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JetBrains AI Assistant : Revolutionizing Tech Solutions

JetBrains AI Assistant : Revolutionizing Tech Solutions

In the ever-evolving world of software development, efficiency and speed are key. As projects grow in complexity and deadlines tighten, AI-powered tools have become vital for streamlining workflows and improving productivity. One such game-changing tool is JetBrains AI Assistant a powerful feature now built directly into popular JetBrains IDEs like IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, and WebStorm. JetBrains AI brings intelligent support to both developers and testers by assisting with code generation, refactoring, and test automation. It helps developers write cleaner code faster and aids testers in quickly understanding test logic, creating new test cases, and maintaining robust test suites.

Whether you’re a seasoned developer or an automation tester, JetBrains AI acts like a smart coding companion making complex tasks simpler, reducing manual effort, and enhancing overall code quality. In this blog, we’ll dive into how JetBrains AI works and show its capabilities by simply demonstrating its real-world benefits.

What is JetBrains AI Assistant?

JetBrains AI Assistant is an intelligent coding assistant embedded within your JetBrains IDE. Powered by large language models (LLMs), it’s designed to help techies—whether you’re into development, testing, or automation—handle everyday coding tasks more efficiently.

Here’s what it can do:

  • Generate new code or test scripts from natural language prompts
  • Provide smart in-line suggestions and auto-completions while you code
  • Explain unfamiliar code in plain English—great for understanding legacy code or complex logic
  • Refactor existing code or tests to follow best practices and improve readability
  • Generate documentation and commit messages automatically

Whether you’re kicking off a new project or maintaining a long-standing codebase, JetBrains AI helps techies work faster, cleaner, and smarter—no matter your role. Let’s see how to get started with JetBrains AI.

Installing JetBrains AI Plugin in IntelliJ IDEA

Requirements

  • IntelliJ IDEA 2023.2 or later (Community or Ultimate)
  • JetBrains Account (Free to sign up)

1)Click the AI Assistant icon in the top-left corner of IntelliJ IDEA.

Jetbrain AI Assistant icon in the top-left corner of IntelliJ IDEA

2)Click on Install Plugin.

Click on Install Plugin

3)Once You Installed You will login or register

Jetbrain login

4)Once logged in, you’ll see an option to Start Free Trial to activate JetBrains AI features.

Start Free Trial to activate JetBrains AI features.

5)This is the section where you can enter and submit your prompt

Prompt Field

Let’s Start with a Simple Java Program

Now that we’ve explored what JetBrains AI Assistant can do, let’s see it in action with a hands-on example. To demonstrate its capabilities, we’ll walk through a basic Java calculator project. This example highlights how the AI Assistant can help generate code, complete logic, explain functionality, refactor structure, document classes, and even suggest commit messages—all within a real coding scenario.

Whether you’re a developer writing core features or a tester creating test logic, this simple program is a great starting point to understand how JetBrains AI can enhance your workflow.

1. Code Generation

Prompt: “Generate a Java class that implements a basic calculator with add, subtract, multiply, and divide methods.”

JetBrains AI can instantly create a boilerplate Calculator class for you. Here’s a sample result:

Jetbrain Code Generation

2. Code Completion

While typing inside a method, JetBrains AI predicts what you intend to write next. For example, when you start writing the add method, it might auto-suggest the return statement based on the method name and parameters.

Prompt: Start writing public int add(int a, int b) { and wait for the AI to auto-complete.

Enter this in the AI Assistant chat.The AI will generate updated code where a and b are taken from the user via console input.

Jetbarin Code Completion

3. Code Explanation

You can ask JetBrains AI to explain any method or class.

Prompt: “Explain what the divide method does.”

Code Explanation

Output:

This method takes two integers and returns the result of dividing the first by the second. It also checks if the divisor is zero to prevent a runtime exception.

Perfect for junior developers or anyone trying to understand unfamiliar code.

4. Refactoring Suggestions

JetBrains AI can suggest improvements if your code is too verbose or doesn’t follow best practices.

Prompt: “Refactor this Calculator class to make it more modular.”

Refactoring Suggestion

5. Documentation Generation

Adding documentation is often the most skipped part of development, but not anymore.

Prompt: “Add JavaDoc comments for this Calculator class.”

JetBrains AI will generate JavaDoc for each method, helping improve code readability and aligning with project documentation standards.

Jetbrain Documentation Generation

6. Commit Message Suggestions

After writing or updating your Calculator class, ask:

Prompt: “Generate a commit message for adding the Calculator class with basic operations.”

Commit Message Suggestions

Conclusion

JetBrains AI Assistant is not just another plugin it’s your smart programming companion. From writing your first method to generating JavaDoc and commit messages, it makes the development process smoother, smarter, and more efficient. As we saw in this blog, even a basic Java calculator app becomes a perfect canvas to showcase AI’s potential in coding. If you’re a developer looking to boost productivity, improve code quality, and reduce burnout, JetBrains AI is a game-changer.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What makes JetBrains AI unique in tech solutions?

    JetBrains AI stands out because of its flexible way of using AI in tech solutions. It gives developers the choice to use different AI models. This includes options that are in the cloud or hosted locally. By offering these choices, it encourages new ideas and meets different development needs. Its adaptability, along with strong features, makes JetBrains AI a leader in AI-driven tech solutions.

  • How does JetBrains AI impact the productivity of developers?

    JetBrains AI helps developers work better by making their tasks easier and automating things they do often. This means coding can be done quicker, mistakes are cut down, and project timelines improve. With smart help at every step, JetBrains AI lets developers focus on more important work, which boosts their overall efficiency.

  • Can JetBrains AI integrate with existing tech infrastructures?

    JetBrains AI is made to fit well with the tech systems you already have. It easily works with popular JetBrains IDEs. It also supports different programming languages and frameworks. This makes it a flexible tool that can go into your current development setups without any problems.

  • What future developments are expected in JetBrains AI?

    Future updates in JetBrains AI will probably aim for new improvements in AI models. These improvements may include special models designed for certain coding jobs or fields. We can also expect better connections with other developer tools and platforms. This will help make JetBrains AI a key player in AI-driven development.

  • How to get started with JetBrains AI for tech solutions?

    Getting started with JetBrains AI is easy. You can find detailed guides and helpful documents on the JetBrains website. There is also a strong community of developers ready to help you with any questions or issues. This support makes it easier to start using JetBrains AI.

Spring Boot for Automation Testing: A Tester’s Guide

Spring Boot for Automation Testing: A Tester’s Guide

Automation testing is essential in today’s software development. Most people know about tools like Selenium, Cypress, and Postman. But many don’t realize that Spring Boot can also be really useful for testing. Spring Boot, a popular Java framework, offers great features that testers can use for automating API tests, backend validations, setting up test data, and more. Its integration with the Spring ecosystem makes automation setups faster and more reliable. It also works smoothly with other testing tools like Cucumber and Selenium, making it a great choice for building complete automation frameworks.

This blog will help testers understand how they can leverage Spring Boot for automation testing and why it’s not just a developer’s tool anymore!

Key Features of Spring Boot that Enhance Automation

One of the biggest advantages of using Spring Boot for automation testing is its auto-configuration feature. Instead of dealing with complex XML files, Spring Boot figures out most of the setup automatically based on the libraries you include. This saves a lot of time when starting a new test project.

Spring Boot also makes it easy to build standalone applications. It bundles everything you need into a single JAR file, so you don’t have to worry about setting up external servers or containers. This makes running and sharing your tests much simpler.

