diff --git a/framework/core/.editorconfig b/framework/core/.editorconfig
index 87694ddab..658a43499 100644
--- a/framework/core/.editorconfig
+++ b/framework/core/.editorconfig
@@ -15,5 +15,5 @@ indent_size = 2
 [*.{diff,md}]
 trim_trailing_whitespace = false
 
-[*.php]
+[*.{php,xml}]
 indent_size = 4
diff --git a/framework/core/.gitignore b/framework/core/.gitignore
index dea5121b7..afb97426c 100644
--- a/framework/core/.gitignore
+++ b/framework/core/.gitignore
@@ -3,6 +3,6 @@ composer.lock
 composer.phar
 .DS_Store
 Thumbs.db
-tests/_output/*
+/tests/tmp
 .vagrant
 .idea/*
diff --git a/framework/core/.travis.yml b/framework/core/.travis.yml
index 7d99d4e9e..3a288f4c7 100644
--- a/framework/core/.travis.yml
+++ b/framework/core/.travis.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 language: php
 
+env:
+  - DB_USERNAME=travis
+services:
+  - mysql
+
 php:
   - 7.0
   - 7.1
@@ -7,9 +12,9 @@ php:
 
 matrix:
   fast_finish: true
-
+before_install:
+  - mysql -e 'CREATE DATABASE flarum;'
 before_script:
-  - if [[ "$TRAVIS_PHP_VERSION" != "hhvm" ]]; then phpenv config-rm xdebug.ini; fi;
   - composer self-update
   - composer install
 
diff --git a/framework/core/phpunit.xml b/framework/core/phpunit.xml
index c16f17554..6bdd4b7c7 100644
--- a/framework/core/phpunit.xml
+++ b/framework/core/phpunit.xml
@@ -11,9 +11,12 @@
          syntaxCheck="false">
 
     <testsuites>
+        <testsuite name="installation">
+            <directory suffix="Test.php">./tests/Install</directory>
+        </testsuite>
         <testsuite name="all">
             <directory suffix="Test.php">./tests</directory>
+            <exclude>./tests/Install</exclude>
         </testsuite>
     </testsuites>
-
 </phpunit>
diff --git a/framework/core/src/Install/Console/DataProviderInterface.php b/framework/core/src/Install/Console/DataProviderInterface.php
index 11fc191c1..9976598e2 100644
--- a/framework/core/src/Install/Console/DataProviderInterface.php
+++ b/framework/core/src/Install/Console/DataProviderInterface.php
@@ -20,4 +20,6 @@ interface DataProviderInterface
     public function getAdminUser();
 
     public function getSettings();
+
+    public function isDebugMode(): bool;
 }
diff --git a/framework/core/src/Install/Console/DefaultsDataProvider.php b/framework/core/src/Install/Console/DefaultsDataProvider.php
index c14d3aabd..70f300071 100644
--- a/framework/core/src/Install/Console/DefaultsDataProvider.php
+++ b/framework/core/src/Install/Console/DefaultsDataProvider.php
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ class DefaultsDataProvider implements DataProviderInterface
         'port'     => '3306',
     ];
 
+    protected $debug = false;
+
     protected $baseUrl = 'http://flarum.local';
 
     protected $adminUser = [
@@ -96,4 +98,14 @@ class DefaultsDataProvider implements DataProviderInterface
     {
         $this->settings[$key] = $value;
     }
+
+    public function isDebugMode(): bool
+    {
+        return $this->debug;
+    }
+
+    public function setDebugMode(bool $debug = true)
+    {
+        $this->debug = $debug;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/framework/core/src/Install/Console/FileDataProvider.php b/framework/core/src/Install/Console/FileDataProvider.php
index 17bb9c5e9..0eb8886f0 100644
--- a/framework/core/src/Install/Console/FileDataProvider.php
+++ b/framework/core/src/Install/Console/FileDataProvider.php
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ use Symfony\Component\Yaml\Yaml;
 class FileDataProvider implements DataProviderInterface
 {
     protected $default;
+    protected $debug = false;
     protected $baseUrl = null;
     protected $databaseConfiguration = [];
     protected $adminUser = [];
@@ -44,10 +45,11 @@ class FileDataProvider implements DataProviderInterface
             }
 
