Kafka Shadowtraffic Java

Kafka ShadowTraffic Java TestContainers Setup

Generates a self-contained JUnit 5 test class that uses TestContainers to spin up Kafka and ShadowTraffic in-process, populating the target topic with synthetic data during the test run. The skill delegates schema discovery and config generation to kafka-shadowtraffic, then adapts the resulting config for a shared Docker network and scaffolds the Java test file and build dependencies.

Target topic, environment, and project path: $ARGUMENTS

Open your first reply with: "Running the kafka-shadowtraffic-java skill to scaffold a TestContainers test."

Workflow

Copy this checklist and track your progress:

TestContainers Scaffold Progress:
- [ ] Step 1: Run kafka-shadowtraffic to discover topic and generate base ShadowTraffic config
- [ ] Step 2: Detect project structure (build tool, test directories, existing dependencies)
- [ ] Step 3: Hard gate - confirm before generating
- [ ] Step 4: Adapt ShadowTraffic config for TestContainers network
- [ ] Step 5: Write adapted config to src/test/resources/
- [ ] Step 6: Lint the adapted config
- [ ] Step 7: Generate the Java test class
- [ ] Step 8: Update build file with TestContainers dependencies
- [ ] Step 9: Hand back with run instructions

Step 1: Run kafka-shadowtraffic

Invoke the kafka-shadowtraffic skill to discover the topic, schemas, and serialization format, and generate a base shadowtraffic-config.json.

The kafka-shadowtraffic skill handles:

• MCP-based topic and schema discovery
• Serializer selection (Avro / JSON Schema / Protobuf / plain)
• Generator construction from schema fields
• Config linting

Once kafka-shadowtraffic completes and shadowtraffic-config.json exists, continue from Step 2. If the file already exists in the working directory from a prior run of kafka-shadowtraffic, skip re-running it and proceed directly to Step 2.

One change to request of kafka-shadowtraffic: add "maxEvents": 100 to the generator's localConfigs before linting. Tests must terminate; an unbounded ShadowTraffic run will hang the test suite. If the user specifies a different count, use that instead.

Step 2: Detect project structure

Scan the project directory (the path from $ARGUMENTS, or the current working directory if not specified) for:

1. Build tool: look for pom.xml (Maven) or build.gradle / build.gradle.kts (Gradle). If both exist, prefer the one at the project root.
2. Test source directory: src/test/java (Maven convention) or equivalent Gradle layout.
3. Test resources directory: src/test/resources — create it if it doesn't exist.
4. Package name: infer from existing test files in src/test/java/**/*Test.java. Fall back to asking the user if none found.
5. Existing TestContainers dependency: check pom.xml / build.gradle for org.testcontainers — note if already present so we don't add a duplicate.
6. Existing Kafka TestContainers dependency: check for org.testcontainers:kafka.
7. Java version: check ` in pom.xml, sourceCompatibility in build.gradle, or .java-version / JAVA_HOME`. Default to Java 17 if not detectable.
8. Schema Registry needed: read from the base shadowtraffic-config.json — if value.serializer is KafkaAvroSerializer, KafkaJsonSchemaSerializer, or KafkaProtobufSerializer, a Schema Registry container is required.

Step 3: Hard gate — confirm before generating

Send one message recapping:

1. Topic name, schema format, number of fields.
2. Build tool detected and test source directory.
3. Package name that will be used for the generated class.
4. Whether a Schema Registry container will be included (yes/no, and why).
5. maxEvents value (default 100).
6. Files that will be written (Java class path, config destination, build file change).

Ask the user to confirm or correct. Stop and wait. The only way to skip is if the user already confirmed in this conversation.

Step 4: Adapt ShadowTraffic config for TestContainers network

The base config from kafka-shadowtraffic points at the real cluster (localhost:9092 or the discovered broker). For the TestContainers test, both Kafka and ShadowTraffic share a Docker network, so the bootstrap server must be the Kafka container's internal network alias.

Make these changes to shadowtraffic-config.json (produce a separate copy — do not overwrite the standalone config):

| Original value | Replace with | |---|---| | bootstrap.servers (any value) | kafka:9092 | | schema.registry.url (if present) | http://schema-registry:8081 |

Also ensure "maxEvents": is present in localConfigs. Add it if kafka-shadowtraffic didn't include it.

The adapted config is only for the TestContainers test — the original shadowtraffic-config.json for standalone Docker use stays untouched.

Step 5: Write adapted config to src/test/resources/

Write the adapted config to src/test/resources/shadowtraffic-config.json. Create the src/test/resources/ directory if it doesn't exist.

The Java class will load this file via MountableFile.forClasspathResource("shadowtraffic-config.json").

