PowerShell · SeeminglyScience · Feb 17, 2026 · Feb 13, 2026 · Copilot · Feb 17, 2026
diff --git a/.github/instructions/pester-set-itresult-pattern.instructions.md b/.github/instructions/pester-set-itresult-pattern.instructions.md
@@ -0,0 +1,198 @@
+---
+applyTo:
+  - "**/*.Tests.ps1"
+---
+
+# Pester Set-ItResult Pattern for Pending and Skipped Tests
+
+## Purpose
+
+This instruction explains when and how to use `Set-ItResult` in Pester tests to mark tests as Pending or Skipped dynamically within test execution.
+
+## When to Use Set-ItResult
+
+Use `Set-ItResult` when you need to conditionally mark a test as Pending or Skipped based on runtime conditions that can't be determined at test definition time.
+
+### Pending vs Skipped
+
+**Pending**: Use for tests that should be enabled but temporarily can't run due to:
+- Intermittent external service failures (network, APIs)
+- Known bugs being fixed
+- Missing features being implemented
+- Environmental issues that are being resolved
+
+**Skipped**: Use for tests that aren't applicable to the current environment:
+- Platform-specific tests running on wrong platform
+- Tests requiring specific hardware/configuration not present
+- Tests requiring elevated permissions when not available
+- Feature-specific tests when feature is disabled
+
+## Pattern
+
+### Basic Usage
+
+```powershell
+It "Test description" {
+    if ($shouldBePending) {
+        Set-ItResult -Pending -Because "Explanation of why test is pending"
+        return
+    }
+
+    if ($shouldBeSkipped) {
+        Set-ItResult -Skipped -Because "Explanation of why test is skipped"
+        return
+    }
+
+    # Test code here
+}
+```
+
+### Important: Always Return After Set-ItResult
+
+After calling `Set-ItResult`, you **must** return from the test to prevent further execution:
+
+```powershell
+It "Test that checks environment" {
+    if ($env:SKIP_TESTS -eq 'true') {
+        Set-ItResult -Skipped -Because "SKIP_TESTS environment variable is set"
+        return  # This is required!
+    }
+
+    # Test assertions
+    $result | Should -Be $expected
+}
+```
+
+**Why?** Without `return`, the test continues executing and may fail with errors unrelated to the pending/skipped condition.
+
+## Examples from the Codebase
+
+### Example 1: Pending for Intermittent Network Issues
+
+```powershell
+It "Validate Update-Help for module" {
+    if ($markAsPending) {
+        Set-ItResult -Pending -Because "Update-Help from the web has intermittent connectivity issues. See issues #2807 and #6541."
+        return
+    }
+
+    Update-Help -Module $moduleName -Force
+    # validation code...
+}
+```
+
+### Example 2: Skipped for Missing Environment
+
+```powershell
+It "Test requires CI environment" {
+    if (-not $env:CI) {
+        Set-ItResult -Skipped -Because "Test requires CI environment to safely install Pester"
+        return
+    }
+
+    Install-CIPester -ErrorAction Stop
+}
+```
+
+### Example 3: Pending for Platform-Specific Issue
+
+```powershell
+It "Clear-Host works correctly" {
+    if ($IsARM64) {
+        Set-ItResult -Pending -Because "ARM64 runs in non-interactively mode and Clear-Host does not work."
-        Set-ItResult -Pending -Because "ARM64 runs in non-interactively mode and Clear-Host does not work."
+        Set-ItResult -Pending -Because "ARM64 runs in non-interactive mode and Clear-Host does not work."
-        Set-ItResult -Pending -Because "ARM64 runs in non-interactively mode and Clear-Host does not work."
+        Set-ItResult -Pending -Because "ARM64 runs in non-interactive mode and Clear-Host does not work."
+        return
+    }
+
+    & { Clear-Host; 'hi' } | Should -BeExactly 'hi'
+}
+```
+
+### Example 4: Skipped for Missing Feature
+
+```powershell
+It "Test ACR authentication" {
+    if ($env:ACRTESTS -ne 'true') {
+        Set-ItResult -Skipped -Because "The tests require the ACRTESTS environment variable to be set to 'true' for ACR authentication."
+        return
+    }
+
+    $psgetModuleInfo = Find-PSResource -Name $ACRTestModule -Repository $ACRRepositoryName
+    # test assertions...
+}
+```
+
+## Alternative: Static -Skip and -Pending Parameters
+
+For conditions that can be determined at test definition time, use the static parameters instead:
+
+```powershell
+# Static skip - condition known at definition time
+It "Windows-only test" -Skip:(-not $IsWindows) {
+    # test code
+}
+
+# Static pending - always pending
+It "Test for feature being implemented" -Pending {
+    # test code that will fail until feature is done
+}
+```
+
+**Use Set-ItResult when**:
+- Condition depends on runtime state
+- Condition is determined inside a helper function
+- Need to check multiple conditions sequentially
+
+**Use static parameters when**:
+- Condition is known at test definition
+- Condition doesn't change during test run
+- Want Pester to show the condition in test discovery
+
+## Best Practices
+
+1. **Always include -Because parameter** with a clear explanation
+2. **Always return after Set-ItResult** to prevent further execution
+3. **Reference issues or documentation** when relevant (e.g., "See issue #1234")
+4. **Be specific in the reason** - explain what's wrong and what's needed
+5. **Use Pending sparingly** - it indicates a problem that should be fixed
+6. **Prefer Skipped over Pending** when test truly isn't applicable
+
+## Common Mistakes
+
+### ❌ Mistake 1: Forgetting to Return
+
+```powershell
+It "Test" {
+    if ($condition) {
+        Set-ItResult -Pending -Because "Reason"
+        # Missing return - test code will still execute!
+    }
+    $value | Should -Be $expected  # This runs and fails
+}
+```
+
+### ❌ Mistake 2: Vague Reason
+
+```powershell
+Set-ItResult -Pending -Because "Doesn't work"  # Too vague
+```
+
+### ✅ Correct:
+
+```powershell
+It "Test" {
+    if ($condition) {
+        Set-ItResult -Pending -Because "Update-Help has intermittent network timeouts. See issue #2807."
+        return
+    }
+    $value | Should -Be $expected
+}
+```
+
+## See Also
+
+- [Pester Documentation: Set-ItResult](https://pester.dev/docs/commands/Set-ItResult)
+- [Pester Documentation: It](https://pester.dev/docs/commands/It)
+- Examples in the codebase:
+  - `test/powershell/Host/ConsoleHost.Tests.ps1`
+  - `test/infrastructure/ciModule.Tests.ps1`
+  - `tools/packaging/releaseTests/sbom.tests.ps1`
diff --git a/test/powershell/engine/Help/UpdatableHelpSystem.Tests.ps1 b/test/powershell/engine/Help/UpdatableHelpSystem.Tests.ps1
@@ -191,7 +191,8 @@ function RunUpdateHelpTests
     param (
         [string]$tag = "CI",
         [switch]$useSourcePath,
-        [switch]$userscope
+        [switch]$userscope,
+        [switch]$markAsPending
     )
 