             // Define configuration variables
+            $this->debug = $configuration['debug'] ?? false;
             $this->baseUrl = isset($configuration['baseUrl']) ? rtrim($configuration['baseUrl'], '/') : null;
-            $this->databaseConfiguration = isset($configuration['databaseConfiguration']) ? $configuration['databaseConfiguration'] : [];
-            $this->adminUser = isset($configuration['adminUser']) ? $configuration['adminUser'] : [];
-            $this->settings = isset($configuration['settings']) ? $configuration['settings'] : [];
+            $this->databaseConfiguration = $configuration['databaseConfiguration'] ?? [];
+            $this->adminUser = $configuration['adminUser'] ?? [];
+            $this->settings = $configuration['settings'] ?? [];
         } else {
             throw new Exception('Configuration file does not exist.');
         }
@@ -72,4 +74,9 @@ class FileDataProvider implements DataProviderInterface
     {
         return $this->settings + $this->default->getSettings();
     }
+
+    public function isDebugMode(): bool
+    {
+        return $this->debug;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/framework/core/src/Install/Console/InstallCommand.php b/framework/core/src/Install/Console/InstallCommand.php
index 1ce1a2c0a..f3137454e 100644
--- a/framework/core/src/Install/Console/InstallCommand.php
+++ b/framework/core/src/Install/Console/InstallCommand.php
@@ -138,6 +138,7 @@ class InstallCommand extends AbstractCommand
     protected function install()
     {
         try {
+            $this->debug = $this->dataSource->isDebugMode();
             $this->dbConfig = $this->dataSource->getDatabaseConfiguration();
 
             $validation = $this->getValidator()->make(
@@ -214,7 +215,7 @@ class InstallCommand extends AbstractCommand
         $dbConfig = $this->dbConfig;
 
         $config = [
-            'debug'    => false,
+            'debug'    => $this->debug,
             'database' => [
                 'driver'    => $dbConfig['driver'],
                 'host'      => $dbConfig['host'],
diff --git a/framework/core/src/Install/Console/UserDataProvider.php b/framework/core/src/Install/Console/UserDataProvider.php
index 529e9d8e8..a84df2050 100644
--- a/framework/core/src/Install/Console/UserDataProvider.php
+++ b/framework/core/src/Install/Console/UserDataProvider.php
@@ -109,4 +109,9 @@ class UserDataProvider implements DataProviderInterface
 
