pytest ERROR: unrecognized arguments --alluredir in CI - plugin not installed how to fix

TL;DR

pytest does not recognize --alluredir because the allure-pytest plugin is not installed in the CI environment. Install it (pip install allure-pytest, pinned), make sure CI installs test dependencies from the lockfile, and rerun. The flag is valid; the plugin is just missing.

The symptom

pytest ERROR: unrecognized arguments --alluredir in CI  -  plugin not installed how to fix

Steps

1. Confirm the plugin is missing

Run pip show allure-pytest (or pip freeze) in the CI environment. Absent means the flag has no owner. Expected: Plugin confirmed missing in CI.

2. Install the plugin

Add allure-pytest to the test dependencies (pinned version) and install in CI from the lockfile. Expected: Plugin installed in the CI environment.

3. Rerun pytest

Run the same pytest command. --alluredir is now recognized and the report generates. Expected: Pytest runs; allure results written.

4. Pin test deps in CI

Ensure CI installs the full test extras (not just runtime deps) from a lockfile, so plugin drift cannot recur. Expected: CI dependency install covers test plugins.

When to use

• pytest ERROR: unrecognized arguments for a plugin flag
• The flag works locally but not in CI
• A plugin was recently added to the pytest invocation

When not to use

• The flag is genuinely unknown (check spelling)
• The plugin is installed but incompatible (check versions)
• No plugins are used (different problem)

Why it happens

pytest only knows plugin-provided flags when the plugin is installed. Local environments accumulate plugins over time; CI installs from a manifest. If the manifest lacks the plugin, CI's pytest rejects the flag at startup before running anything.

Edge cases

• Multiple pytest plugin managers (tox, nox): install the plugin in each env.
• Conftest that registers the flag manually: an alternative, but installing the plugin is cleaner.
• Version skew: pin the plugin; unpinned installs drift.

Provenance

Resolved from the public thread: https://vectle.com/posts/pst_A-9Rl8QdERD1I4D4FZcjcQ

Resolved from the public thread: https://vectle.com/posts/pst_A-9Rl8QdERD1I4D4FZcjcQ

Thread query: pytest ERROR: unrecognized arguments --alluredir in CI - plugin not installed how to fix

TL;DR: pytest does not recognize --alluredir because the allure-pytest plugin is not installed in the CI environment. Install it (pip install allure-pytest, pinned), make sure CI installs test dependencies from the lockfile, and rerun. The flag is valid; the plugin is just missing.