Another helpful feature is the ability to create custom configuration classes. With annotations and Java-based settings, you can easily change how your application behaves during tests—like setting up test databases or mocking external services.

Spring Boot simplifies Java-based application development and comes with built-in support for testing. Benefits include:

  • Built-in testing libraries (JUnit, Mockito, AssertJ, etc.)
  • Easy integration with CI/CD pipelines
  • Dependency injection simplifies test configuration
  • Embedded server for end-to-end tests

Types of Tests Testers Can Do with Spring Boot

S. No Test Type Purpose Tools Used
1 Unit Testing Test individual methods or classes JUnit 5, Mockito
2 Integration Testing Test multiple components working together @SpringBootTest, @DataJpaTest
3 Web Layer Testing Test controllers, filters, HTTP endpoints MockMvc, WebTestClient
4 End-to-End Testing Test the app in a running state TestRestTemplate, Selenium (optional)

Why Should Testers Use Spring Boot for Automation Testing?

S. No Benefits of using Spring Boot in Test Automation How it Helps Testers
1 Easy API Integration Directly test REST APIs within the Spring ecosystem
2 Embedded Test Environment No need for external servers for testing
3 Dependency Injection Manage and reuse test components easily
4 Database Support Database Support
Automated test data setup using JPA/Hibernate
5 Profiles & Configurations Run tests in different environments effortlessly
6 Built-in Test Libraries JUnit, TestNG, Mockito, RestTemplate, WebTestClient ready to use
7 Support for Mocking Mock external services easily using MockMvc or WireMock

Step-by-Step Setup: Spring Boot Automation Testing Environment

Step 1: Install Prerequisites

Before you begin, install the following tools on your system:

Java Development Kit (JDK)

Maven (Build Tool)

IDE (Integrated Development Environment)

  • Use IntelliJ IDEA or Eclipse for coding and managing the project.

Git

Step 2: Configure pom.xml with Required Dependencies

Edit the pom.xml to add the necessary dependencies for testing.

Here’s an example:


<dependencies>
    <!-- Spring Boot Test -->
    <dependency>
        <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
        <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-test</artifactId>
        <scope>test</scope>
    </dependency>

    <!-- Selenium -->
    <dependency>
        <groupId>org.seleniumhq.selenium</groupId>
        <artifactId>selenium-java</artifactId>
        <version>4.18.1</version>
        <scope>test</scope>
    </dependency>

    <!-- RestAssured -->
    <dependency>
        <groupId>io.rest-assured</groupId>
        <artifactId>rest-assured</artifactId>
        <version>5.4.0</version>
        <scope>test</scope>
    </dependency>

    <!-- Cucumber -->
    <dependency>
        <groupId>io.cucumber</groupId>
        <artifactId>cucumber-java</artifactId>
        <version>7.15.0</version>
        <scope>test</scope>
    </dependency>
    <dependency>
        <groupId>io.cucumber</groupId>
        <artifactId>cucumber-spring</artifactId>
        <version>7.15.0</version>
        <scope>test</scope>
    </dependency>
</dependencies>


Run mvn clean install to download and set up all dependencies.

Step 3: Organize Your Project Structure

Create the following basic folder structure:


src
├── main
│   └── java
│       └── com.example.demo (your main app code)
├── test
│   └── java
│       └── com.example.demo (your test code)


Step 4: Create Sample Test Classes


@SpringBootTest
public class SampleUnitTest {

    @Test
    void sampleTest() {
        Assertions.assertTrue(true);
    }
}

1. API Automation Testing with Spring Boot

Goal: Automate API testing like GET, POST, PUT, DELETE requests.

In Spring Boot, TestRestTemplate is commonly used for API calls in tests.

Example: Test GET API for fetching user details

User API Endpoint:

GET /users/1

Sample Response:


{
  "id": 1,
  "name": "John Doe",
  "email": "[email protected]"
}

Test Class with Code:


@SpringBootTest(webEnvironment = SpringBootTest.WebEnvironment.RANDOM_PORT)
class UserApiTest {

    @Autowired
    private TestRestTemplate restTemplate;

    @Test
    void testGetUserById() {
        ResponseEntity<User> response = restTemplate.getForEntity("/users/1", User.class);

        assertEquals(HttpStatus.OK, response.getStatusCode());
        assertEquals("John Doe", response.getBody().getName());
    }
}

Explanation:

S. No Line Meaning
1 @SpringBootTest Loads full Spring context for testing
2 TestRestTemplate Used to call REST API inside test
3 getForEntity Performs GET call
4 Assertions Validates response status and response body

2. Test Data Setup using Spring Data JPA

In automation, managing test data is crucial. Spring Boot allows you to set up data directly in the database before running your tests.

Example: Insert User Data Before Test Runs


@SpringBootTest
class UserDataSetupTest {

    @Autowired
    private UserRepository userRepository;

    @BeforeEach
    void insertTestData() {
        userRepository.save(new User("John Doe", "[email protected]"));
    }

    @Test
    void testUserExists() {
        List<User> users = userRepository.findAll();
        assertFalse(users.isEmpty());
    }
}

Explanation:

  • @BeforeEach → Runs before every test.
  • userRepository.save() → Inserts data into DB.
  • No need for SQL scripts — use Java objects directly!

3. Mocking External APIs using MockMvc

MockMvc is a powerful tool in Spring Boot to test controllers without starting the full server.

Example: Mock POST API for Creating User


@SpringBootTest
@AutoConfigureMockMvc
class UserControllerTest {

    @Autowired
    private MockMvc mockMvc;

    @Test
    void testCreateUser() throws Exception {
        mockMvc.perform(post("/users")
                .content("{\"name\": \"John\", \"email\": \"[email protected]\"}")
                .contentType(MediaType.APPLICATION_JSON))
                .andExpect(status().isCreated());
    }
}

Explanation:

S. No MockMvc Method Purpose
1 perform(post(…)) Simulates a POST API call
2 content(…) Sends JSON body
3 contentType(…) Tells server it’s JSON
4 andExpect(…) Validates HTTP Status

4. End-to-End Integration Testing (API + DB)

Example: Validate API Response + DB Update


@SpringBootTest(webEnvironment = SpringBootTest.WebEnvironment.RANDOM_PORT)
class UserIntegrationTest {

    @Autowired
    private TestRestTemplate restTemplate;

    @Autowired
    private UserRepository userRepository;

    @Test
    void testAddUserAndValidateDB() {
        User newUser = new User("Alex", "[email protected]");

        ResponseEntity<User> response = restTemplate.postForEntity("/users", newUser, User.class);

        assertEquals(HttpStatus.CREATED, response.getStatusCode());

        List<User> users = userRepository.findAll();
        assertTrue(users.stream().anyMatch(u -> u.getName().equals("Alex")));
    }
}

Explanation:

  • Calls POST API to add user.
  • Validates response code.
  • Checks in DB if user actually inserted.

5. Mock External Services using WireMock

Useful for simulating 3rd party API responses.


@SpringBootTest
@AutoConfigureWireMock(port = 8089)
class ExternalApiMockTest {

    @Autowired
    private TestRestTemplate restTemplate;

    @Test
    void testExternalApiMocking() {
        stubFor(get(urlEqualTo("/external-api"))
                .willReturn(aResponse().withStatus(200).withBody("Success")));

        ResponseEntity<String> response = restTemplate.getForEntity("http://localhost:8089/external-api", String.class);

        assertEquals("Success", response.getBody());
    }
}

Best Practices for Testers using Spring Boot

  • Follow clean code practices.
  • Use Profiles for different environments (dev, test, prod).
  • Keep test configuration separate.
  • Reuse components via dependency injection.
  • Use Mocking wherever possible.
  • Add proper logging for better debugging.
  • Integrate with CI/CD for automated test execution

Conclusion

Spring Boot is no longer limited to backend development — it has emerged as a powerful tool for testers, especially for API automation, backend testing, and test data management. Testers who learn to leverage Spring Boot can build scalable, maintainable, and robust automation frameworks with ease. By combining Spring Boot with other testing tools and frameworks, testers can elevate their automation skills beyond UI testing and become full-fledged automation experts. At Codoid, we’ve adopted Spring Boot in our testing toolkit to streamline API automation and improve efficiency across projects.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can Spring Boot replace tools like Selenium or Postman?

