Running forked tests with hardhat keystore doesn't work with node test runner

[GlitchicaL]

Version of Hardhat

3.0.7

What happened?

Running TypeScript tests against a forked network using Node.js test runner & Viem results in the prompt for Hardhat's keystore password to not hide the password, and seems to hang with no error:

When testing using Mocha & Ethers.js, it seems to work as expected and doesn't hang:

Note both examples above were done with a new Hardhat project and only the hardhat.config.ts was edited with a remote network.

Minimal reproduction steps

1. Create a new Hardhat project with npx hardhat --init.
2. Upon asking what type of project to initialize, select "A TypeScript Hardhat project using Node Test Runner and Viem".
3. Install the necessary dependencies. For background, this is the command that is ran:

npm install --save-dev "hardhat@^3.0.7" "@nomicfoundation/hardhat-toolbox-viem@^5.0.0" "@nomicfoundation/hardhat-ignition@^3.0.0" "@types/node@^22.8.5" "forge-std@foundry-rs/forge-std#v1.9.4" "typescript@~5.8.0" "viem@^2.30.0"

4. Edit hardhat.config.ts with a remote network:

    hardhatMainnet: {
      type: "edr-simulated",
      chainType: "l1",
      forking: {
        url: configVariable("ALCHEMY_RPC_URL"),
        blockNumber: 23284000,
        enabled: true,
      }
    },

6. Run tests npx hardhat test --network hardhatMainnet

Search terms

No response

[michalbrabec]

The error is exactly as described, public node can be used for testing as well https://ethereum-sepolia.publicnode.com/

[michalbrabec]

Keystore is not supported in subprocesses like node:test and mocha:parallel.
Hardhat should display a clear error instructing users to use the dev keystore instead.