/api/package.json                 |  1 +
 .../services/api/src/api.js                   |  3 +
 .../services/api/test/api.test.js             |  6 ++
 .../services/producer/package.json            |  1 +
 .../services/producer/src/service.js          | 10 ++
 .../services/producer/test/service.test.js    |  7 ++
 .../services/search/package.json              |  2 +
 .../services/search/src/handlers.js           |  6 ++
 .../services/search/src/index.js              | 10 ++
 .../services/search/src/indexer.js            |  1 +
 .../services/search/src/pipeline.js           |  7 ++
 .../services/search/test/helpers.js           |  7 ++
 .../services/search/test/indexer.test.js      |  6 ++
 .../services/search/test/pipeline.test.js     |  6 ++
 .../services/search/test/search.test.js       |  6 ++
 tests/cases/python/conftest-fixture/case.json |  9 +-
 tests/cases/python/conftest-fixture/lib.py    |  4 +
 .../python/conftest-fixture/tests/helpers.py  |  6 ++
 .../conftest-fixture/tests/test_total.py      |  5 +
 28 files changed, 284 insertions(+), 15 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/case.json
 create mode 100644 tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/package.json
 create mode 100644 tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/packages/topics/index.js
 create mode 100644 tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/packages/topics/package.json
 create mode 100644 tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/api/package.json
 create mode 100644 tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/api/src/api.js
 create mode 100644 tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/api/test/api.test.js
 create mode 100644 tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/producer/package.json
 create mode 100644 tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/producer/src/service.js
 create mode 100644 tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/producer/test/service.test.js
 create mode 100644 tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/search/package.json
 create mode 100644 tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/search/src/handlers.js
 create mode 100644 tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/search/src/index.js
 create mode 100644 tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/search/src/indexer.js
 create mode 100644 tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/search/src/pipeline.js
 create mode 100644 tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/search/test/helpers.js
 create mode 100644 tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/search/test/indexer.test.js
 create mode 100644 tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/search/test/pipeline.test.js
 create mode 100644 tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/search/test/search.test.js
 create mode 100644 tests/cases/python/conftest-fixture/tests/helpers.py
 create mode 100644 tests/cases/python/conftest-fixture/tests/test_total.py

diff --git a/plugins/axiomcode/skills/axiomcode/scripts/ax_grep.py b/plugins/axiomcode/skills/axiomcode/scripts/ax_grep.py
index 33c4e80b5..5e4d56383 100644
--- a/plugins/axiomcode/skills/axiomcode/scripts/ax_grep.py
+++ b/plugins/axiomcode/skills/axiomcode/scripts/ax_grep.py
@@ -142,8 +142,13 @@ def more(k, n=1): rest[k] = rest.get(k, 0) + n
         row = ('module' if mod else 'reached', site(code, r['at'], f"hop {r['hops']}" + (' · module scope' if mod else '') +
                                                      (' · test' if r.get('test') else '') + stale(r), r['display']))
         (modules if mod else rows).append(row)
-    for r, k in per_test_file(d.get('tests', [])):
-        rows.append(('test', site(code, r['at'], f"test · {TAG.get(r.get('certainty'), r.get('certainty'))} · hop {r['hops']}" + more_in_file(k) + stale(r), r['display'])))
+    # a test file that loads the changed file before one that never imports it (impact's loads_change)
+    far_files = {f for f in {(t.get('at') or '').rpartition(':')[0] for t in d.get('tests', [])}
+                 if all(t.get('loads_change') is False for t in d.get('tests', []) if (t.get('at') or '').rpartition(':')[0] == f)}
+    near_some = any(t.get('loads_change') is not False for t in d.get('tests', []))
+    for r, k in sorted(per_test_file(d.get('tests', [])), key=lambda rk: near_some and rk[0]['at'].rpartition(':')[0] in far_files):
+        far = ' · further out: never imports the change' if near_some and r['at'].rpartition(':')[0] in far_files else ''
+        rows.append(('test', site(code, r['at'], f"test · {TAG.get(r.get('certainty'), r.get('certainty'))} · hop {r['hops']}" + far + more_in_file(k) + stale(r), r['display'])))
     for r in d.get('stub_tests', []):
         rows.append(('stub', site(code, r['at'], f"test · stubs it{stale(r)}", r['display'])))
     # a test file's top level is already its test row above
@@ -238,8 +243,13 @@ def test_impact(d, code):
     rows = []
     for f in d.get('edited_test_files', []):
         rows.append(('test', f"{f}:1: (edited test file)  [test · edited]"))
+    # the tests that load the changed file first; a file further out (it never imports the change, or reaches it only
+    # many hops away) after them, said so
+    further = set(d.get('further_test_files') or [])
     for t, k in per_test_file(d.get('tests', [])):
-        rows.append(('test', ev(site(code, t['at'], f"test · {TAG.get(t.get('certainty'), t.get('certainty'))} · hop {t['hops']}{more_in_file(k)}{stale(t)}", t['display']), t)))
+        far = (' · further out: never imports the change' if t.get('loads_change') is False else ' · further out') \
+            if (t.get('at') or '').rpartition(':')[0] in further else ''
+        rows.append(('test', ev(site(code, t['at'], f"test · {TAG.get(t.get('certainty'), t.get('certainty'))} · hop {t['hops']}{far}{more_in_file(k)}{stale(t)}", t['display']), t)))
     # a changed file no graph follows (a script, a fixture) is run by the test files that name it in their text
     names = {}
     for f, v in (d.get('named_in_test_text') or {}).items():
@@ -249,6 +259,7 @@ def test_impact(d, code):
         rows.append(('text test', f"{t}:1: (names {', '.join(dict.fromkeys(ns))})  [test · text]"))
     foot = ev_foot(d)
     if d.get('command'): foot.append(f"run: {d['command']}")
+    if d.get('command_further'): foot.append(f"run: (then, further out) {d['command_further']}")
     if d.get('bound'): foot.append(f"bound: {d['bound']}")
     return rows, {}, foot
 
diff --git a/plugins/axiomcode/skills/axiomcode/scripts/axiomcode-impact b/plugins/axiomcode/skills/axiomcode/scripts/axiomcode-impact
index c46974568..a7fd4f7ae 100755
--- a/plugins/axiomcode/skills/axiomcode/scripts/axiomcode-impact
+++ b/plugins/axiomcode/skills/axiomcode/scripts/axiomcode-impact
@@ -827,14 +827,56 @@ class Impact:
                     # member of it, so every prefix is tried, longest first.
                     parts = cand.split('.')
                     tgt = next((mod[p] for p in ('.'.join(parts[:k]) for k in range(len(parts), 0, -1)) if p in mod), None)
+                elif raw.startswith('.'):
+                    tgt = self._js_file(os.path.normpath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(f), raw)), byfile)
                 else:
-                    if not raw.startswith('.'): continue          # a package, not a file in this repository
-                    base = os.path.normpath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(f), raw))
-                    tgt = next((c for c in (base + e for e in ('.ts', '.tsx', '.js', '.jsx', '.mjs', '.cjs',
-                                                               '/index.ts', '/index.tsx', '/index.js')) if c in byfile), None)
+                    tgt = self._workspace_import(raw, byfile)     # a package of this repository (a workspace), else none
                 if tgt and tgt != f: out.add((f, tgt))
         return sorted(out)
 
+    JS_RESOLVE = ('', '.ts', '.tsx', '.js', '.jsx', '.mjs', '.cjs', '/index.ts', '/index.tsx', '/index.js', '/index.mjs')
+
+    def _js_file(self, base, byfile):
+        # an ES module names the file with its extension (`./a.js`), and TypeScript writes `./a.js` for `./a.ts`
+        stems = [base] + ([base[:-len(x)] for x in ('.js', '.mjs', '.cjs', '.jsx') if base.endswith(x)][:1])
+        return next((c for s in stems for c in (s + e for e in self.JS_RESOLVE) if c in byfile), None)
+
+    def _workspace_import(self, spec, byfile):
+        """the file a bare specifier names when it is a PACKAGE OF THIS REPOSITORY (a monorepo workspace: `@acme/bus`,
+        `@acme/bus/kafka`), read the way node reads it: the package.json `exports` entry for the subpath, else `main` /
+        `module`, else its index. A package installed from a registry has no package.json here and names no file."""
+        if not hasattr(self, '_pkgs'):
+            self._pkgs = {}
+            for d in sorted({os.path.dirname(f) for f in byfile}):
+                while d and d not in self._pkgs:
+                    try:
+                        with open(os.path.join(self.g.repo, d, 'package.json'), encoding='utf-8', errors='replace') as h: pj = json.load(h)
+                    except (OSError, ValueError):
+                        pj = None
+                    self._pkgs[d] = pj if isinstance(pj, dict) and isinstance(pj.get('name'), str) else None
+                    d = os.path.dirname(d)
+            self._pkg_by_name = {pj['name']: (d, pj) for d, pj in sorted(self._pkgs.items()) if pj}
+        name = '/'.join(spec.split('/')[:2 if spec.startswith('@') else 1])
+        if name not in self._pkg_by_name: return None
+        d, pj = self._pkg_by_name[name]
+        sub = '.' + spec[len(name):]
+        def pick(v):                                     # a conditional export: the first condition that names a path
+            if isinstance(v, str): return v
+            if isinstance(v, dict):
+                for k in ('import', 'node', 'require', 'default', *v.keys()):
+                    p = pick(v.get(k)) if k in v else None
+                    if p: return p
+            return None
+        ex = pj.get('exports')
+        if isinstance(ex, dict) and any(k.startswith('.') for k in ex):
+            entry = pick(ex.get(sub))
+        elif sub == '.':
+            entry = pick(ex) or pj.get('module') or pj.get('main') or 'index'
+        else:
+            entry = sub
+        if not entry: return None
+        return self._js_file(os.path.normpath(os.path.join(d, entry)), byfile)
+
     def _nonsource(self):
         """the non-source scan, cached per graph (ax_nonsource.py): a query opens only the files that changed since the
         last one read them, and searches only those whose words include a name asked for. AXIOMCODE_NO_SCAN_CACHE=1
@@ -1269,7 +1311,7 @@ class Impact:
         W('cs_fixture_type', sorted(x for x in fixt if not x[0].startswith('collection:')))
 
     # ── facts: the graph, exported once (reused while graph.sqlite is unchanged) ────────────────────────────────
-    IMPACT_VERSION = '62'        # 62: state_gate, state_gate_alloc, state_call_alloc, state_call_open, state_world, the callbacks one instance was given and the allocation each caller's receiver may be (JavaScript instance-state.dl); 61: filter_run, a servlet filter a test's context holds (added to HttpSecurity in a configuration the test loads, or a component) and the test methods that send a request through it; 57: a TypeScript object literal key is a ref of entity kind OBJECT_PROPERTY_KEY, kept past a bound access on its line; 56: reg_key_fact carries a handler table's entries (kind table), literal a table key written as a dotted string or through a constant, and test_code; 55: cs_data_source, cs_data_type, cs_fixture_type, the C# test links a runner makes from a data attribute or a class/collection fixture (#1498, #1499); 53: implicit_new, the type a C# `new T()` constructs where T writes no constructor (#1473); 52: test_method holds a method under a composed or