    No, Spring Boot is not a replacement but a complement. While Selenium handles UI testing and Postman is great for manual API testing, Spring Boot is best used to build automation frameworks for APIs, microservices, and backend systems.

  • Why should testers learn Spring Boot?

    Learning Spring Boot enables testers to go beyond UI testing, giving them the ability to handle complex scenarios like test data setup, mocking, integration testing, and CI/CD-friendly test execution.

  • How does Spring Boot support API automation?

    Spring Boot integrates well with tools like RestAssured, MockMvc, and WireMock, allowing testers to automate API requests, mock external services, and validate backend logic efficiently.

  • Is Spring Boot CI/CD friendly for test automation?

    Absolutely. Spring Boot projects are easy to integrate into CI/CD pipelines using tools like Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or GitLab CI. Tests can be run as part of the build process with reports generated automatically.

Playwright Mobile Automation for Seamless Web Testing

Playwright Mobile Automation for Seamless Web Testing

Playwright is a fast and modern testing framework known for its efficiency and automation capabilities. It is great for web testing, including Playwright Mobile Automation, which provides built-in support for emulating real devices like smartphones and tablets. Features like custom viewports, user agent simulation, touch interactions, and network throttling help create realistic mobile testing environments without extra setup. Unlike Selenium and Appium, which rely on third-party tools, Playwright offers native mobile emulation and faster execution, making it a strong choice for testing web applications on mobile browsers. However, Playwright does not support native app testing for Android or iOS, as it focuses only on web browsers and web views.

Playwright Mobile Automation

In this blog, the setup process for mobile web automation in Playwright will be explained in detail. The following key aspects will be covered:

Before proceeding with mobile web automation, it is essential to ensure that Playwright is properly installed on your machine. In this section, a step-by-step guide will be provided to help set up Playwright along with its dependencies. The installation process includes the following steps:

Setting Up Playwright

Before starting with mobile web automation, ensure that you have Node.js installed on your system. Playwright requires Node.js to run JavaScript-based automation scripts.

1. Verify Node.js Installation

To check if Node.js is installed, open a terminal or command prompt and run:

node -v

If Node.js is installed, this command will return the installed version. If not, download and install the latest version from the official Node.js website.

2. Install Playwright and Its Dependencies

Once Node.js is set up, install Playwright using npm (Node Package Manager) with the following commands:


npm install @playwright/test

npx playwright install

  • The first command installs the Playwright testing framework.
  • The second command downloads and installs the required browser binaries, including Chromium, Firefox, and WebKit, to enable cross-browser testing.

3. Verify Playwright Installation

To ensure that Playwright is installed correctly, you can check its version by running:


npx playwright --version

This will return the installed Playwright version, confirming a successful setup.

4. Initialize a Playwright Test Project (Optional)

If you plan to use Playwright’s built-in test framework, initialize a test project with:


npx playwright test --init

This sets up a basic folder structure with example tests, Playwright configurations, and dependencies.

Once Playwright is installed and configured, you are ready to start automating mobile web applications. The next step is configuring the test environment for mobile emulation.

Emulating Mobile Devices

Playwright provides built-in mobile device emulation, enabling you to test web applications on various popular devices such as Pixel 5, iPhone 12, and Samsung Galaxy S20. This feature ensures that your application behaves consistently across different screen sizes, resolutions, and touch interactions, making it an essential tool for responsive web testing.

1. Understanding Mobile Device Emulation in Playwright

Playwright’s device emulation is powered by predefined device profiles, which include settings such as:

  • Viewport size (width and height)
  • User agent string (to simulate mobile browsers)
  • Touch support
  • Device scale factor
  • Network conditions (optional)

These configurations allow you to mimic real mobile devices without requiring an actual physical device.

2. Example Code for Emulating a Mobile Device

Here’s an example script that demonstrates how to use Playwright’s mobile emulation with the Pixel 5 device:


const { test, expect, devices } = require('@playwright/test');


// Apply Pixel 5 emulation settings

test.use({ ...devices['Pixel 5'] });


test('Verify page title on mobile', async ({ page }) => {

    // Navigate to the target website

    await page.goto('https://playwright.dev/');


    // Simulate a short wait time for page load

    await page.waitForTimeout(2000);


    // Capture a screenshot of the mobile view

    await page.screenshot({ path: 'pixel5.png' });


    // Validate the page title to ensure correct loading

    await expect(page).toHaveTitle("Fast and reliable end-to-end testing for modern web apps | Playwright");

});

3. How This Script Works

  • It imports test, expect, and devices from Playwright.
  • The test.use({…devices[‘Pixel 5’]}) method applies the Pixel 5 emulation settings.
  • The script navigates to the Playwright website.
  • It waits for 2 seconds, simulating real user behavior.
  • A screenshot is captured to visually verify the UI appearance on the Pixel 5 emulation.
  • The script asserts the page title, ensuring that the correct page is loaded.

4. Running the Script

Save this script in a test file (e.g., mobile-test.spec.js) and execute it using the following command:


npx playwright test mobile-test.spec.js

If Playwright is set up correctly, the test will run in emulation mode and generate a screenshot named pixel5.png in your project folder.

Playwright Mobile Automation for Seamless Web Testing

5. Testing on Other Mobile Devices

To test on different devices, simply change the emulation settings:


test.use({ ...devices['iPhone 12'] }); // Emulates iPhone 12

test.use({ ...devices['Samsung Galaxy S20'] }); // Emulates Samsung Galaxy S20

Playwright includes a wide range of device profiles, which can be found by running:


npx playwright devices

Using Custom Mobile Viewports

Playwright provides built-in mobile device emulation, but sometimes your test may require a device that is not available in Playwright’s predefined list. In such cases, you can manually define a custom viewport, user agent, and touch capabilities to accurately simulate the target device.

1. Why Use Custom Mobile Viewports?

  • Some new or less common mobile devices may not be available in Playwright’s devices list.
  • Custom viewports allow testing on specific screen resolutions and device configurations.
  • They provide flexibility when testing progressive web apps (PWAs) or applications with unique viewport breakpoints.

2. Example Code for Custom Viewport

The following Playwright script manually configures a Samsung Galaxy S10 viewport and device properties:


const { test, expect } = require('@playwright/test');


test.use({

  viewport: { width: 414, height: 896 }, // Samsung Galaxy S10 resolution

  userAgent: 'Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; Android 10; SM-G973F) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/91.0.4472.124 Mobile Safari/537.36',

  isMobile: true, // Enables mobile-specific behaviors

  hasTouch: true  // Simulates touch screen interactions

});


test('Open page with custom mobile resolution', async ({ page }) => {

    // Navigate to the target webpage

    await page.goto('https://playwright.dev/');


    // Simulate real-world waiting behavior

    await page.waitForTimeout(2000);


    // Capture a screenshot of the webpage

    await page.screenshot({ path: 'android_custom.png' });


    // Validate that the page title is correct

    await expect(page).toHaveTitle("Fast and reliable end-to-end testing for modern web apps | Playwright");

});

3. How This Script Works

  • viewport: { width: 414, height: 896 } → Sets the screen size to Samsung Galaxy S10 resolution.
  • userAgent: ‘Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; Android 10; SM-G973F)…’ → Spoofs the browser user agent to mimic a real Galaxy S10 browser.
  • isMobile: true → Enables mobile-specific browser behaviors, such as dynamic viewport adjustments.
  • hasTouch: true → Simulates a touchscreen, allowing for swipe and tap interactions.
  • The test navigates to Playwright’s website, waits for 2 seconds, takes a screenshot, and verifies the page title.

