To test local web applications, write native Python Playwright scripts.
**Helper Scripts Available**:
-`scripts/with_server.py` - Manages server lifecycle (supports multiple servers)
**Always run scripts with `--help` first** to see usage. DO NOT read the source until you try running the script first and find that a customized solution is abslutely necessary. These scripts can be very large and thus pollute your context window. They exist to be called directly as black-box scripts rather than ingested into your context window.
## Decision Tree: Choosing Your Approach
```
User task → Is it static HTML?
├─ Yes → Read HTML file directly to identify selectors
│ ├─ Success → Write Playwright script using selectors
│ └─ Fails/Incomplete → Treat as dynamic (below)
│
└─ No (dynamic webapp) → Is the server already running?
├─ No → Run: python scripts/with_server.py --help
│ Then use the helper + write simplified Playwright script
│
└─ Yes → Reconnaissance-then-action:
1. Navigate and wait for networkidle
2. Take screenshot or inspect DOM
3. Identify selectors from rendered state
4. Execute actions with discovered selectors
```
## Example: Using with_server.py
To start a server, run `--help` first, then use the helper:
❌ **Don't** inspect the DOM before waiting for `networkidle` on dynamic apps
✅ **Do** wait for `page.wait_for_load_state('networkidle')` before inspection
## Best Practices
- **Use bundled scripts as black boxes** - To accomplish a task, consider whether one of the scripts available in `scripts/` can help. These scripts handle common, complex workflows reliably without cluttering the context window. Use `--help` to see usage, then invoke directly.
- Use `sync_playwright()` for synchronous scripts
- Always close the browser when done
- Use descriptive selectors: `text=`, `role=`, CSS selectors, or IDs
- Add appropriate waits: `page.wait_for_selector()` or `page.wait_for_timeout()`
## Reference Files
- **examples/** - Examples showing common patterns:
-`element_discovery.py` - Discovering buttons, links, and inputs on a page
-`static_html_automation.py` - Using file:// URLs for local HTML
-`console_logging.py` - Capturing console logs during automation