derived test marker declared in the repository (a Java annotation meta-annotated @Test, a C# attribute derived from FactAttribute: #1418, #1497; 51 was the C# test-links branch's number, landed as 55); 48: sigtype, a parameter / return position type_use resolves to a type, read before the textuse grep (#1422), and persist_field, the properties a persistence query reads (#1461); 47: test_method / fixture from graph_sql's one classification (a tear-down such as @AfterEach or [TestCleanup] is a fixture, [TestInitialize] is no test, an @Override is no named test: #1417 #1419 #1502), and reg_key_fact drops a string a decoration does not register under (#1413); 46: accessor carries the wither and an isX boolean's setX / withX, and a generated builder or fluent setter the engine resolved is a writer (#1404, #1409); 45: runs_before, a C# set-up an NUnit [SetUpFixture] or an MSTest assembly initializer runs for tests outside its type (#1501), stub rows for a member a Moq Protected() setup names by string (#1540), cs_config_literal for a Section:Key configuration key (#1443), and lex_parent puts a lambda under the declaration on its own line (#1556); 44: a C# MEMBER_ACCESS ref is qualified, so its qualifier decides (#1445); 41: spawns_fact, a test that runs a script by its path (ax_spawn.py); 40: test_method holds a script test's module (a test-tree file run as a program, no framework: graph_sql.script_tests); 39: a chained route link's `calls` row and `registration` label sit on the link's own line, with its own verb and path; 38: reg_key_fact drops a decoration string with a space in it (a description, not a key); 37: via_base / via_site, a caller that reaches a declaration through a base it is override-equivalent to (#1542), and injected_bean, the bean an injection point was wired to (#1384); 36: handoff_at, route_arg, callable_const, init_wrapper, init_alias, returns_fn — a const holding a wrapped handler registered at a route; 35: 0.1.5's 33 (#1598, the defines edges the path export links) joined 0.1.6's 33, two different fact sets under one number; 33 (0.1.6): calls carries the tier "stub" for a call inside a mock's stub or verification, reg_verb / lit_verb join a route by its HTTP method, and a handler's route joins its type's prefix; 32: cert_tier's why is worded per tier (an event_dispatch row says it sends the request or event), and the route facts #1633 changed (#1510), which merged without a bump; 31: event_dispatch edges (a published event reaches its listeners, #1391) and the pytest fixture_injection reading (#1631) change impact's facts; 30: registers, a bean another class's annotation registers (#1396, #1414); 29: the edges it links from the path export changed (#1402), and a cache written before it must not survive; 28: reexport_from, the file an `export *` line re-exports; 27: framework, the engine's framework_edge (#1509); 24: the test* naming convention requires a test class as owner (#1181); 23: owner/member disambiguated by file, two classes of one name no longer merging (#1188); 22: lex_parent, the innermost declaration enclosing each one by span (#1183); 21: cert_tier, the tier -> certainty table the call rules join on (#1131); 20: faccess, the engine's resolved field accesses (#1071); 3: decl_file facts (the import-time test-file rule); 14: the registration-key
+    IMPACT_VERSION = '63'        # 63: imports_fact resolves an import written with its extension and a workspace package's specifier, and test_method takes no JavaScript / TypeScript helper by its name; 62: state_gate, state_gate_alloc, state_call_alloc, state_call_open, state_world, the callbacks one instance was given and the allocation each caller's receiver may be (JavaScript instance-state.dl); 61: filter_run, a servlet filter a test's context holds (added to HttpSecurity in a configuration the test loads, or a component) and the test methods that send a request through it; 57: a TypeScript object literal key is a ref of entity kind OBJECT_PROPERTY_KEY, kept past a bound access on its line; 56: reg_key_fact carries a handler table's entries (kind table), literal a table key written as a dotted string or through a constant, and test_code; 55: cs_data_source, cs_data_type, cs_fixture_type, the C# test links a runner makes from a data attribute or a class/collection fixture (#1498, #1499); 53: implicit_new, the type a C# `new T()` constructs where T writes no constructor (#1473); 52: test_method holds a method under a composed or derived test marker declared in the repository (a Java annotation meta-annotated @Test, a C# attribute derived from FactAttribute: #1418, #1497; 51 was the C# test-links branch's number, landed as 55); 48: sigtype, a parameter / return position type_use resolves to a type, read before the textuse grep (#1422), and persist_field, the properties a persistence query reads (#1461); 47: test_method / fixture from graph_sql's one classification (a tear-down such as @AfterEach or [TestCleanup] is a fixture, [TestInitialize] is no test, an @Override is no named test: #1417 #1419 #1502), and reg_key_fact drops a string a decoration does not register under (#1413); 46: accessor carries the wither and an isX boolean's setX / withX, and