4. Running the Test

To execute this test, save it in a file (e.g., custom-viewport.spec.js) and run:


npx playwright test custom-viewport.spec.js

After execution, a screenshot named android_custom.png will be saved in your project folder.

Playwright Mobile Automation for Seamless Web Testing

5. Testing Other Custom Viewports

You can modify the script to test different resolutions by changing the viewport size and user agent.

Example: Custom iPad Pro 12.9 Viewport


test.use({

  viewport: { width: 1024, height: 1366 },

  userAgent: 'Mozilla/5.0 (iPad; CPU OS 14_6 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/14.1.1 Mobile/15E148 Safari/537.36',

  isMobile: false, // iPads are often treated as desktops

  hasTouch: true

});

Example: Low-End Android Device (320×480, Old Android Browser)


test.use({

  viewport: { width: 320, height: 480 },

  userAgent: 'Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 4.2.2; en-us; GT-S7562) AppleWebKit/534.30 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile Safari/534.30',

  isMobile: true,

  hasTouch: true

});

Real Device Setup & Execution

Playwright enables automation testing on real Android devices and emulators using Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This capability allows testers to validate their applications in actual mobile environments, ensuring accurate real-world behavior.

Unlike Android, Playwright does not currently support real-device testing on iOS due to Apple’s restrictions on third-party browser automation. Safari automation on iOS requires WebDriver-based solutions like Appium or Apple’s XCUITest, as Apple does not provide a direct automation API similar to ADB for Android. However, Playwright’s team is actively working on expanding iOS support through WebKit debugging, but full-fledged real-device automation is still in the early stages.

Below is a step-by-step guide to setting up and executing Playwright tests on an Android device.

Preconditions: Setting Up Your Android Device for Testing

1. Install Android Command-Line Tools

  • Download and install the Android SDK Command-Line Tools from the official Android Developer website.
  • Set up the ANDROID_HOME environment variable and add platform-tools to the system PATH.

2. Enable USB Debugging on Your Android Device

  • Go to Settings > About Phone > Tap “Build Number” 7 times to enable Developer Mode.
  • Open Developer Options and enable USB Debugging.
  • If using a real device, connect it via USB and authorize debugging when prompted.

3. Ensure ADB is Installed & Working

Run the following command to verify that ADB (Android Debug Bridge) detects the connected device:


adb devices

Running Playwright Tests on a Real Android Device

Sample Playwright Script for Android Device Automation


const { _android: android } = require('playwright');

const { expect } = require('@playwright/test');


(async () => {

  // Get the list of connected Android devices

  const devices = await android.devices();

  if (devices.length === 0) {

    console.log("No Android devices found!");

    return;

  }


  // Connect to the first available Android device

  const device = devices[0];

  console.log(`Connected to: ${device.model()} (Serial: ${device.serial()})`);


  // Launch the Chrome browser on the Android device

  const context = await device.launchBrowser();

  console.log('Chrome browser launched!');


  // Open a new browser page

  const page = await context.newPage();

  console.log('New page opened!');


  // Navigate to a website

  await page.goto('https://webkit.org/');

  console.log('Page loaded!');


  // Print the current URL

  console.log(await page.evaluate(() => window.location.href));


  // Verify if an element is visible

  await expect(page.locator("//h1[contains(text(),'engine')]")).toBeVisible();

  console.log('Element found!');


  // Capture a screenshot of the page

  await page.screenshot({ path: 'page.png' });

  console.log('Screenshot taken!');


  // Close the browser session

  await context.close();


  // Disconnect from the device

  await device.close();

})();



How the Script Works

  • Retrieves connected Android devices using android.devices().
  • Connects to the first available Android device.
  • Launches Chrome on the Android device and opens a new page.
  • Navigates to https://webkit.org/ and verifies that a page element (e.g., h1 containing “engine”) is visible.
  • Takes a screenshot and saves it as page.png.
  • Closes the browser and disconnects from the device.

Executing the Playwright Android Test

To run the test, save the script as android-test.js and execute it using:


node android-test.js

If the setup is correct, the test will launch Chrome on the Android device, navigate to the webpage, validate elements, and capture a screenshot.

Screenshot saved from real device

Playwright Mobile Automation for Seamless Web Testing

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What browsers does Playwright support for mobile automation?

    Playwright supports Chromium, Firefox, and WebKit, allowing comprehensive mobile web testing across different browsers.

  • Can Playwright test mobile web applications in different network conditions?

    Yes, Playwright allows network throttling to simulate slow connections like 3G, 4G, or offline mode, helping testers verify web application performance under various conditions.

  • Is Playwright the best tool for mobile web automation?

    Playwright is one of the best tools for mobile web testing due to its speed, efficiency, and cross-browser support. However, if you need to test native or hybrid mobile apps, Appium or native testing frameworks are better suited.

  • Does Playwright support real device testing for mobile automation?

    Playwright supports real device testing on Android using ADB, but it does not support native iOS testing due to Apple’s restrictions. For iOS testing, alternative solutions like Appium or XCUITest are required.

  • Does Playwright support mobile geolocation testing?

    Yes, Playwright allows testers to simulate GPS locations to verify how web applications behave based on different geolocations. This is useful for testing location-based services like maps and delivery apps.

  • Can Playwright be integrated with CI/CD pipelines for mobile automation?

    Yes, Playwright supports CI/CD integration with tools like Jenkins, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, and Azure DevOps, allowing automated mobile web tests to run on every code deployment.

Automation Test Coverage Metrics for QA and Product Managers

Automation Test Coverage Metrics for QA and Product Managers

Ensuring high-quality software requires strong testing processes. Software testing, especially test automation, is very important for this purpose. High test coverage through automation test coverage metrics shows how much automated tests are used in testing a software application. This measurement is key for a good development team and test automation. When teams measure and analyze automation test coverage, they can learn a lot about how well their testing efforts are working. This helps them make smart choices to boost software quality.

Understanding Automation Test Coverage

Automation test coverage shows the percentage of a software application’s code that a number of automation tests run. It gives a clear idea of how well these tests check the software’s functionality, performance, and reliability. Getting high automation test coverage is important. It helps cut testing time and costs, leading to a stable and high-quality product.

Still, it’s key to remember that automation test coverage alone does not define software quality. While having high coverage is good, it’s vital not to sacrifice test quality. You need a well-designed and meaningful test suite of automated tests that focus on the important parts of the application.

Automation Test Coverage Metrics for QA and Product Managers

Key Metrics to Measure Automation Test Coverage

Measuring automation test coverage is very important for making sure your testing efforts are effective. These metrics give you useful information about how complete your automated tests are. They also help you find areas that need improvement.By watching and analyzing these metrics closely, QA teams can improve their automation strategies. This leads to higher test coverage and better software quality.

