Clarify representative CI validation

Co-authored-by: Copilot App <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>

Copilot-Session: 61acbc5e-7c07-42a7-8e38-31329c4befce

Author: andystaples

docs/development.md

@@ -6,18 +6,26 @@ require that `make` is installed on your local machine. If you're using Windows,
 
 ## Validation
 
-Use Nox to run the same correctness checks as the GitHub Actions workflows:
+Use Nox to run the representative local correctness checks:
 
 ```sh
 python -m pip install -r dev-requirements.txt
 nox -s ci
 ```
 
-The `ci` session runs linting, strict type checks, the core SDK test matrix
-(Python 3.10--3.14), Azure Managed emulator tests, Azure Functions unit tests,
-and Azure Functions end-to-end tests. Install each Python version in the matrix
-to run the complete suite locally. Nox reports a missing interpreter clearly
-when one is unavailable.
+The `ci` session runs linting, strict type checks, core SDK and Azure Managed
+tests on Python 3.14, Azure Functions unit tests on Python 3.14, and Azure
+Functions end-to-end tests on Python 3.13. It intentionally runs one
+representative version rather than the complete CI matrix, keeping routine
+local validation fast. To use another supported version (3.10--3.14) for the
+core SDK and Azure Managed tests, pass it after `--`:
+
+```sh
+nox -s ci -- 3.10
+```
+
+Run the versioned test sessions directly when a change needs complete matrix
+coverage, for example `nox -s core_tests` or `nox -s azuremanaged_tests`.
 
 Nox starts Azurite automatically for the core and Azure Functions tests. The
 Azure Managed tests start a disposable DTS emulator Docker container. Start

noxfile.py

@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
 # Sample apps that need an in-app virtual environment for the E2E suite.
 E2E_APPS = ("v1_style", "dtask_style")
 PYTHON_VERSIONS = ("3.10", "3.11", "3.12", "3.13", "3.14")
+DEFAULT_CI_PYTHON = "3.14"
 
 
 def _install_packages(session: nox.Session, editable: bool = False) -> None:
@@ -139,16 +140,20 @@ def _start_azurite(
             "Azurite is required for this session. Install it with "
             "`npm install -g azurite` and run the session again.")
 
-    command = [executable, *arguments]
+    command = [
+        executable,
+        *arguments,
+        "--location",
+        session.create_tmp(),
+    ]
     if os.name == "nt" and executable.endswith(".ps1"):
         command = [
             "powershell",
             "-NoProfile",
             "-ExecutionPolicy",
             "Bypass",
             "-File",
-            executable,
-            *arguments,
+            *command,
         ]
 
     process = subprocess.Popen(command)
@@ -399,11 +404,23 @@ def functions_e2e(session: nox.Session) -> None:
 
 @nox.session(python=False)
 def ci(session: nox.Session) -> None:
-    """Run all lint, type, unit, emulator, and end-to-end CI-equivalent checks."""
+    """Run the representative local lint, type, test, emulator, and E2E checks.
+
+    Pass a core/Azure Managed Python version after ``--`` to override the
+    default representative version, for example ``nox -s ci -- 3.10``.
+    """
+    if len(session.posargs) > 1 or (
+        session.posargs and session.posargs[0] not in PYTHON_VERSIONS
+    ):
+        session.error(
+            "Pass at most one supported Python version after `--`: "
+            f"{', '.join(PYTHON_VERSIONS)}.")
+
+    python_version = session.posargs[0] if session.posargs else DEFAULT_CI_PYTHON
     session.notify("lint")
     session.notify("typecheck_core")
     session.notify("typecheck_functions")
-    session.notify("core_tests")
-    session.notify("azuremanaged_tests")
-    session.notify("functions_unit")
+    session.notify(f"core_tests-{python_version}")
+    session.notify(f"azuremanaged_tests-{python_version}")
+    session.notify("functions_unit-3.14")
     session.notify("functions_e2e")