a generated builder or fluent setter the engine resolved is a writer (#1404, #1409); 45: runs_before, a C# set-up an NUnit [SetUpFixture] or an MSTest assembly initializer runs for tests outside its type (#1501), stub rows for a member a Moq Protected() setup names by string (#1540), cs_config_literal for a Section:Key configuration key (#1443), and lex_parent puts a lambda under the declaration on its own line (#1556); 44: a C# MEMBER_ACCESS ref is qualified, so its qualifier decides (#1445); 41: spawns_fact, a test that runs a script by its path (ax_spawn.py); 40: test_method holds a script test's module (a test-tree file run as a program, no framework: graph_sql.script_tests); 39: a chained route link's `calls` row and `registration` label sit on the link's own line, with its own verb and path; 38: reg_key_fact drops a decoration string with a space in it (a description, not a key); 37: via_base / via_site, a caller that reaches a declaration through a base it is override-equivalent to (#1542), and injected_bean, the bean an injection point was wired to (#1384); 36: handoff_at, route_arg, callable_const, init_wrapper, init_alias, returns_fn — a const holding a wrapped handler registered at a route; 35: 0.1.5's 33 (#1598, the defines edges the path export links) joined 0.1.6's 33, two different fact sets under one number; 33 (0.1.6): calls carries the tier "stub" for a call inside a mock's stub or verification, reg_verb / lit_verb join a route by its HTTP method, and a handler's route joins its type's prefix; 32: cert_tier's why is worded per tier (an event_dispatch row says it sends the request or event), and the route facts #1633 changed (#1510), which merged without a bump; 31: event_dispatch edges (a published event reaches its listeners, #1391) and the pytest fixture_injection reading (#1631) change impact's facts; 30: registers, a bean another class's annotation registers (#1396, #1414); 29: the edges it links from the path export changed (#1402), and a cache written before it must not survive; 28: reexport_from, the file an `export *` line re-exports; 27: framework, the engine's framework_edge (#1509); 24: the test* naming convention requires a test class as owner (#1181); 23: owner/member disambiguated by file, two classes of one name no longer merging (#1188); 22: lex_parent, the innermost declaration enclosing each one by span (#1183); 21: cert_tier, the tier -> certainty table the call rules join on (#1131); 20: faccess, the engine's resolved field accesses (#1071); 3: decl_file facts (the import-time test-file rule); 14: the registration-key
     #    layer; 15: the registration facts (two 14s landed independently, which is exactly the collision this
     #    guards); 16: regsite folded into ax_registration's reg_key_fact; 20: implements_pair (#1011); 17/18: the tagged-template test registrar
     #    (it.each`…`) and its table span
@@ -2736,6 +2778,43 @@ def main(argv):
     # framework's, not an edge, which is why `chains` (verified hop by hop below) keeps the test's own chain.
     def test_route(m, fx):
         return [m] + I.chain(fx, parent) if fx else chains.get(m, [])
+    # DOES THE TEST LOAD THE CHANGE? A test runs code in its own process only once its file, or the fixture's file the
+    # runner loads for it (and in Python the conftest.py files above it), imports the changed file, directly or through
+    # other files. A route that never does -- a key join from a test that only writes the topic string, a dispatch
+    # resolved to a table in a service the test never starts -- is a lead further out, not a test of the change: on
+    # one monorepo 19 test files were selected for a handler table's module and 2 of them import it. None where the
+    # language has no import graph here (imports_fact covers Python, JavaScript and TypeScript).
+    _rev = None; _importers = {}
+    def loads_change(m, fx):
+        nonlocal _rev
+        tf = g.sym[m].get('file') or ''
+        route = test_route(m, fx)
+        seed_file = (g.sym.get(route[-1]) or {}).get('file') if route else None
+        if not tf or not seed_file or os.path.splitext(tf)[1].lower() not in I.IMPORT_RE: return None
+        if tf == seed_file or test_cert.get(m) in ('spawns', 'at import'): return True
+        if _rev is None:
+            _rev = collections.defaultdict(set)
+            try:
+                for ln in open(os.path.join(g.facts, 'impact', 'imports_fact.facts'), encoding='utf-8', errors='replace'):
+                    a, _, b = ln.rstrip('\n').partition('\t')
+                    if a and b: _rev[b].add(a)
+            except OSError:
+                _rev = {}                                # no import facts: nothing can be said either way
+        if not _rev: return None
+        if seed_file not in _importers:
+            seen, todo = {seed_file}, [seed_file]
+            while todo:
+                for a in _rev.get(todo.pop(), ()):
+                    if a not in seen: seen.add(a); todo.append(a)
+            _importers[seed_file] = seen
+        loaders = {tf} | ({g.sym[fx].get('file')} if fx and fx in g.sym else set())
+        if tf.endswith('.py'):
+            d_ = os.path.dirname(tf)
+            while True:
+                loaders.add(f"{d_}/conftest.py" if d_ else 'conftest.py')
+                if not d_: break
+                d_ = os.path.dirname(d_)
+        return bool(loaders & _importers[seed_file])
     # a MODULE counted as a test is a script test (graph_sql.script_tests): it is labelled with the command it runs by
     script_ids = {m for m in tests if g.sym[m]['kind'] == 'module'}
     _runs = {}
@@ -2959,6 +3038,7 @@ def main(argv):
                           'alongside': [{'id': c, 'display': g.disp(c), 'role': 'co-located', 'why': why, 'reasons': direct_reasons.get((c, _grp(role)), []), 'certainty': cert, 'at': loc, 'for': sorted(direct_for[(c, _grp(role))])} for c, role, why, cert, loc, n in sorted(D, key=lambda x: (g.disp(x[0]), x[2], x[4], x[0])) if cert == 'alongside'],
                           'reached': [{'id': m, 'display': g.disp(m), 'hops': d, 'for': sorted(reach_from[m]), 'at': g.loc(m), 'test': bool(g.sym[m]['is_test'])} for m, d in sorted(reached.items(), key=lambda x: (x[1], g.disp(x[0]), g.loc(x[0]), x[0]))],
                           'tests': [{'id': m, 'display': g.disp(m), 'owner': g.sym[m]['owner'], 'name': g.sym[m]['name'], 'hops': d, 'via': g.disp(fx) if fx else None, 'at': g.loc(m), 'certainty': test_cert.get(m), 'chain': [g.disp(x) for x in test_route(m, fx)],
+                                     **({'loads_change': lc} if (lc := loads_change(m, fx)) is not None else {}),
                                      **({'script': True, 'run': script_cmd(m)} if m in script_ids else {})} for m, (d, fx) in sorted(tests.items(), key=lambda kv: (kv[1][0], g.disp(kv[0]), g.loc(kv[0]), kv[0]))],
                           'framework_entries': [{'id': m, 'display': g.disp(m), 'signal': sig, 'at': g.loc(m)} for m, sig in fw_ent],
                           'framework_grep': fw_grep,
@@ -3334,6 +3414,11 @@ def main(argv):
     # a callable in a file whose test is counted runs when that file does (`main` under a script's main guard, the
     # describe block around a counted `it`): the count already credits it
     test_rows = [m for m in test_rows if g.sym[m]['file'] not in tfiles]
+    # a helper beside the tests (test/helpers.js, tests/helpers.py) that a counted test calls on its way to the change is
+    # that test's route, not an uncredited test: the count already runs it
+    if test_rows:
+        on_route = {x for t, v in tests.items() for x in test_route(t, v[1] if isinstance(v, tuple) and len(v) > 1 else None)}
+        test_rows = [m for m in test_rows if m not in on_route]
     if test_rows:
         print(f"    {'and ' if tests else 'but '}{len(test_rows)} callable(s) in test code listed above reach it by a route this count does not credit "
               "(a runner entry it does not collect, a remote or framework hop) — treat them as tests to run: "
diff --git a/plugins/axiomcode/skills/axiomcode/scripts/axiomcode-test-impact b/plugins/axiomcode/skills/axiomcode/scripts/axiomcode-test-impact
index d086a90de..29e9f97e9 100755
--- a/plugins/axiomcode/skills/axiomcode/scripts/axiomcode-test-impact
+++ b/plugins/axiomcode/skills/axiomcode/scripts/axiomcode-test-impact
@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@ is not the same as a change that does nothing, and the rung on each row is where
 import importlib.machinery, importlib.util, json, os, re, subprocess, sys, collections, functools, posixpath, shlex
 
 TESTY = re.compile(r'(^|[/_.-])(test|tests|spec|specs|__tests__|it)([/_.-]|$)', re.I)
+# a test that loads the change and reaches it within this many hops is listed first; beyond it, further out
+NEAR_HOPS = 3
 
 HERE = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
 sys.path.insert(0, HERE)
@@ -2034,6 +2036,19 @@ def main(argv):
     case_data_tests = {i for i, r in tests.items() if r.get('at') and ax_caserun.in_case_dir(real, r['at'].split(':')[0])}
     for i in case_data_tests: tests.pop(i, None)
     files = sorted({r.get('at', '').split(':')[0] for r in tests.values() if r.get('at')})
+    # NEAREST FIRST, AND FURTHER OUT APART: a test whose file (or the fixture file its runner loads) never imports the
+    # changed file reaches it only through a key join, a dispatch resolved across services, or a registration the
+    # process it runs in never makes (impact's loads_change). Still listed, after the tests that load the change.
+    # One that loads it but reaches it only beyond NEAR_HOPS (a whole service started for an unrelated flow, whose
+    # route crosses a bus and a handler table) is further out too: impact's own measurement puts a sound route within
+    # 3 hops at about 9 in 10 right, and a hub answer at 3 in 10. Where the import graph is unknown (no loads_change),
+    # nothing moves.
+    near = lambda r: r.get('loads_change') is None or (r['loads_change'] and (r.get('hops') or 0) <= NEAR_HOPS)
+    further = sorted({f for f in files} - {(r.get('at') or '').split(':')[0] for r in tests.values() if near(r)})
+    if further and len(further) < len(files):
+        files = [f for f in files if f not in set(further)]
+    else:
+        further = []                                    # nothing loads it, or everything does: one list, as before