1. Automatable Test Cases

This metric measures the percentage of test cases that can be automated in relation to the total number of test cases in a suite, ensuring a stable build. It plays a crucial role in prioritizing automation efforts and identifying scenarios that require manual testing due to complexity. By understanding the proportion of automatable test cases, teams can create a balanced testing strategy that effectively integrates both manual and automated testing. Additionally, it helps in recognizing test cases that may not be suitable for automation, thereby improving resource allocation. Some scenarios, such as visual testing, CAPTCHA validation, complex hardware interactions, and dynamically changing UI elements, may be difficult or impractical to automate, requiring manual intervention to ensure comprehensive test coverage.

The formula to calculate test automation coverage for automatable test cases is:

Automatable Test Cases (%) = (Automatable Test Cases ÷ Total Test Cases) × 100

For example, if a project consists of 600 test cases, out of which 400 can be automated, the automatable test case coverage would be 66.67%.

A best practice for maximizing automation effectiveness is to prioritize test cases that are repetitive, time-consuming, and have a high business impact. By focusing on these, teams can enhance efficiency and ensure that automation efforts yield the best possible return on investment.

2. Automation Pass Rate

Automation pass rate measures the percentage of automated test cases that successfully pass during execution. It is a key metric, a more straightforward metric, for assessing the reliability and stability of automated test scripts, with a low failure rate being crucial. A consistently high failure rate may indicate flaky tests, unstable automation logic, or environmental issues. This metric also helps distinguish whether failures are caused by application defects or problems within the test scripts themselves.

The formula to calculate automation pass rate is:

Automation Pass Rate (%) = (Passed Test Cases ÷ Executed Test Cases) × 100

For example, if a testing team executes 500 automated test cases and 450 of them pass successfully, the automation pass rate is:

(450 ÷ 500) × 100 = 90%

This means 90% of the automated tests ran successfully, while the remaining 10% either failed or were inconclusive. A low pass rate could indicate issues with automation scripts, environmental instability, or application defects that require further investigation.

A best practice to improve this metric is to analyze frequent failures and determine whether they stem from script issues, test environment instability, or genuine defects in the application.

3. Automation Execution Time

Automation execution time measures the total duration required for automated test cases to run from start to finish, including test execution time. This metric is crucial in evaluating whether automation provides a time advantage over manual testing. Long execution times can delay deployments and impact release schedules, making it essential to optimize test execution for efficiency. By analyzing automation execution time, teams can identify areas for improvement, such as implementing parallel execution or optimizing test scripts.

One way to improve automation execution time and increase test automation ROI is by using parallel execution, which allows multiple tests to run simultaneously, significantly reducing the total test duration. Additionally, optimizing test scripts by removing redundant steps and leveraging cloud-based test grids to execute tests on multiple devices and browsers can further enhance efficiency.

For example, if the original automation execution time is 4 hours and parallel testing reduces it to 1.5 hours, it demonstrates a significant improvement in test efficiency.

A best practice is to aim for an execution time that aligns with sprint cycles, ensuring that testing does not delay releases. By continuously refining automation strategies, teams can maximize the benefits of test automation while maintaining rapid and reliable software delivery.

4. Code Coverage Metrics

Code coverage measures how much of the application’s codebase is tested through automation.

Key Code Coverage Metrics:

  • Statement Coverage: Measures executed statements in the source code.
  • Branch Coverage: Ensures all decision branches (if-else conditions) are tested.
  • Function Coverage: Determines how many functions or methods are tested.
  • Line Coverage: Ensures each line of code runs at least once.
  • Path Coverage: Verifies different execution paths are tested.

Code Coverage (%) = (Covered Code Lines ÷ Total Code Lines) × 100

For example, If a project has 5,000 lines of code, and tests execute 4,000 lines, the coverage is 80%.

Best Practice: Aim for 80%+ code coverage, but complement it with exploratory and usability testing.

5. Requirement Coverage

Requirement coverage ensures that automation tests align with business requirements and user stories, helping teams validate that all critical functionalities are tested. This metric is essential for assessing how well automated tests support business needs and whether any gaps exist in test coverage.

The formula to calculate the required coverage is:

Requirement Coverage (%) = (Tested Requirements ÷ Total Number of Requirements) × 100

For example, if a project has 60 requirements and automation tests cover 50, the requirement coverage would be:

(50 ÷ 60) × 100 = 83.3%

A best practice for improving requirement coverage is to use test case traceability matrices to map test cases to requirements. This ensures that all business-critical functionalities are adequately tested and reduces the risk of missing key features during automation testing.

6. Test Execution Coverage Across Environments

This metric ensures that automated tests run across different browsers, devices, and operating system configurations. It plays a critical role in validating application stability across platforms and identifying cross-browser and cross-device compatibility issues. By tracking manual test cases and test execution coverage with a test management tool, teams can optimize their cloud-based test execution strategies and ensure a seamless user experience across various environments.

The formula to calculate test execution coverage is:

Test Execution Coverage (%) = (Tests Run Across Different Environments ÷ Total Test Scenarios) × 100

For example, if a project runs 100 tests on Chrome, Firefox, and Edge but only 80 on Safari, then Safari’s execution coverage would be:

(80 ÷ 100) × 100 = 80%

A best practice to improve execution coverage is to leverage cloud-based testing platforms like BrowserStack, Sauce Labs, or LambdaTest. These tools enable teams to efficiently run tests across multiple devices and browsers, ensuring broader coverage and faster execution.

7. Return on Investment (ROI) of Test Automation

The ROI of test automation helps assess the overall value gained from investing in automation compared to manual testing. This metric is crucial for justifying the cost of automation tools and resources, measuring cost savings and efficiency improvements, and guiding future automation investment decisions.

The formula to calculate automation ROI is:

Automation ROI (%) = [(Manual Effort Savings – Automation Cost) ÷ Automation Cost] × 100

For example, if automation saves $50,000 in manual effort and costs $20,000 to implement, the ROI would be:

(50,000 – 20,000) ÷ 20,000] × 100 = 150%

A best practice is to continuously evaluate ROI to refine the automation strategy and maximize cost efficiency. By regularly assessing returns, teams can ensure that automation efforts remain both effective and financially viable.

Conclusion

In conclusion, metrics for automation test coverage are important for making sure products are good quality and work well in today’s QA practices. By looking at key metrics, such as how many automated tests there are and what percentage of unit tests and test cases are automated, teams can improve how they test and spot issues in automation scripts. This helps boost overall coverage. Using smart methods, like focusing on test cases based on risk and applying continuous integration and deployment, can increase automation coverage. Examples from real life show how these metrics are important across different industries. Regularly checking and using automation test coverage metrics is necessary for improving quality assurance processes. Codoid, a leading software testing company, helps businesses improve automation coverage with expert solutions in Selenium, Playwright, and AI-driven testing. Their services optimize test execution, reduce maintenance efforts, and ensure high-quality software.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the ideal percentage for automation test coverage?

    There isn't a perfect percentage that works for every situation. The best level of automation test coverage changes based on the software development project's complexity, how much risk you can handle, and how efficient you want your tests to be. Still, aiming for 80% or more is usually seen as a good goal for quality assurance

  • How often should test coverage metrics be reviewed?

    You should look over test coverage metrics often. This is an important part of the quality assurance and test management process, ensuring that team members are aware of progress. It’s best to keep an eye on things all the time. However, you should also have more formal reviews at the end of each sprint or development cycle. This helps make adjustments and improvements

  • Can automation test coverage improve manual testing processes?

    Yes, automation test coverage can help improve manual testing processes. When we automate critical tasks that happen over and over, it allows testers to spend more time on exploratory testing and handling edge cases. This can lead to better testing processes, greater efficiency, and higher overall quality.

