diff --git a/pdr_backend/ppss/lake_ss.py b/pdr_backend/ppss/lake_ss.py
index e5b34d451..defa9a623 100644
--- a/pdr_backend/ppss/lake_ss.py
+++ b/pdr_backend/ppss/lake_ss.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import logging
 import os
+from typing import Optional
 
 import numpy as np
 from enforce_typing import enforce_types
@@ -87,3 +88,21 @@ def __str__(self) -> str:
         s += f"parquet_dir={self.parquet_dir}\n"
         s += "-" * 10 + "\n"
         return s
+
+
+# =========================================================================
+# utilities for testing
+
+
+@enforce_types
+def lake_ss_test_dict(parquet_dir: str, feeds: Optional[list] = None):
+    """Use this function's return dict 'd' to construct LakeSS(d)"""
+    feeds = feeds or ["binance BTC/USDT c 5m"]
+    d = {
+        "feeds": feeds,
+        "parquet_dir": parquet_dir,
+        "st_timestr": "2023-06-18",
+        "fin_timestr": "2023-06-30",
+        "timeframe": "5m",
+    }
+    return d
diff --git a/pdr_backend/ppss/sim_ss.py b/pdr_backend/ppss/sim_ss.py
index e1107bc36..fef1b4956 100644
--- a/pdr_backend/ppss/sim_ss.py
+++ b/pdr_backend/ppss/sim_ss.py
@@ -58,3 +58,24 @@ def tradetype(self) -> str:
     @property
     def allowed_tradetypes(self) -> List[str]:
         return ["livemock", "livereal", "histmock"]
+
+
+# =========================================================================
+# utilities for testing
+
+
+@enforce_types
+def sim_ss_test_dict(log_dir: str) -> dict:
+    d = {
+        "do_plot": True,
+        "log_dir": log_dir,
+        "test_n": 10,
+        "exchange_only": {
+            "timeout": 30000,
+            "options": {
+                "createMarketBuyOrderRequiresPrice": False,
+                "defaultType": "spot",
+            },
+        },
+    }
+    return d
diff --git a/pdr_backend/ppss/test/test_lake_ss.py b/pdr_backend/ppss/test/test_lake_ss.py
index 829e613cd..649ac3929 100644
--- a/pdr_backend/ppss/test/test_lake_ss.py
+++ b/pdr_backend/ppss/test/test_lake_ss.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 from pdr_backend.cli.arg_feed import ArgFeed
 from pdr_backend.cli.arg_feeds import ArgFeeds
-from pdr_backend.ppss.lake_ss import LakeSS
+from pdr_backend.ppss.lake_ss import LakeSS, lake_ss_test_dict
 from pdr_backend.util.time_types import UnixTimeMs
 
 _D = {
@@ -81,3 +81,34 @@ def test_parquet_dir(tmpdir):
     ss = LakeSS(d)
     target_parquet_dir = os.path.join(tmpdir, "parquet_data")
     assert ss.parquet_dir == target_parquet_dir
+
+
+@enforce_types
+def test_lake_ss_test_dict_1_default_feeds(tmpdir):
+    parquet_dir = os.path.join(tmpdir, "parquet_data")
+
+    d = lake_ss_test_dict(parquet_dir)
+
+    assert d["parquet_dir"] == parquet_dir
+
+    f = d["feeds"][0]
+    assert "binance" in f or "kraken" in f
+    assert "BTC" in f or "ETH" in f
+    assert "5m" in f or "1h" in f
+
+    assert "st_timestr" in d
+    assert "fin_timestr" in d
+    assert "timeframe" in d
+
+    ss = LakeSS(d)
+    assert ss.parquet_dir == parquet_dir
+    assert ss.feeds
+
+
+@enforce_types
+def test_lake_ss_test_dict_2_specify_feeds(tmpdir):
+    parquet_dir = os.path.join(tmpdir, "parquet_data")
+    feeds = ["kraken DOT/USDT c 60m", "dydx DOT/USDT c 60m"]
+    d = lake_ss_test_dict(parquet_dir, feeds)
+    assert d["parquet_dir"] == parquet_dir
+    assert d["feeds"] == feeds
diff --git a/pdr_backend/ppss/test/test_predictoor_ss.py b/pdr_backend/ppss/test/test_predictoor_ss.py
index 26dcd796c..fe19a993e 100644
--- a/pdr_backend/ppss/test/test_predictoor_ss.py
+++ b/pdr_backend/ppss/test/test_predictoor_ss.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ def test_predictoor_ss():
 