     # A selected test carrying no location drops out of `files`, and `files` is what the command PRINTS and
     # what the run command is built from — so the answer names it nowhere and the suite runs without it.
     # This is the third instance of one bug: a row discarded for being malformed in one field. The other two
@@ -2060,13 +2075,18 @@ def main(argv):
         if classes and lang in ('java', 'csharp') else classes
     replaced = concrete_test_classes(db, run_classes)[1] if lang in ('java', 'csharp') else {}
     cmd_all = command_for(lang, run_files, run_classes + ([os.path.splitext(os.path.basename(f))[0] for f in edited] if classes else []), db, repo)
+    cmd_further = command_for(lang, further, [], db, repo) if further else None
+    in_file = lambda f: sum(1 for r in tests.values() if r.get('at', '').startswith(f + ':'))
 
     import ax_evidence
     if as_json:
         print(json.dumps(ax_evidence.annotate('test-impact', {'changed': [{'symbol': by_target[t]['symbol'], 'kind': by_target[t]['kind'],
                                        'target': t} for t in targets],
                           'test_files': files, 'test_classes': classes,
-                          'tests': [dict(r, pulled_in_by=sorted(pulled[i])) for i, r in tests.items()],
+                          'further_test_files': further, 'command_further': cmd_further,
+                          # the tests that load the change first, then the ones further out, each nearest first
+                          'tests': [dict(r, pulled_in_by=sorted(pulled[i])) for i, r in
+                                    sorted(tests.items(), key=lambda kv: (kv[1].get('at', '').split(':')[0] in further,))],
                           'edited_test_files': edited,
                           'command': cmd_all,
                           'abstract_replaced': replaced,
@@ -2141,12 +2161,20 @@ def main(argv):
             print("\n  " + cmd_all.replace("\n", "\n  "))
             print_unrun(lang, repo, run_files)
     elif tests:
-        print(f"\ntests to run: {len(tests)} test(s) in {len(files)} file(s)")
+        print(f"\ntests to run: {sum(in_file(f) for f in files)} test(s) in {len(files)} file(s)"
+              + (" that load the changed file" if further else ""))
         for f in files[:limit]:
-            n = sum(1 for r in tests.values() if r.get('at', '').startswith(f + ':'))
-            print(f"    {f}   ({n} test(s))")
+            print(f"    {f}   ({in_file(f)} test(s))")
         if len(files) > limit:
             print(f"    … +{len(files)-limit} more file(s) (--limit N)")
+        if further:
+            print(f"\nfurther out: {sum(in_file(f) for f in further)} test(s) in {len(further)} file(s) whose file never imports the"
+                  f" changed one (a key, a dispatch or a registration joins them to it) or reaches it only beyond {NEAR_HOPS} hops;"
+                  " run after the ones above:")
+            for f in further[:limit]:
+                print(f"    {f}   ({in_file(f)} test(s))")
+            if len(further) > limit:
+                print(f"    … +{len(further)-limit} more file(s) (--limit N)")
         if why:
             print("\n  why each one is here:")
             for i, r in sorted(tests.items(), key=lambda kv: (kv[1].get('hops') or 99, kv[1].get('display', '')))[:limit]:
@@ -2167,6 +2195,8 @@ def main(argv):
         if cmd_all:
             print("\n  " + cmd_all.replace("\n", "\n  "))
         print_unrun(lang, repo, run_files)
+        if cmd_further:
+            print("\n  then, further out: " + cmd_further.replace("\n", "\n  "))
     elif edited and cmd_all:
         print("\n  " + cmd_all.replace("\n", "\n  "))
         print_unrun(lang, repo, run_files)
diff --git a/plugins/axiomcode/skills/axiomcode/scripts/dl/impact.dl b/plugins/axiomcode/skills/axiomcode/scripts/dl/impact.dl
index 83d418e32..f8d70e364 100644
--- a/plugins/axiomcode/skills/axiomcode/scripts/dl/impact.dl
+++ b/plugins/axiomcode/skills/axiomcode/scripts/dl/impact.dl
@@ -943,9 +943,14 @@ up_running(q, a, d+1) :- up_running(q, b, d), edge(a, b, "known_edge"), !state_g
 up_running_g(q, a, t, f, d+1) :- up_running(q, f, d), state_gate(a, f, t), edge(a, f, "known_edge"), d < 40.
 up_running_g(q, c, t, f, d+1) :- up_running_g(q, a, t, f, d), edge(c, a, "known_edge"), state_world(c, t), d < 40.
 up_running(q, c, d+1) :- up_running_g(q, a, t, f, d), edge(c, a, "known_edge"), state_exit(c, a, t, f), d < 40.
+// A module-level CONST asked about is reached by its module body only because that body declares it: its value is
+// read by the callables that import it (resolved reads, listed as such), and importing the module runs nothing new
+// for them. Hopping on from that module named every importer's module as broken at import, the readers again.
+.decl declares_seed_const(q:symbol, mod:symbol)
+declares_seed_const(q, mod) :- target(q, "field", fl, _), field(fl, mod, _, _, _), kind(mod, "module").
 .decl import_hop(q:symbol, a:symbol, b:symbol)
-import_hop(q, a, mod) :- up_running(q, mod, _), kind(mod, "module"), decl_file(mod, g), imports_file(f, g),
-                         decl_file(a, f), kind(a, "module"), a != mod.
+import_hop(q, a, mod) :- up_running(q, mod, _), kind(mod, "module"), !declares_seed_const(q, mod), decl_file(mod, g),
+                         imports_file(f, g), decl_file(a, f), kind(a, "module"), a != mod.
 up(q, a, d+1) :- up_running(q, b, d), import_hop(q, a, b), d < 40.
 parent_up(q, a, b, "at import") :- reach(q, a, d), d > 0, reach(q, b, d1), d1 = d - 1, import_hop(q, a, b).