     foreach ($moduleName in $modulesInBox)
@@ -214,8 +215,15 @@ function RunUpdateHelpTests
 
             It ('Validate Update-Help for module ''{0}'' in {1}' -F $moduleName, [PSCustomObject] $updateScope) -Skip:(!(Test-CanWriteToPsHome) -and $userscope -eq $false) {
 
+                if ($markAsPending) {
+                    Set-ItResult -Pending -Because "Update-Help from the web has intermittent connectivity issues. See issues #2807 and #6541."
+                    return
+                }
+
                 # Delete the whole help directory
-                Remove-Item ($moduleHelpPath) -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
+                if ($moduleHelpPath) {
+                    Remove-Item ($moduleHelpPath) -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
+                }
 
                 [hashtable] $UICultureParam = $(if ((Get-UICulture).Name -ne $myUICulture) { @{ UICulture = $myUICulture } } else { @{} })
                 [hashtable] $sourcePathParam = $(if ($useSourcePath) { @{ SourcePath = Join-Path $PSScriptRoot assets } } else { @{} })
@@ -246,8 +254,15 @@ function RunSaveHelpTests
         {
             try
             {
-                $saveHelpFolder = Join-Path $TestDrive (Get-Random).ToString()
-                New-Item  $saveHelpFolder -Force -ItemType Directory > $null
+                $saveHelpFolder = if ($TestDrive) {
+                    Join-Path $TestDrive (Get-Random).ToString()
+                } else {
+                    $null
+                }
+
+                if ($saveHelpFolder) {
+                    New-Item  $saveHelpFolder -Force -ItemType Directory > $null
+                }
 
                 ## Save help has intermittent connectivity issues for downloading PackageManagement help content.
                 ## Hence the test has been marked as Pending.
@@ -283,7 +298,9 @@ function RunSaveHelpTests
             }
             finally
             {
-                Remove-Item $saveHelpFolder -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Recurse
+                if ($saveHelpFolder) {
+                    Remove-Item $saveHelpFolder -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Recurse
+                }
             }
         }
     }
@@ -316,7 +333,9 @@ Describe "Validate Update-Help from the Web for one PowerShell module." -Tags @(
         $ProgressPreference = $SavedProgressPreference
     }
 
-    RunUpdateHelpTests -Tag "CI"
+    ## Update-Help from the web has intermittent connectivity issues that cause CI failures.
+    ## Tests are marked as Pending to unblock work. See issues #2807 and #6541.
+    RunUpdateHelpTests -Tag "CI" -MarkAsPending
 }
 
 Describe "Validate Update-Help from the Web for one PowerShell module for user scope." -Tags @('CI', 'RequireAdminOnWindows', 'RequireSudoOnUnix') {
@@ -328,7 +347,9 @@ Describe "Validate Update-Help from the Web for one PowerShell module for user s
         $ProgressPreference = $SavedProgressPreference
     }
 
-    RunUpdateHelpTests -Tag "CI" -UserScope
+    ## Update-Help from the web has intermittent connectivity issues that cause CI failures.
+    ## Tests are marked as Pending to unblock work. See issues #2807 and #6541.
+    RunUpdateHelpTests -Tag "CI" -UserScope -MarkAsPending
 }
 
 Describe "Validate Update-Help from the Web for all PowerShell modules." -Tags @('Feature', 'RequireAdminOnWindows', 'RequireSudoOnUnix') {