[BUG]: Default Validate Test Level isn't set to RunSpecifiedTests when passing --tests #3679

Before You Submit

• I'm using the latest version of Salesforce CLI
• I've searched the existing issues
• I've run sf doctor to diagnose common issues

Related Issue

No response

Command

sf project deploy validate

Org Type

Production

Did this work before?

Not sure

Last Working Version

No response

Summary

sf project deploy validate overrides the shared testLevelFlag default (src/utils/flags.ts), which sets --test-level to RunSpecifiedTests when --tests is passed, with a static default: TestLevel.RunLocalTests.

As a result, sf project deploy validate --tests MyTest (without --test-level) sent runTests=[MyTest] with testLevel=RunLocalTests, and the Metadata API rejected the request:

INVALID_OPERATION: runTests can only be used with a testLevel of RunSpecifiedTests

This doesn't affect sf project deploy start, which successfully sets test level to RunSpecifiedTests when you pass it --tests. This request is to align this behavior with the validate command.

I created the PR for this fix last month in plugin-deploy-retrieve: salesforcecli/plugin-deploy-retrieve#1650 (Markdown changes were approved but pending code changes)

Repository to Reproduce

No response

Steps to reproduce

1. Run sf project deploy validate with --tests but no explicit --test-level set.

Expected Result

When --tests are provided to sf project deploy validate, the test level is set to RunSpecifiedTests implicitly.

Actual Result

When --tests are provided to sf project deploy validate, the test level is set to RunAllLocalTestsand the validation fails with an INVALID_OPERATION.

Error Message

INVALID_OPERATION: runTests can only be used with a testLevel of RunSpecifiedTests

System Information

{
  "architecture": "linux-x64",
  "cliVersion": "@salesforce/cli/2.156.8",
  "nodeVersion": "node-v24.22.1",
  "osVersion": "Linux 5.14.0-687.60.1.el9_8.x86_64",
  "rootPath": "/usr/local/sf",
  "shell": "bash",
  "pluginVersions": [
    "@oclif/plugin-autocomplete 4.0.5 (core)",
    "@oclif/plugin-commands 5.0.5 (core)",
    "@oclif/plugin-help 7.0.5 (core)",
    "@oclif/plugin-not-found 4.0.5 (core)",
    "@oclif/plugin-plugins 7.0.10 (core)",
    "@oclif/plugin-search 2.0.5 (core)",
    "@oclif/plugin-update 5.0.8 (core)",
    "@oclif/plugin-version 3.0.6 (core)",
    "@oclif/plugin-warn-if-update-available 4.0.4 (core)",
    "@oclif/plugin-which 4.0.5 (core)",
    "@salesforce/cli 2.156.8 (core)",
    "agent 2.2.3 (core)",
    "apex 4.4.4 (core)",
    "api 2.0.19 (core)",
    "auth 6.0.0 (core)",
    "data 5.1.19 (core)",
    "deploy-retrieve 4.2.18 (core)",
    "info 4.0.18 (core)",
    "limits 4.0.6 (core)",
    "marketplace 2.0.18 (core)",
    "org 7.0.2 (core)",
    "packaging 3.0.14 (core)",
    "schema 4.0.12 (core)",
    "settings 3.0.17 (core)",
    "sobject 2.0.13 (core)",
    "telemetry 4.2.1 (core)",
    "templates 57.4.8 (core)",
    "trust 4.0.23 (core)",
    "user 6.0.3 (core)",
    "apex-code-coverage-transformer 3.1.12 (user)",
    "apextestlist 1.15.4 (user)",
    "sfdx-git-delta 7.6.0 (user)"
  ]
}

Additional Information

See the fix in PR salesforcecli/plugin-deploy-retrieve#1650

Screenshots or Log Files

No response