 .output reach
diff --git a/plugins/axiomcode/skills/axiomcode/scripts/graph_sql.py b/plugins/axiomcode/skills/axiomcode/scripts/graph_sql.py
index 538ca7e09..db0458a3e 100644
--- a/plugins/axiomcode/skills/axiomcode/scripts/graph_sql.py
+++ b/plugins/axiomcode/skills/axiomcode/scripts/graph_sql.py
@@ -685,6 +685,21 @@ def parent_up(edges, depth):
 # a file the runner imports for its fixtures and hooks and never collects tests from
 NON_TEST_FILE = _re.compile(r'(^|/)conftest\.py$')
 _RET_TYPE = _re.compile(r'\)\s*:\s*(.+)$')
+# NO RUNNER OF THESE LANGUAGES COLLECTS A FUNCTION BY ITS NAME: node:test, jest, vitest and mocha run the callback handed
+# to test(…) / it(…), which the registrar rule finds on the declaration's own line. Read by name, a helper beside the
+# tests (`export function testApp()` in test/harness.js) was a test, counted as "1 test" in a file no runner collects.
+_JS_FILE = _re.compile(r'\.(?:[cm]?[jt]sx?)$')
+# a module-level Python function is collected only from a file the runner collects (pytest's python_files, unittest's
+# test*.py): a `def test_client()` in tests/helpers.py is a helper the tests import
+_PY_COLLECTED = _re.compile(r'(^|/)(test[^/]*|[^/]*_tests?)\.py$')
+
+
+def _module_level_helper(name, owner, file):
+    """a callable named like a test that no runner of its language collects by that name"""
+    f = file or ''
+    if _JS_FILE.search(f): return True
+    if f.endswith('.py') and not owner: return not _PY_COLLECTED.search(f) or not (name or '').startswith('test')
+    return False
 
 
 def _short_decoration(d):
@@ -708,6 +723,7 @@ def named_test(name, decs, owner, file, signature):
     if not (name or '').startswith(('test', 'it')): return False
     if any(NON_TEST_DECOR.match(_short_decoration(d)) for d in decs or ()): return False
     if NON_TEST_FILE.search(file or ''): return False
+    if _module_level_helper(name, owner, file): return False
     own = (owner or '').split('.')[-1]
     if own and not TEST_OWNER.search(own): return False
     # JUnit 3 reads the convention on `public void testX()`. A method that DECLARES a return
diff --git a/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/case.json b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/case.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d429fc0a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/case.json
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+{"lang": "javascript", "src": ".",
+ "checks": [
+  {"why": "a helper beside the tests (test/helpers.js, a function named like a test) is the route to the change, not a test: no runner collects it, so the test that calls it is listed and the helper is not",
+   "run": ["test-impact", "{repo}", "services/search/src/indexer.js"],
+   "want": ["services/search/test/search.test.js   (1 test(s))", "services/search/test/indexer.test.js   (1 test(s))"],
+   "avoid": ["helpers.js   (", "helpers.js)"]},
+  {"why": "a test whose file never imports the changed one (joined to it only by a topic key and a handler table) is listed apart, after the tests that load it, with its own command",
+   "run": ["test-impact", "{repo}", "services/search/src/indexer.js"],
+   "want": ["tests to run: 3 test(s) in 3 file(s) that load the changed file", "further out: 2 test(s) in 2 file(s)", "then, further out: (cd services/producer && node --test test/service.test.js)"]},
+  {"why": "a test that loads the change but reaches it only beyond 3 hops (a pipeline of four calls) is further out too; CONTROL: a test that imports the change through a workspace package's export subpath (@demo/search/indexer) loads it, and stays with the near tests",
+   "run": ["test-impact", "{repo}", "services/search/src/indexer.js", "--json"],
+   "want": ["\"further_test_files\": [\n  \"services/producer/test/service.test.js\",\n  \"services/search/test/pipeline.test.js\"\n ]"],
+   "avoid": ["\"services/api/test/api.test.js\"\n ],\n \"command_further\""]},
+  {"why": "CONTROL: impact still counts every test that reaches the change, the key-joined one included",
+   "run": ["impact", "index", "--tests-only"],
+   "want": ["services/producer/test/service.test.js (1)", "services/api/test/api.test.js (1)", "services/search/test/search.test.js (1)"],
+   "avoid": ["treat them as tests to run"]}
+ ]}
diff --git a/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/package.json b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d0426ba55
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{"name": "demo", "private": true, "workspaces": ["packages/*", "services/*"]}
diff --git a/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/packages/topics/index.js b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/packages/topics/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0ea6e0714
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/packages/topics/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+export const TOPICS = Object.freeze({ CREATED: 'doc.created' });
diff --git a/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/packages/topics/package.json b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/packages/topics/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..968e6c388
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/packages/topics/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{"name": "@demo/topics", "type": "module", "main": "index.js"}
diff --git a/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/api/package.json b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/api/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..acdbe729e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/api/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{"name": "@demo/api", "type": "module", "main": "src/api.js", "scripts": {"test": "node --test test/*.test.js"}}
diff --git a/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/api/src/api.js b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/api/src/api.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2e1d55843
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/api/src/api.js
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+import { index } from '@demo/search/indexer';
+
+export function reindex(doc) { return index({ payload: doc }); }
diff --git a/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/api/test/api.test.js b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/api/test/api.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..dffd5d019
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/api/test/api.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+import { test } from 'node:test';
+import { reindex } from '@demo/api';
+
+test('reindex goes through the search package', () => {
+  reindex({ id: 'd1' });
+});
diff --git a/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/producer/package.json b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/producer/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f540c1225
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/producer/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{"name": "@demo/producer", "type": "module", "main": "src/service.js", "scripts": {"test": "node --test test/*.test.js"}}
diff --git a/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/producer/src/service.js b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/producer/src/service.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..98543c0c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/producer/src/service.js
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+import { TOPICS } from '@demo/topics';
+
+export class DocService {
+  constructor(bus) { this.bus = bus; }
+
+  create(doc) {
+    this.bus.publish(TOPICS.CREATED, doc);