Step 6: Lint the adapted config

Run the ShadowTraffic linter against the adapted config before generating any Java:

docker run \
  -e LICENSE_ID=lint -e LICENSE_EMAIL=lint \
  -e LICENSE_ORGANIZATION=lint -e LICENSE_EDITION=lint \
  -e LICENSE_EXPIRATION=lint -e LICENSE_SIGNATURE=lint \
  -v $(pwd)/src/test/resources/shadowtraffic-config.json:/home/config.json \
  shadowtraffic/shadowtraffic:latest \
  --action lint \
  --config /home/config.json

Fix any findings before proceeding. If Docker is unavailable, skip and note it in the hand-back.

Step 7: Generate the Java test class

Read references/java-template.md for the full annotated template. The high-level class structure:

package ;

@Testcontainers
class ShadowTrafficTest {

    static final Network network = Network.newNetwork();

    @Container
    static final KafkaContainer kafka =
        new KafkaContainer(DockerImageName.parse("confluentinc/cp-kafka:7.7.0"))
            .withNetwork(network)
            .withNetworkAliases("kafka");

    // Only when Schema Registry is needed:
    @Container
    static final GenericContainer schemaRegistry =
        new GenericContainer<>(DockerImageName.parse("confluentinc/cp-schema-registry:7.7.0"))
            .withNetwork(network)
            .withNetworkAliases("schema-registry")
            .dependsOn(kafka)
            .withEnv("SCHEMA_REGISTRY_HOST_NAME", "schema-registry")
            .withEnv("SCHEMA_REGISTRY_KAFKASTORE_BOOTSTRAP_SERVERS", "kafka:9092")
            .withExposedPorts(8081);

    @Container
    static final GenericContainer shadowTraffic =
        new GenericContainer<>(DockerImageName.parse("shadowtraffic/shadowtraffic:latest"))
            .withNetwork(network)
            .dependsOn(/* kafka, and schemaRegistry if present */)
            .withEnv("LICENSE_ID", System.getenv("LICENSE_ID"))
            .withEnv("LICENSE_EMAIL", System.getenv("LICENSE_EMAIL"))
            .withEnv("LICENSE_ORGANIZATION", System.getenv("LICENSE_ORGANIZATION"))
            .withEnv("LICENSE_EDITION", System.getenv("LICENSE_EDITION"))
            .withEnv("LICENSE_EXPIRATION", System.getenv("LICENSE_EXPIRATION"))
            .withEnv("LICENSE_SIGNATURE", System.getenv("LICENSE_SIGNATURE"))
            .withCopyFileToContainer(
                MountableFile.forClasspathResource("shadowtraffic-config.json"),
                "/home/config.json"
            )
            .withCommand("--config", "/home/config.json");

    @Test
    void shouldReceiveEventsFromShadowTraffic() {
        // Create a Kafka consumer using kafka.getBootstrapServers()
        // Poll until maxEvents events received or timeout
        // Assert event count and spot-check field values
    }
}

Key rules for the generated class (see references/java-template.md for full detail):

1. License env vars come from System.getenv() — never hardcode them. The test will fail with a clear error if vars are missing.
2. dependsOn order matters: ShadowTraffic must depend on Kafka (and Schema Registry if present) so containers start in the right order.
3. The test consumer uses kafka.getBootstrapServers() — this is the external address TestContainers maps; it's different from the internal kafka:9092 used by ShadowTraffic.
4. Poll with a timeout: use a Duration.ofSeconds(30) poll timeout. The test should not hang if ShadowTraffic fails to start.
5. Assert at least maxEvents records were received as the primary assertion.
6. Spot-check one field from the value schema to verify the data shape matches the schema (e.g., assert orderId is a non-null UUID string).
7. Class name: derive from the topic name. orders.payment.completed → OrdersPaymentCompletedShadowTrafficTest.
8. @Container fields are static final: TestContainers reuses containers across tests in the same class.

Write the class to src/test/java//.java.

Step 8: Update build file with TestContainers dependencies

Consult references/build-tool-deps.md for the exact dependency snippets. Only add dependencies that are not already present.

Required additions:

• org.testcontainers:testcontainers (BOM or explicit version)
• org.testcontainers:junit-jupiter
• org.testcontainers:kafka
• confluentinc/cp-kafka image is pulled at runtime — no Maven dep needed

If Schema Registry container is used (Avro / JSON Schema / Protobuf topics):

• No additional TestContainers dependency needed (GenericContainer handles it)
• Add Confluent Avro/JSON Schema deserializer dependencies if not present, so the test consumer can deserialize the events

Step 9: Hand back with run instructions

Final message must include:

1. Files written: Java class path, adapted config path, build file changes.

1. License setup (required before the test can run):

``bash export LICENSE_ID=... export LICENSE_EMAIL=... export LICENSE_ORGANIZATION=... export LICENSE_EDITION=... export LICENSE_EXPIRATION=... export LICENSE_SIGNATURE=... `` Get a license at https://shadowtraffic.io. Without these env vars the ShadowTraffic container will fail to start.

