Update-Help tests downloading from the web have intermittent network failures (timeouts, task cancellations) blocking CI builds. Issues #2807 and #6541 document the pattern.

Changes

• Mark web-dependent CI tests as pending using Set-ItResult -Pending in RunUpdateHelpTests

  • Only affects tests downloading from the web (not -SourcePath variants using local assets)
  • Only affects CI-tagged tests (Feature-tagged tests remain active)

• Add defensive null checks for $moduleHelpPath, $saveHelpFolder, $TestDrive to handle Pester discovery phase gracefully

• Document Set-ItResult pattern in .github/instructions/pester-set-itresult-pattern.instructions.md

  • Pending vs Skipped usage
  • Importance of return after Set-ItResult
  • Examples from codebase

Pattern

It "Validate Update-Help for module $moduleName" {
    if ($markAsPending) {
        Set-ItResult -Pending -Because "Update-Help from the web has intermittent connectivity issues. See issues #2807 and #6541."
        return  # Required to prevent continued execution
    }
    
    Update-Help -Module $moduleName -Force
    # validation...
}

Result

33 of 38 tests now marked as NotRun (pending), unblocking CI while keeping tests visible for future resolution.

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