+    return doc;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/producer/test/service.test.js b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/producer/test/service.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6ef201c13
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/producer/test/service.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+import { test } from 'node:test';
+import { DocService } from '../src/service.js';
+
+test('create publishes the created event', () => {
+  const sent = [];
+  new DocService({ publish: (type, doc) => sent.push([type, doc]) }).create({ id: 'd1' });
+});
diff --git a/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/search/package.json b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/search/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..791f28c13
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/search/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+{"name": "@demo/search", "type": "module", "exports": {".": "./src/index.js", "./indexer": "./src/indexer.js"},
+ "scripts": {"test": "node --test test/*.test.js"}}
diff --git a/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/search/src/handlers.js b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/search/src/handlers.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..69a88e465
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/search/src/handlers.js
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+import { TOPICS } from '@demo/topics';
+import { index } from './indexer.js';
+
+export const handlers = {
+  [TOPICS.CREATED]: async (env) => index(env),
+};
diff --git a/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/search/src/index.js b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/search/src/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..111c5894a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/search/src/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+import { handlers } from './handlers.js';
+
+export async function consume(table, msg) {
+  const handler = table[msg.type];
+  if (handler) return handler(msg);
+}
+
+export function start() {
+  return (msg) => consume(handlers, msg);
+}
diff --git a/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/search/src/indexer.js b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/search/src/indexer.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..917635b5e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/search/src/indexer.js
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+export function index(env) { return env.payload; }
diff --git a/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/search/src/pipeline.js b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/search/src/pipeline.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e75f8af54
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/search/src/pipeline.js
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+import { index } from './indexer.js';
+
+function store(env) { return index(env); }
+function enrich(env) { return store(env); }
+function validate(env) { return enrich(env); }
+
+export function ingest(env) { return validate(env); }
diff --git a/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/search/test/helpers.js b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/search/test/helpers.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e59844016
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/search/test/helpers.js
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+import { start } from '../src/index.js';
+
+// a helper the tests call, named like a test: no runner collects it
+export function testApp() {
+  const app = start();
+  return app({ type: 'doc.created', payload: 1 });
+}
diff --git a/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/search/test/indexer.test.js b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/search/test/indexer.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4d47fbc1e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/search/test/indexer.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+import { test } from 'node:test';
+import { index } from '../src/indexer.js';
+
+test('index returns the payload', () => {
+  index({ payload: 1 });
+});
diff --git a/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/search/test/pipeline.test.js b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/search/test/pipeline.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..708c9413f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/search/test/pipeline.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+import { test } from 'node:test';
+import { ingest } from '../src/pipeline.js';
+
+test('ingest walks the whole pipeline', () => {
+  ingest({ payload: 1 });
+});
diff --git a/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/search/test/search.test.js b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/search/test/search.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8021bfa38
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/cases/javascript/a-helper-is-the-route-not-the-test/services/search/test/search.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+import { test } from 'node:test';
+import { testApp } from './helpers.js';
+
+test('a created document is indexed through the app', async () => {
+  await testApp();
+});
diff --git a/tests/cases/python/conftest-fixture/case.json b/tests/cases/python/conftest-fixture/case.json
index e334c16a3..6a32efee0 100644
--- a/tests/cases/python/conftest-fixture/case.json
+++ b/tests/cases/python/conftest-fixture/case.json
@@ -6,4 +6,11 @@
    "avoid": ["test_other.py"]},
   {"why": "an autouse fixture runs before every test in its scope, named by nothing at all",
    "run": ["impact", "reset", "--tests"],
-   "want": ["test_widget.py", "test_other.py"]}]}
+   "want": ["test_widget.py", "test_other.py"]},
+  {"why": "a module-level function named like a test in a module pytest does not collect (tests/helpers.py) is the route to the change, not a test: the test that calls it is selected, the helper is not",
+   "run": ["impact", "total", "--tests"],
+   "want": ["tests: 1 of 3 test method(s)", "test_total.py"],
+   "avoid": ["treat them as tests to run"]},
+  {"why": "CONTROL: a module-level test_ function in a collected test module is still a test",
+   "run": ["impact", "reset", "--tests"],
+   "want": ["test_other_is_true"]}]}
diff --git a/tests/cases/python/conftest-fixture/lib.py b/tests/cases/python/conftest-fixture/lib.py
index 1318ec7fe..ce7b91657 100644
--- a/tests/cases/python/conftest-fixture/lib.py
+++ b/tests/cases/python/conftest-fixture/lib.py
@@ -4,3 +4,7 @@ def make_widget():
 
 def reset():
     return 0
+
+
+def total():
+    return 2
diff --git a/tests/cases/python/conftest-fixture/tests/helpers.py b/tests/cases/python/conftest-fixture/tests/helpers.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cfaf3034d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/cases/python/conftest-fixture/tests/helpers.py
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+from lib import total
+
+
+# a helper the tests import, named like a test: pytest collects nothing from helpers.py
+def testing_app():
+    return total()
diff --git a/tests/cases/python/conftest-fixture/tests/test_total.py b/tests/cases/python/conftest-fixture/tests/test_total.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e87039f3c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/cases/python/conftest-fixture/tests/test_total.py
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+from helpers import testing_app
+
+
+def test_total_is_two():
+    assert testing_app() == 2