 @enforce_types
 def test_predictoor_ss_test_dict():
-    # test - reasoonable defaults when nothing passed in
+    # test - reasonable defaults when nothing passed in
     d = predictoor_ss_test_dict()
     f = d["predict_feed"]
     assert "binance" in f or "kraken" in f
@@ -64,16 +64,14 @@ def test_predictoor_ss_test_dict():
     assert d["aimodel_ss"]["input_feeds"] == ["binance ETH/USDT c 1h"]
 
     # test s_start_payouts attribute set
-    predictoor_ss = PredictoorSS(d)
+    ss = PredictoorSS(d)
 
-    assert (
-        predictoor_ss.s_start_payouts == 0
-    ), "Must be unset in the test dict, so should return 0"
+    assert ss.s_start_payouts == 0, "Must be unset in the test dict, so should return 0"
 
     # let's set it here
     d["bot_only"]["s_start_payouts"] = 100
-    predictoor_ss = PredictoorSS(d)
-    assert predictoor_ss.s_start_payouts == 100, "Must be set to 100"
+    ss = PredictoorSS(d)
+    assert ss.s_start_payouts == 100, "Must be set to 100"
 
 
 @enforce_types
diff --git a/pdr_backend/ppss/test/test_sim_ss.py b/pdr_backend/ppss/test/test_sim_ss.py
index 0497dc85e..f175fa004 100644
--- a/pdr_backend/ppss/test/test_sim_ss.py
+++ b/pdr_backend/ppss/test/test_sim_ss.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 from enforce_typing import enforce_types
 
-from pdr_backend.ppss.sim_ss import SimSS
+from pdr_backend.ppss.sim_ss import SimSS, sim_ss_test_dict
 
 _D = {"do_plot": False, "log_dir": "logs", "test_n": 2}
 
@@ -52,3 +52,15 @@ def test_log_dir(tmpdir):
     ss = SimSS(d)
     target_log_dir = os.path.join(tmpdir, "logs")
     assert ss.log_dir == target_log_dir
+
+
+@enforce_types
+def test_sim_ss_test_dict(tmpdir):
+    log_dir = os.path.join(tmpdir, "logs")
+    d = sim_ss_test_dict(log_dir)
+    assert d["do_plot"]
+    assert d["log_dir"] == log_dir
+
+    ss = SimSS(d)
+    assert ss.do_plot
+    assert ss.log_dir == log_dir
diff --git a/pdr_backend/sim/test/test_sim_engine.py b/pdr_backend/sim/test/test_sim_engine.py
index 60d5a88a4..a507e57e5 100644
--- a/pdr_backend/sim/test/test_sim_engine.py
+++ b/pdr_backend/sim/test/test_sim_engine.py
@@ -3,10 +3,10 @@
 
 from enforce_typing import enforce_types
 
-from pdr_backend.ppss.lake_ss import LakeSS
+from pdr_backend.ppss.lake_ss import LakeSS, lake_ss_test_dict
 from pdr_backend.ppss.ppss import PPSS, fast_test_yaml_str
 from pdr_backend.ppss.predictoor_ss import PredictoorSS, predictoor_ss_test_dict
-from pdr_backend.ppss.sim_ss import SimSS
+from pdr_backend.ppss.sim_ss import SimSS, sim_ss_test_dict
 from pdr_backend.sim.sim_engine import SimEngine
 
 
@@ -25,28 +25,13 @@ def test_sim_engine(tmpdir):
     ppss.predictoor_ss = PredictoorSS(d)
 
     # lake ss
-    d = {
-        "feeds": input_feeds,
-        "parquet_dir": os.path.join(tmpdir, "parquet_data"),
-        "st_timestr": "2023-06-18",
-        "fin_timestr": "2023-06-30",
-        "timeframe": "5m",
-    }
+    parquet_dir = os.path.join(tmpdir, "parquet_data")
+    d = lake_ss_test_dict(parquet_dir, input_feeds)
     ppss.lake_ss = LakeSS(d)
 
     # sim ss
-    d = {
-        "do_plot": True,
-        "log_dir": os.path.join(tmpdir, "logs"),
-        "test_n": 10,
-        "exchange_only": {
-            "timeout": 30000,
-            "options": {
-                "createMarketBuyOrderRequiresPrice": False,
-                "defaultType": "spot",
-            },
-        },
-    }
+    log_dir = os.path.join(tmpdir, "logs")
+    d = sim_ss_test_dict(log_dir)
     ppss.sim_ss = SimSS(d)
 
     # go