Is it default behaviour to load conftest.py and set up fixtures when calling --help?

[daara-s]

I have some slow to setup fixtures that live in tests/conftest.py. When I run pytest --help, it takes a little time before it returns anything to the terminal, but if I run pytest --help --noconftest then the output is instantaneous.

Is it expected behaviour to load in conftest when help is invoked?

[RonnyPfannschmidt]

if your fixtures set up when a conftest is loaded, then its not a fixture, its a cursed import time global and you should rethink your choices

conftest loading is expected as conftests can add cli args

fixtures are not set up until after collecting all tests

[daara-s]

defo a me issue loading or importing something I shouldn't in a test file then.

is there an easy method of checking what's getting loaded/collected while running pytest --help?

[RonnyPfannschmidt]

there is no collection for help printing

please show the conftest