Playwright Reports: The Definitive Guide

Playwright Reports: The Definitive Guide

Reporting is a crucial aspect that helps QA engineers and developers analyze test execution, identify failures, and maintain software quality. If you are using Playwright Reports as your Automation Testing tool, your test automation reports will play a significant role in providing detailed insights into test performance, making debugging more efficient and test management seamless. Playwright has gained popularity among tech professionals due to its robust reporting capabilities and powerful debugging tools. It offers built-in reporters such as List, Line, Dot, HTML, JSON, and JUnit, allowing users to generate reports based on their specific needs. Additionally, Playwright supports third-party integrations like Allure, enabling more interactive and visually appealing test reports. With features like Playwright Trace Viewer, testers can analyze step-by-step execution details, making troubleshooting faster and more effective.

So in this blog, we will be exploring how you can leverage Playwright’s Reporting options to ensure a streamlined testing workflow, enhance debugging efficiency, and maintain high-quality software releases. Let’s start with the built-in reporting options in Playwright, and then move to the third party integrations.

Built-In Reporting Options in Playwright

There are numerous built-in Playwright reporting options to help teams analyze test results efficiently. These reporters vary in their level of detail, from minimal console outputs to detailed HTML and JSON reports. Below is a breakdown of each built-in reporting format along with sample outputs.

1. List Reporter

The List Reporter prints a line of output for each test, providing a clear and structured summary of test execution. It offers a readable format that helps quickly identify which tests have passed or failed. This makes it particularly useful for local debugging and development environments, allowing developers to analyze test results and troubleshoot issues efficiently


npx playwright test --reporter=list

Navigate to the config.spec.js file and update the reporter setting to switch it to the list format for better readability and detailed test run output.

 List Reporter _ Playwright Report

Sample Output:


✓ test1.spec.js: Test A (Passed)

✗ test1.spec.js: Test B (Failed)

  → Expected value to be 'X', but received 'Y'

✓ test2.spec.js: Test C (Passed)

2. Line Reporter

The Line Reporter is a compact version of the List Reporter, displaying test execution results in a single line. Its minimal and concise output makes it ideal for large test suites, providing real-time updates without cluttering the terminal. This format is best suited for quick debugging and monitoring test execution progress efficiently.


npx playwright test --reporter=line

Navigate to the config.spec.js file and update the reporter setting to switch it to the line format for better readability and detailed test run output.

 Line Reporter _ Playwright Report

Sample Output:


✔ 2 | ✖ 1 | ⏳ Running…

3. Dot Reporter

The Dot Reporter provides a minimalistic output, using a single character for each test—dots (.) for passing tests and “F” for failures. Its compact and simple format reduces log verbosity, making it ideal for CI/CD environments. This approach helps track execution progress efficiently without cluttering terminal logs, ensuring a clean and streamlined testing experience.


npx playwright test --reporter=dot

Navigate to the config.spec.js file and update the reporter setting to switch it to the dot format for better readability and detailed test run output.

 Dot Reporter

Sample Output:


....F.....

4. HTML Reporter

The HTML Reporter generates an interactive, web-based report that can be opened in a browser, providing a visually rich and easy-to-read summary of test execution. It includes detailed logs, screenshots, and test results, making analysis more intuitive. With built-in filtering and navigation features, it allows users to efficiently explore test outcomes. Additionally, its shareable format facilitates collaborative debugging across teams.


npx playwright test --reporter=html

By default, when test execution is complete, the HTML Reporter opens the index.html file in the default browser. The open property in the Playwright configuration allows you to modify this behavior, with options such as always, never, and on-failures (default). If set to never, the report will not open automatically.

To specify where the report should open, use the host attribute to define the target IP address—setting it to 0.0.0.0 opens the report on localhost. Additionally, the port property lets you specify the port number, with 9223 being the default.

You can also customize the HTML report’s output location in the Playwright configuration file by specifying the desired folder. For example, if you want to store the report in the html-report directory, you can set the output path accordingly.

 HTML Reporter _ Playwright Reports

Sample Output:

HTML Output

5. JSON Reporter

The JSON Reporter outputs test results in a machine-readable JSON format, making it ideal for data analysis, automation, and integration with dashboards or external analytics tools. It enables seamless test monitoring, log storage, and auditing, providing a structured way to track and analyze test execution.


npx playwright test --reporter=json

Navigate to the config.spec.js file and specify the output file, then you can write the JSON to a file.

 JSON Reporter _ Playwright Reports

Sample JSON Report Output:


{

  "status": "completed",

  "tests": [

    {

      "name": "Test A",

      "status": "passed",

      "duration": 120

    },

    {

      "name": "Test B",

      "status": "failed",

      "error": "Expected value to be 'X', but received 'Y'"

    }

  ]

}

You can generate and view the report in the terminal using this method.

JSON Reporter

6. JUnit Reporter

The JUnit Reporter generates XML reports that seamlessly integrate with CI/CD tools like Jenkins and GitLab CI for tracking test results. It provides structured test execution data for automated reporting, ensuring efficient monitoring and analysis. This makes it ideal for enterprise testing pipelines, enabling smooth integration and streamlined test management.


npx playwright test --reporter=junit

Navigate to the config.spec.js file and specify the output file, then you can write the XML to a file.

 Junit Reporter _ Playwright Reports

Sample JUnit XML Output:


<testsuite name="Playwright Tests">

  <testcase classname="test1.spec.js" name="Test A" time="0.12"/>

  <testcase classname="test1.spec.js" name="Test B">

    <failure message="Expected value to be 'X', but received 'Y'"/>

  </testcase>

</testsuite>

Playwright’s Third-Party Reports

Playwright allows integration with various third-party reporting tools to enhance test result visualization and analysis. These reports provide detailed insights, making debugging and test management more efficient. One such integration is with Allure Report, which offers a comprehensive, interactive, and visually rich test reporting solution. By integrating Allure with Playwright, users can generate detailed HTML-based reports that include test statuses, execution times, logs, screenshots, and graphical representations like pie charts and histograms, improving test analysis and team collaboration.

Allure for Playwright

To generate an Allure report, you need to install the Allure dependency in your project using the following command


npm install allure-playwright --save-dev

Allure Command Line Utility

To view the Allure report in a web browser, you must install the Allure command-line utility as a project dependency


npm install allure-commandline --save-dev

Command Line Execution

You can run Playwright with Allure reporting by specifying the Allure reporter in the configuration and executing the following command:


npx playwright test --reporter=line,allure-playwright

Playwright Config :

ALTTEXT

To run Playwright using a predefined configuration file, use the following command:


npx playwright test --config=playwright.allure.config.js

Upon successful execution, this will generate an “allure-results” folder. You then need to use the Allure command line to generate an HTML report:


npx allure generate ./allure-results

If the command executes successfully, it will create an “allure-report” folder. You can open the Allure report in a browser using:


npx allure open ./allure-report

Allur Report Playwright Reports

Conclusion

Choosing the right Playwright report depends on your team’s needs. Dot, Line, and List Reporters are perfect for developers who need quick feedback and real-time updates during local testing. If your team needs a more visual approach, the HTML Reporter is great for analyzing results and sharing detailed reports with others. For teams working with CI/CD pipelines, JSON and JUnit Reporters are the best choice as they provide structured data that integrates smoothly with automation tools. If you need deeper insights and visual trends, third-party tools like Allure Report offer advanced analytics and better failure tracking.

Additionally, testing companies like Codoid can help enhance your test reporting by integrating Playwright with custom dashboards and analytics. Your team can improve debugging, collaboration, and software quality by picking the right report.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which Playwright reporter is best for debugging?