         return $this->questionHelper->ask($this->input, $this->output, $question);
     }
+
+    public function isDebugMode(): bool
+    {
+        return false;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/framework/core/tests/Install/DefaultInstallationCommandTest.php b/framework/core/tests/Install/DefaultInstallationCommandTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7a8014fc0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/framework/core/tests/Install/DefaultInstallationCommandTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+<?php
+
+/*
+ * This file is part of Flarum.
+ *
+ * (c) Toby Zerner <toby.zerner@gmail.com>
+ *
+ * For the full copyright and license information, please view the LICENSE
+ * file that was distributed with this source code.
+ */
+
+namespace Flarum\Tests\Install;
+
+use Flarum\Install\Console\InstallCommand;
+use Flarum\Install\InstallServiceProvider;
+use Flarum\Tests\Test\TestCase;
+use Flarum\User\User;
+use Symfony\Component\Console\Input\StringInput;
+use Symfony\Component\Console\Output\StreamOutput;
+
+class DefaultInstallationCommandTest extends TestCase
+{
+    protected $isInstalled = false;
+
+    /**
+     * @test
+     */
+    public function allows_forum_installation()
+    {
+        if (file_exists($this->app->basePath().DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR.'config.php')) {
+            unlink($this->app->basePath().DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR.'config.php');
+        }
+
+        $this->app->register(InstallServiceProvider::class);
+        /** @var InstallCommand $command */
+        $command = $this->app->make(InstallCommand::class);
+        $command->setDataSource($this->configuration);
+
+        $body = fopen('php://temp', 'wb+');
+        $input = new StringInput('');
+        $output = new StreamOutput($body);
+
+        $command->run($input, $output);
+
+        $this->assertFileExists($this->app->basePath().DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR.'config.php');
+
+        $admin = $this->configuration->getAdminUser();
+
+        $this->assertEquals(User::find(1)->username, $admin['username']);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/framework/core/tests/Test/Concerns/CreatesForum.php b/framework/core/tests/Test/Concerns/CreatesForum.php
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6be88436d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/framework/core/tests/Test/Concerns/CreatesForum.php
@@ -0,0 +1,150 @@
+<?php
+
+/*
+ * This file is part of Flarum.
+ *
+ * (c) Toby Zerner <toby.zerner@gmail.com>
+ *
+ * For the full copyright and license information, please view the LICENSE
+ * file that was distributed with this source code.
+ */
+
+namespace Flarum\Tests\Test\Concerns;
+
+use Flarum\Database\Migrator;
+use Flarum\Foundation\Application;
+use Flarum\Foundation\Site;
+use Flarum\Http\Server;
+use Flarum\Install\Console\DataProviderInterface;
+use Flarum\Install\Console\DefaultsDataProvider;
+use Illuminate\Database\ConnectionInterface;
+use Illuminate\Database\Schema\Builder;
+
+trait CreatesForum
+{
+    /**
+     * @var Server
+     */
+    protected $http;
+
+    /**
+     * @var Site
+     */
+    protected $site;
+
+    /**
+     * @var Application
+     */
+    protected $app;
+
+    /**
+     * @var DataProviderInterface
+     */
+    protected $configuration;
+
+    /**
+     * Make the test set up Flarum as an installed app.
+     *
+     * @var bool
+     */
+    protected $isInstalled = true;
+
+    protected function createsSite()
+    {
+        $this->site = (new Site)
+            ->setBasePath(__DIR__.'/../../tmp')
+            ->setPublicPath(__DIR__.'/../../tmp/public');
+    }
+
+    protected function createsHttpForum()
+    {
+        $this->http = Server::fromSite(
+            $this->site
+        );
+
+        $this->app = $this->http->app;
+    }
+
+    protected function refreshApplication()
+    {
+        $this->createsSite();
+
+        $data = new DefaultsDataProvider();
+
+        $data->setDebugMode();
+        $data->setSetting('mail_driver', 'log');
+
+        $database = $data->getDatabaseConfiguration();
+        $database['database'] = env('DB_DATABASE', 'flarum');
+        $database['username'] = env('DB_USERNAME', 'root');
+        $database['password'] = env('DB_PASSWORD', '');
+        $data->setDatabaseConfiguration($database);
+
+        $this->configuration = $data;
+
+        $this->setsApplicationConfiguration($data);
+
+        $this->seedsApplication();
+
+        $this->createsHttpForum();
+    }
+
+    protected function teardownApplication()
+    {
+        /** @var ConnectionInterface $connection */
+        $connection = $this->app->make(ConnectionInterface::class);
+        $connection->rollBack();
+    }
+
+    protected function setsApplicationConfiguration(DataProviderInterface $data)
+    {
+        if ($this->isInstalled) {
+            $dbConfig = $data->getDatabaseConfiguration();
+            $this->site->setConfig(
+                $config = [
+                    'debug'    => $data->isDebugMode(),
+                    'database' => [
+                        'driver'    => $dbConfig['driver'],
+                        'host'      => $dbConfig['host'],
+                        'database'  => $dbConfig['database'],
+                        'username'  => $dbConfig['username'],
