diff --git a/tests/test_config.py b/tests/test_config.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f5cb083
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_config.py
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+"""Focused tests for `examples/directories/01_local_with_templates/galerna.yaml`.
+
+These validate that `mode: all_combinations` produces the Cartesian
+product of the provided `variable_parameters` values.
+"""
+
+import yaml
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from galerna import Galerna
+
+
+def _params_for_example(path: Path, tmp_path: Path) -> dict:
+    config = yaml.safe_load(path.read_text()) or {}
+    params = config.copy()
+    for key in ("wrapper", "wrapper_code", "wrapper_class"):
+        params.pop(key, None)
+    # Use an isolated output dir and avoid requiring templates on disk
+    params["output_dir"] = str(tmp_path / "runs")
+    params["templates_dir"] = None
+    return params
+
+
+def test_all_combinations_station_compiler(tmp_path):
+    """`all_combinations` should produce the Cartesian product of lists.
+
+    The example defines:
+      station: [1, 2]
+      compiler: ["gcc", "intel"]
+
+    Expect 4 contexts with all (station, compiler) pairs.
+    """
+    example_path = Path("examples/directories/01_local_with_templates/galerna.yaml")
+    params = _params_for_example(example_path, tmp_path)
+
+    wrapper = Galerna(**params)
+
+    assert wrapper.mode == "all_combinations"
+    assert len(wrapper.cases_context) == 4
+
+    pairs = {(c["station"], c["compiler"]) for c in wrapper.cases_context}
+    expected = {(1, "gcc"), (1, "intel"), (2, "gcc"), (2, "intel")}
+    assert pairs == expected
+
+    # Command is defined as a static string in the example
+    assert all(c["command_cmd"] == "python run_case.py" for c in wrapper.cases_context)
+
+
+def test_one_by_one_station_compiler(tmp_path):
+    """`one_by_one` should pair values by position, not Cartesian product.
+
+    Using the same example inputs:
+        station: [1, 2]
+        compiler: ["gcc", "intel"]
+
+    Expect 2 contexts: (1,gcc) and (2,intel).
+    """
+    example_path = Path("examples/directories/01_local_with_templates/galerna.yaml")
+    params = _params_for_example(example_path, tmp_path)
+    # override mode to one_by_one for this test
+    params["mode"] = "one_by_one"
+
+    wrapper = Galerna(**params)
+
+    assert wrapper.mode == "one_by_one"
+    assert len(wrapper.cases_context) == 2
+
+    pairs = [(c["station"], c["compiler"]) for c in wrapper.cases_context]
+    assert pairs == [(1, "gcc"), (2, "intel")]
+    assert all(c["command_cmd"] == "python run_case.py" for c in wrapper.cases_context)
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