Add CI test

.github/workflows/ci-tests.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+# This workflow will install CESM, create visualCaseGen conda env, and run all CI tests.
+
+name: visualCaseGen CI
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches: [ "main", "ci" ]
+  pull_request:
+    branches: [ "main", "ci" ]
+
+jobs:
+  ci_tests:
+    name: visualCaseGen CI tests
+    runs-on: "ubuntu-latest"
+    defaults:
+      run:
+        shell: bash -el {0}
+    steps:
+
+      - name: Install xmllint
+        run: sudo apt-get install -y libxml2-utils
+
+      # clone CESM
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          repository: alperaltuntas/CESM
+          ref: cesm2_3_alpha17b_gui    
+          #submodules: recursive
+
+      # Run manage_Externals
+      - name: checkout CESM
+        run: |
+          ./manage_externals/checkout_externals -o
+
+      # set up conda
+      - uses: conda-incubator/setup-miniconda@v3
+
+      # visualCaseGen conda env
+      - name: Create visualCaseGen conda env
+        run: |
+          cd visualCaseGen/
+          conda env create --file environment.yml
+          conda activate visualCaseGen
+
+      # Run all tests
+      - name: Run tests
+        env:
+          CIME_MODEL: "cesm"
+          CIME_DRIVER: "nuopc"
+          CIME_TEST_PLATFORM: ubuntu-latest
+        run: |
+          export SRC_PATH="${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}"
+          mkdir -p /home/runner/cesm/scratch
+          cd visualCaseGen/
+          conda activate visualCaseGen
+          pytest tests
+

visualCaseGen/cime_interface.py

@@ -526,9 +526,11 @@ def _retrieve_machines(self):
                         f"Couldn't determine CIME_OUTPUT_ROOT for {self.machine}"
                     )
                 if not os.path.exists(self.cime_output_root):
-                    logger.error(
-                        f"CIME_OUTPUT_ROOT doesn't exist: {self.cime_output_root}"
+                    logger.warning(
+                        f"CIME_OUTPUT_ROOT doesn't exist. Creating it at {self.cime_output_root}"
                     )
+                    # recursively create the directory
+                    os.makedirs(self.cime_output_root)
 
                 # Determine DIN_LOC_ROOT
                 din_loc_root_node = machines_obj.get_child(
@@ -542,7 +544,7 @@ def _retrieve_machines(self):
                     logger.error(f"DIN_LOC_ROOT doesn't exist: {self.din_loc_root}")
 
                 break
-        
+
         # Keep a record of whether a project id is required for each machine
         for machine in self.machines:
             machines_obj = Machines(machs_file, machine=machine)