add test compile for example scripts

lib/python/picongpu/pypicongpu/runner.py

@@ -333,7 +333,12 @@ def __run(self):
         chdir(self.setup_dir)
         runArgs(
             "PIConGPU",
-            r"tbg -s bash -c etc/picongpu/N.cfg -t $PIC_SYSTEM_TEMPLATE_PATH/mpiexec.tpl".split(" ") + [self.run_dir],
+            (
+                ("tbg -s bash -c etc/picongpu/N.cfg -t " + environ("PIC_SYSTEM_TEMPLATE_PATH") + "/mpiexec.tpl").split(
+                    " "
+                )
+                + [self.run_dir]
+            ),
         )
 
     def generate(self, printDirToConsole=False):

test/python/picongpu/compiling/__init__.py

@@ -3,3 +3,4 @@
 from .species import *  # pyflakes.ignore
 from .distribution import *  # pyflakes.ignore
 from .simulation import *  # pyflakes.ignore
+from .compileexamples import *  # pyflakes.ignore

test/python/picongpu/compiling/compileexamples.py

@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+"""
+This file is part of PIConGPU.
+Copyright 2021-2023 PIConGPU contributors
+Authors: Brian Edward Marre
+License: GPLv3+
+"""
+
+from picongpu import pypicongpu
+
+import shutil
+import importlib.util
+import sys
+
+import unittest
+
+
+class TestExamples(unittest.TestCase):
+    def __load_example_script(self, path):
+        """load and execute example PICMI script from given path"""
+        spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location("example", path)
+        example_script = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
+
+        sys.modules["example"] = example_script
+        spec.loader.exec_module(example_script)
+
+        sim = example.sim  # noqa
+        output_path = example.OUTPUT_DIRECTORY_PATH  # noqa
+
+        return sim, output_path
+
+    def __build_simulation(sim):
+        """build the given instance of simulation"""
+        runner = pypicongpu.Runner(sim)
+        runner.generate(printDirToConsole=True)
+        runner.build()
+
+    def test_LWFA_example(self):
+        sim, output_path = self.__load_example_script(
+            "$PICSRC/share/picongpu/pypicongpu/examples/laser_wakefield/main.py"
+        )
+
+        self.__try_to_build(sim)
+
+        # remove generated output
+        shutil.rmtree(output_path)
+
+    def test_warm_plasma_example(self):
+        sim, output_path = self.__load_example_script("$PICSRC/share/picongpu/pypicongpu/examples/warm_plasma/main.py")
+
+        self.__try_to_build(sim)
+
+        # remove generated output
+        shutil.rmtree(output_path)