    The HTML Reporter is best for debugging as it provides an interactive web-based report with detailed logs, screenshots, and failure traces. JSON and JUnit Reporters are also useful for storing structured test data for further analysis.

  • Can I customize Playwright reports?

    Yes, Playwright allows customization of reports by specifying reporters in the playwright.config.js file. Additionally, JSON and JUnit reports can be processed and visualized using external tools.

  • How does Playwright’s reporting compare to Selenium?

    Playwright provides more built-in reporting options than Selenium. While Selenium requires third-party integrations for generating reports, Playwright offers built-in HTML, JSON, and JUnit reports, making test analysis easier without additional plugins.

  • How do I choose the right Playwright reporter for my project?

    The best reporter depends on your use case:

    For quick debugging → Use List or Line Reporter.

    For minimal CI/CD logs → Use Dot Reporter.

    For interactive analysis → Use HTML Reporter.

    For data processing & automation → Use JSON Reporter.

    For CI/CD integration → Use JUnit Reporter.

    For advanced visual reporting → Use Allure or Codoid’s reporting solutions.

  • How does Playwright Report compare to Selenium reporting?

    Unlike Selenium, which requires third-party libraries for reporting, Playwright has built-in reporting capabilities. Playwright provides HTML, JSON, and JUnit reports natively, making it easier to analyze test results without additional setup.

Migrating Cypress to Playwright Made Easy

Migrating Cypress to Playwright Made Easy

Although Cypress is a widely used tool for end-to-end testing, many QA engineers find it limiting due to flaky tests, slow CI/CD execution, and complex command patterns. Its lack of full async/await support and limited parallel execution make testing frustrating and time-consuming. Additionally, Cypress’s unique command chaining can be confusing, and running tests in parallel often require workarounds, slowing down development. These challenges highlight the need for a faster, more reliable, and scalable testing solution—this is where Playwright emerges as a better alternative. Whether you’re looking for improved test speed, better browser support, or a more efficient workflow, migrating Cypress to Playwright will help you achieve a more effective testing strategy.

If you have not yet made the decision to migrate to Playwright, we will first cover the primary reasons why Playwright is better and then take a deep dive into the Migration strategy that you can use if you are convinced.

Why Playwright Emerges as a Superior Alternative to Cypress

When it comes to front-end testing, Cypress has long been a favorite among developers for its simplicity, powerful features, and strong community support. However, Playwright, a newer entrant developed by Microsoft, is quickly gaining traction as a superior alternative. But what makes Playwright stand out? Here are 6 aspects that we feel will make you want to migrate from Cypress to Playwright.

1. Cross-Browser Support
  • Playwright supports Chromium, Firefox, and WebKit (Safari) natively, allowing you to test your application across all major browsers with minimal configuration.
  • This is a significant advantage over Cypress, which primarily focuses on Chromium-based browsers and has limited support for Firefox and Safari

Why It Matters:

  • Cross-browser compatibility is critical for ensuring your application works seamlessly for all users.
  • With Playwright, you can test your app in a real Safari environment (via WebKit) without needing additional tools or workarounds.
2. Superior Performance and Parallel Execution
  • Playwright is designed for speed and efficiency. It runs tests in parallel by default, leveraging multiple browser contexts to execute tests faster.
  • Additionally, Playwright operates outside the browser’s event loop, which reduces flakiness and improves reliability.
  • Cypress, while it supports parallel execution, requires additional setup such as integrating with the Cypress Dashboard Service or configuring CI/CD for parallel runs.

Why It Matters:

  • For large test suites, faster execution times mean quicker feedback loops and more efficient CI/CD pipelines.
  • Playwright’s parallel execution capabilities can significantly reduce the time required to run your tests, making it ideal for teams with extensive testing needs.
3. Modern and Intuitive API
  • Playwright’s API is built with modern JavaScript in mind, using async/await to handle asynchronous operations.
  • This makes the code more readable and easier to maintain compared to Cypress’s chaining syntax.
  • Playwright also provides a rich set of built-in utilities, such as automatic waiting, network interception, and mobile emulation.

Why It Matters:

  • A modern API reduces the learning curve for new team members and makes it easier to write complex test scenarios.
  • Playwright’s automatic waiting eliminates the need for manual timeouts, resulting in more reliable tests.
4. Advanced Debugging Tools

Playwright comes with a suite of advanced debugging tools, including:

  • Trace Viewer: A visual tool to go through test execution and inspect actions, network requests, and more.
  • Playwright Inspector: An interactive tool for debugging tests in real time.
  • Screenshots and Videos: Automatic capture of screenshots and videos for failed tests.

Cypress also provides screenshots and videos, but Playwright offers deeper debugging with tools.

Why It Matters:

Debugging flaky or failing tests can be time-consuming. Playwright’s debugging tools make it easier to diagnose and fix issues, reducing the time spent on troubleshooting.

5. Built-In Support for Modern Web Features
  • Playwright is designed to handle modern web technologies like shadow DOM, service workers, and Progressive Web Apps (PWAs).
  • It provides first-class support for these features, making it easier to test cutting-edge web applications.
  • Cypress has limited or workaround-based support for features like shadow DOM and service workers, often requiring custom plugins or additional effort.

Why It Matters:

  • As web applications become more complex, testing tools need to keep up. Playwright’s built-in support for modern web features ensures that you can test your app thoroughly without needing a workaround.
6. Native Mobile Emulation
  • Playwright offers native mobile emulation, allowing you to test your application on a variety of mobile devices and screen sizes.
  • This is particularly useful for ensuring your app is responsive and functions correctly on different devices.
  • Cypress does not provide true mobile emulation. While it supports viewport resizing, it lacks built-in device emulation capabilities such as touch events or mobile-specific user-agent simulation.

Why It Matters:

  • With the increasing use of mobile devices, testing your app’s responsiveness is no longer optional.
  • Playwright’s mobile emulation capabilities make it easier to catch issues early and ensure a consistent user experience across devices.

Strategy for Migrating Cypress to Playwright

Before migrating Cypress to Playwright or any type of migration, having a clear strategy is key. Start by assessing your Cypress test suite’s complexity, and identifying custom commands, helper functions, and dependencies. If your tests are tightly linked, adjustments may be needed for a smoother transition. Also, check for third-party plugins and find Playwright alternatives if necessary.

Creating a realistic timeline will make the transition easier. Set clear goals, break the migration into smaller steps, and move test files or modules gradually. Ensure your team has enough time to learn Playwright’s API and best practices. Proper planning will minimize issues and maximize efficiency, making the switch seamless.

Sample Timeline

Phase Timeline Key Activities
Pre – Migration Week 1-2 Evaluate test suite, set goals, set up Playwright, and train team.
Pilot – Migration Week 3-4 Migrate critical tests, validate results, gather feedback.
Full – Migration Week 5-8 Migrate remaining tests, replace Cypress features, optimize test suite.
Post – Migration Week 9-10 Run and monitor tests, conduct retrospective, train teams on best practices.
Ongoing Maintenance Ongoing Refactor tests, monitor metrics, stay updated with Playwright’s latest features.

Migrating from Cypress to Playwright: Step-by-Step Process

Now that we have a timeline in place, let’s see what steps you need to follow to migrate from Cypress to Playwright. Although it can seem daunting, breaking the process into clear, actionable steps makes it manageable and less overwhelming.

Step 1: Evaluate Your Current Cypress Test Suite

Before starting the migration, it’s crucial to analyze existing Cypress tests to identify dependencies, custom commands, and third-party integrations. Categorizing tests based on their priority and complexity helps in deciding which ones to migrate first.