1. Run the test:

```bash # Maven mvn test -Dtest=

# Gradle ./gradlew test --tests "." ```

1. What the test does: one-paragraph summary — containers started, events generated, what the assertion checks.

1. Adapting the assertion: a note that the generated @Test method is a starting point — the user should add domain-specific assertions (field values, ordering, counts) to match their actual consumer logic.

Success Criteria

Quantitative

• Triggers on 90% of "TestContainers + ShadowTraffic Java" queries (see references/test-cases.md)
• Adapted shadowtraffic-config.json passes the linter with zero findings
• Generated Java class compiles without errors on first try
• Test passes end-to-end against a local Docker environment

Qualitative

• License env vars are never hardcoded — always System.getenv()
• Container startup order is correct — Kafka (and Schema Registry) before ShadowTraffic
• The test terminates because maxEvents is set in the config
• The user can see clearly what to change to add their own assertions

Examples

Example 1: Avro topic (Lenses MCP attached)

User says: "write a TestContainers Java test for the orders topic using ShadowTraffic"

Actions:

1. Step 1: kafka-shadowtraffic discovers orders.created (Avro, 5 fields). Generates base config with KafkaAvroSerializer.
2. Step 2: Maven project detected, package com.example.orders, Schema Registry required.
3. Step 3: Recap — user confirms.
4. Step 4: Adapt config: bootstrap.servers → kafka:9092, schema.registry.url → http://schema-registry:8081, maxEvents → 100.
5. Steps 5-6: Write to src/test/resources/shadowtraffic-config.json, lint passes.
6. Step 7: Generate OrdersCreatedShadowTrafficTest.java with Kafka + Schema Registry + ShadowTraffic containers.
7. Step 8: Add org.testcontainers:junit-jupiter, org.testcontainers:kafka to pom.xml.
8. Step 9: Hand back.

Result: mvn test -Dtest=OrdersCreatedShadowTrafficTest starts three containers, generates 100 Avro events, consumer asserts all received.

Example 2: Plain JSON topic, Gradle project

User says: "I need a Java integration test that seeds my Kafka topic with fake data"

Actions:

1. Step 1: kafka-shadowtraffic discovers audit.events (no schema, plain JSON). Base config uses JsonSerializer.
2. Step 2: Gradle project, package io.company.audit, no Schema Registry.
3. Step 3: Recap — user confirms.
4. Steps 4-7: Adapt config (bootstrap.servers only), lint, generate AuditEventsShadowTrafficTest.java with Kafka + ShadowTraffic only (no Schema Registry container).
5. Step 8: Add TestContainers deps to build.gradle.

Result: ./gradlew test --tests "io.company.audit.AuditEventsShadowTrafficTest" runs with two containers.

Example 3: Existing shadowtraffic-config.json

User says: "take the ShadowTraffic config we just made and wrap it in a Java test"

Actions:

1. Step 1: shadowtraffic-config.json already exists in the working directory — skip re-running kafka-shadowtraffic.
2. Steps 2-9: Proceed with adaptation and scaffolding.

Troubleshooting

ShadowTraffic container exits immediately

Cause: License env vars are missing or invalid, or the config has an error.

Solution: Verify all six LICENSE_* env vars are exported. Check Docker logs: docker logs . Re-run the linter (Step 6) to catch config errors.

Test hangs and never completes

Cause: maxEvents is missing from the config — ShadowTraffic runs forever.

Solution: Add "maxEvents": 100 (or another finite count) to the generator's localConfigs in src/test/resources/shadowtraffic-config.json. Re-lint before re-running.

Schema Registry container fails to start

Cause: SCHEMA_REGISTRY_KAFKASTORE_BOOTSTRAP_SERVERS is wrong, or Kafka isn't fully up when Schema Registry tries to connect.

Solution: Confirm dependsOn(kafka) is set on the Schema Registry container. Add .waitingFor(Wait.forHttp("/subjects").forStatusCode(200)) to the Schema Registry container definition so TestContainers waits until it's ready.

Consumer receives 0 events

Cause: ShadowTraffic started but couldn't reach Kafka (network misconfiguration), or the consumer group offset is wrong.

Solution: Check that both containers have .withNetwork(network) and that bootstrap.servers in the adapted config is exactly kafka:9092. Ensure the consumer uses AUTO_OFFSET_RESET_CONFIG = "earliest" so it reads from the beginning of the topic.

MountableFile.forClasspathResource can't find the config

Cause: shadowtraffic-config.json is not in src/test/resources/ or the build hasn't copied it to the classpath.

Solution: Confirm the file was written to src/test/resources/shadowtraffic-config.json (Step 5). For Maven, resources in src/test/resources/ are copied to the test classpath automatically. For Gradle, verify test.resources.srcDirs includes src/test/resources.

Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

• Author: lensesio
• Source: lensesio/agentic-engineering-for-apache-kafka
• License: MIT
• Homepage: https://lenses.io

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.