+                        'password'  => $dbConfig['password'],
+                        'charset'   => 'utf8mb4',
+                        'collation' => 'utf8mb4_unicode_ci',
+                        'prefix'    => $dbConfig['prefix'],
+                        'port'      => $dbConfig['port'],
+                        'strict'    => false
+                    ],
+                    'url'      => $data->getBaseUrl(),
+                    'paths'    => [
+                        'api'   => 'api',
+                        'admin' => 'admin',
+                    ],
+                ]
+            );
+        }
+    }
+
+    protected function seedsApplication()
+    {
+        if ($this->isInstalled) {
+            $app = app(\Illuminate\Contracts\Foundation\Application::class);
+
+            $app->bind(Builder::class, function ($container) {
+                return $container->make(ConnectionInterface::class)->getSchemaBuilder();
+            });
+
+            /** @var Migrator $migrator */
+            $migrator = $app->make(Migrator::class);
+            if (! $migrator->getRepository()->repositoryExists()) {
+                $migrator->getRepository()->createRepository();
+            }
+
+            $migrator->run(__DIR__.'/../../../migrations');
+
+            /** @var ConnectionInterface $connection */
+            $connection = $app->make(\Illuminate\Database\ConnectionInterface::class);
+            $connection->beginTransaction();
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/framework/core/tests/Test/Concerns/MakesApiRequests.php b/framework/core/tests/Test/Concerns/MakesApiRequests.php
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..270e501fb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/framework/core/tests/Test/Concerns/MakesApiRequests.php
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+<?php
+
+/*
+ * This file is part of Flarum.
+ *
+ * (c) Toby Zerner <toby.zerner@gmail.com>
+ *
+ * For the full copyright and license information, please view the LICENSE
+ * file that was distributed with this source code.
+ */
+
+namespace Flarum\Tests\Test\Concerns;
+
+use Flarum\Api\ApiServiceProvider;
+use Flarum\Api\Client;
+use Flarum\User\Guest;
+use Flarum\User\User;
+use Psr\Http\Message\ResponseInterface;
+
+trait MakesApiRequests
+{
+    public function call(string $controller, User $actor = null, array $queryParams = [], array $body = []): ResponseInterface
+    {
+        $this->app->register(ApiServiceProvider::class);
+        $this->app->make('flarum.api.middleware');
+        /** @var Client $api */
+        $api = $this->app->make(Client::class);
+
+        return $api->send($controller, $actor ?? new Guest, $queryParams, $body);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/framework/core/tests/Test/Concerns/RetrievesAuthorizedUsers.php b/framework/core/tests/Test/Concerns/RetrievesAuthorizedUsers.php
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ca4bf581c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/framework/core/tests/Test/Concerns/RetrievesAuthorizedUsers.php
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+<?php
+
+/*
+ * This file is part of Flarum.
+ *
+ * (c) Toby Zerner <toby.zerner@gmail.com>
+ *
+ * For the full copyright and license information, please view the LICENSE
+ * file that was distributed with this source code.
+ */
+
+namespace Flarum\Tests\Test\Concerns;
+
+use Flarum\User\User;
+
+trait RetrievesAuthorizedUsers
+{
+    protected $userAttributes = [
+        'username' => 'normal',
+        'password' => 'too-obscure',
+        'email' => 'normal@machine.local'
+    ];
+
+    public function getAdminUser()
+    {
+        return User::find(1);
+    }
+
+    public function getNormalUser()
+    {
+        User::unguarded(function () {
+            return User::firstOrCreate([
+                'username' => $this->userAttributes['username']
+            ], $this->userAttributes);
+        });
+    }
+}
diff --git a/framework/core/tests/Test/TestCase.php b/framework/core/tests/Test/TestCase.php
index b9f2459e2..21dbfff7b 100644
--- a/framework/core/tests/Test/TestCase.php
+++ b/framework/core/tests/Test/TestCase.php
@@ -11,20 +11,21 @@
 
 namespace Flarum\Tests\Test;
 
-use Mockery;
 use PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase as Test;
 
 abstract class TestCase extends Test
 {
+    use Concerns\CreatesForum,
+        Concerns\MakesApiRequests;
+
     public function setUp()
     {
-        Mockery::close();
-
+        $this->refreshApplication();
         $this->init();
     }
 
     protected function init()
     {
-        // To be overloaded by children - saves having to do setUp/mockery::close every time
+        // .. allows implementation by children without the need to call the parent.
     }
 }
diff --git a/framework/core/tests/tmp/public/assets/.gitkeep b/framework/core/tests/tmp/public/assets/.gitkeep
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
diff --git a/framework/core/tests/tmp/storage/.gitkeep b/framework/core/tests/tmp/storage/.gitkeep
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
diff --git a/framework/core/tests/tmp/vendor/composer/installed.json b/framework/core/tests/tmp/vendor/composer/installed.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0967ef424
--- /dev/null
+++ b/framework/core/tests/tmp/vendor/composer/installed.json
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{}