1. Inventory Your Tests:

  • List all your Cypress tests, including their purpose and priority.
  • Categorize tests as critical, high-priority, medium-priority, or low-priority.

Identify Dependencies:

  • Note any Cypress-specific plugins, custom commands, or fixtures your tests rely on.
  • Determine if Playwright has built-in alternatives or if you’ll need to implement custom solutions.

Assess Test Complexity:

  • Identify simple tests (e.g., basic UI interactions) and complex tests (e.g., tests involving API calls, third-party integrations, or custom logic).
Step 2: Set Up Playwright in Your Project

Installing Playwright and configuring its test environment is the next step. Unlike Cypress, Playwright requires additional setup for managing multiple browsers, but this one-time effort results in greater flexibility for cross-browser testing.

1) Install Playwright:

Run the following command to install Playwright:


npm init playwright@latest

Run the install command and do the following to get started:

  • You’ll be asked to pick TypeScript (default) or JavaScript as your test language.
  • Name your tests folder (default is tests or e2e if tests already exists).
  • Optionally, Playwright will offer to add a GitHub Actions workflow so you can easily run your tests in Continuous Integration (CI).
  • Finally, it will install the necessary Playwright browsers (this is enabled by default).

2) Configure Playwright:

The playwright.config is where you can add configuration for Playwright including modifying which browsers you would like to run Playwright on


playwright.config.js
package.json
package-lock.json
tests/
  example.spec.js
tests-examples/
  demo-todo-app.spec.js

Step 3: Migrate Tests Incrementally

Instead of rewriting everything at once, tests should be migrated in phases. This involves replacing Cypress-specific commands with their Playwright equivalents and validating that each test runs successfully before proceeding further.

Update Basic Commands

S. No Cypress Playwright Equivalent
1 cy.get(‘selector’) await page.locator(‘selector’);
2 cy.visit(‘url’) await page.goto(‘url’);
3 cy.click() await page.click(‘selector’);
4 cy.type(‘input’) await page.fill(‘selector’, ‘input’);
5 cy.wait(time) await page.waitForTimeout(time);
Step 4: Convert a Cypress Test to Playwright

A direct one-to-one mapping of test cases is necessary to ensure a smooth transition. This step involves modifying test syntax, replacing assertions, and adapting test structures to Playwright’s async/await model.

Cypress Example


describe('Login Test', () => {

  it('should log in successfully', () => {

    cy.visit('https://example.com');
    cy.get('#username').type('user123');
    cy.get('#password').type('password123');
    cy.get('#login-btn').click();
    cy.url().should('include', '/dashboard');

  });
});

Playwright Equivalent


const { test, expect } = require('@playwright/test');

test('Login Test', async ({ page }) => {

  await page.goto('https://example.com');
  await page.fill('#username', 'user123');
  await page.fill('#password', 'password123');
  await page.click('#login-btn');
  await expect(page).toHaveURL(/dashboard/);

});

Step 5: Handle API Requests

Since Cypress and Playwright have different approaches to API testing, existing Cypress API requests need to be converted using Playwright’s API request methods, ensuring compatibility.

Cypress API Request


cy.request('GET', 'https://api.example.com/data')
  .then((response) => {
    expect(response.status).to.eq(200);
  });

Playwright API Request


const response = await page.request.get('https://api.example.com/data');
expect(response.status()).toBe(200);

Step 6: Replace Cypress Fixtures with Playwright

Cypress’s fixture mechanism is replaced with Playwright’s direct JSON data loading approach, ensuring smooth integration of test data within the Playwright environment.

Cypress uses fixtures like this:


cy.fixture('data.json').then((data) => {
  cy.get('#name').type(data.name);
});

In Playwright, use:


const data = require('./data.json');
await page.fill('#name', data.name);

Step 7: Parallel & Headless Testing

One of Playwright’s biggest advantages is native parallel execution. This step involves configuring Playwright to run tests faster and more efficiently across different browsers and environments.

Run Tests in Headed or Headless Mode


npx playwright test --headed

or


npx playwright test --headless

Run Tests in Multiple Browsers Modify playwright.config.js:


use: {
  browserName: 'chromium', // Change to 'firefox' or 'webkit'
}

Step 8: Debugging & Playwright Inspector

Debugging in Playwright is enhanced through built-in tools like Trace Viewer and Playwright Inspector, making it easier to troubleshoot failing tests compared to Cypress’s traditional debugging.

Debugging Tools:

Run tests with UI inspector:


npx playwright test --debug

Slow down execution:


use: { slowMo: 1000 }

Step 9: CI/CD Integration

Integrating Playwright with CI/CD ensures that automated tests are executed consistently in development pipelines. Since Playwright supports multiple browsers, teams can run tests across different environments with minimal configuration.


name: Playwright Tests
on: [push, pull_request]
jobs:
  test:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
      - name: Install dependencies
        run: npm install
      - name: Install Playwright Browsers
        run: npx playwright install --with-deps
      - name: Run tests
        run: npx playwright test


Each step in this migration process ensures a smooth and structured transition from Cypress to Playwright, minimizing risks and maintaining existing test coverage. Instead of migrating everything at once, an incremental approach helps teams adapt gradually without disrupting workflows.

By first evaluating the Cypress test suite, teams can identify complexities and dependencies, making migration more efficient. Setting up Playwright lays the groundwork, while migrating tests in phases helps catch and resolve issues early. Adapting API requests, fixtures, and debugging methods ensures a seamless shift without losing test functionality.

With parallel execution and headless testing, Playwright significantly improves test speed and scalability. Finally, integrating Playwright into CI/CD pipelines ensures automated testing remains stable and efficient across different environments. This approach allows teams to leverage Playwright’s advantages without disrupting development.

Conclusion:

Migrating from Cypress to Playwright enhances test automation efficiency with better performance, cross-browser compatibility, and advanced debugging tools. By carefully planning the migration, assessing test suite complexity, and following a step-by-step process, teams can ensure a smooth and successful transition. At Codoid, we specialize in automation testing and help teams seamlessly migrate to Playwright. Our expertise ensures optimized test execution, better coverage, and high-quality software testing, enabling organizations to stay ahead in the fast-evolving tech landscape

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How long does it take to migrate from Cypress to Playwright?

    The migration time depends on the complexity of your test suite, but with proper planning, most teams can transition in a few weeks without major disruptions.

  • Is Playwright an open-source tool like Cypress?

    Yes, Playwright is an open-source automation framework developed by Microsoft, offering a free and powerful alternative to Cypress.

  • Why is Playwright better for end-to-end testing?

    Playwright supports multiple browsers, parallel execution, full async/await support, and better automation capabilities, making it ideal for modern end-to-end testing.

  • Do I need to rewrite all my Cypress tests in Playwright?

    Not necessarily. Many Cypress tests can be converted with minor adjustments, especially when replacing Cypress-specific commands with Playwright equivalents.

  • What are the key differences between Cypress and Playwright?

    -Cypress runs tests in a single browser context and has limited parallel execution.
    -Playwright supports multiple browsers, headless mode, and parallel execution, making it more flexible and scalable.

  • How difficult is it to migrate from Cypress to Playwright?

    The migration process is straightforward with proper planning. By assessing test complexity, refactoring commands, and leveraging Playwright’s API, teams can transition smoothly.

  • Does Playwright support third-party integrations like Cypress?

    Yes, Playwright supports various plugins, API testing, visual testing, and integrations with tools like Jest, Mocha, and Testbeats for enhanced reporting.