kata-code-e2e-testing

name	kata-code-e2e-testing
description	Author local Playwright Electron E2E tests for Kata Code using the reusable harness and Kata-specific flows. Use when adding or updating tests under e2e/.

E2E test author

Before writing code

1. Read e2e/README.md and the relevant product spec (docs/specs/2026-06-21-e2e-testing-foundation-design.md).
2. Inspect existing tests under e2e/tests/ and reusable blocks in e2e/src/harness/ and e2e/src/flows/.
3. Explore the UI on the real harness first, then codify locators in flows/ — do not guess selectors from product code alone.

How to explore a new flow (preferred)

Default: Playwright UI / debug on the spec, not playwright-cli.

Electron E2E runs through an isolated dev stack (Vite + Playwright-launched Electron). Playwright UI/debug uses the same launch, pairing, auth, and ports as the real test. playwright-cli attach --cdp=… is optional and brittle here (port conflicts, short-lived test processes).

# Pick the smallest existing spec closest to your flow, then:
vp run e2e:ui --project desktop-dev --grep '@settings'

# Step-through with inspector:
PWDEBUG=1 vp run e2e:headed --project desktop-dev --grep '@agent'

Workflow:

1. Run UI/debug on the nearest starter spec (@smoke, @settings, @agent).
2. Walk the user-visible steps; note stable locators (role, label, deliberate data-* contracts).
3. Add or extend a helper in e2e/src/flows/ — keep specs thin.
4. Re-run headed on the tag; confirm pass before moving to the next spec.

Roll out starter specs one at a time in headed mode; give the maintainer the exact verify command after each passes.

Optional CDP (only if you need playwright-cli against a running Electron):

KATACODE_DESKTOP_REMOTE_DEBUGGING_PORT=9333 vp run e2e:headed --project desktop-dev --grep '@smoke'
# use a free port; 9222 is often taken

The harness forwards KATACODE_DESKTOP_REMOTE_DEBUGGING_PORT as --remote-debugging-port on the raw Electron launch.

Rules

• Compose tests from e2e/src/harness/ and e2e/src/flows/ — do not duplicate launch, auth, isolation, or navigation logic in spec files.
• Keep generic Electron/process concerns in harness/ and Kata UI/product language in flows/.
• Do not mock application services: no Playwright route().fulfill(), HAR replay, MSW, or fake provider backends.
• Store secrets and auth state only under ignored paths (e2e/.auth/, Playwright output dirs, local .env.local).
• Tag every spec with at least one feature tag, e.g., @smoke, @auth, @settings, @agent.
• For new features, create new tags.
• Fail loudly with the missing env var or prerequisite when credentials are absent — never skip assertions silently.
• Prefer user-visible locators (role, label, text). Add data-testid in product code only when no durable accessible locator exists and the attribute is a deliberate test contract.
• Default to one worker for authenticated mutable flows unless additional isolated test accounts exist.
• Use reasonable timeouts from e2e/src/config/timeouts.ts — tests should fail fast, not hang.

Architecture (do not fight this)

Layer	Role
dev-runner + Vite (dev:web only)	Serves the renderer; Playwright owns Electron
appLaunch.ts	Technical Electron launch (renderer window + fatal-error tracking)
pairing.ts / shell.ts	Embedded API + app shell readiness (appWindow fixture)
testFixtures.ts	appWindow, authenticatedAppWindow, runContext, isolated KATACODE_HOME, ports

Do not run dev:desktop inside E2E — it would spawn a second Electron and cause EPIPE / duplicate backends.

Release (desktop-release)

• Packaged apps load the renderer from the embedded server (http://127.0.0.1:<KATACODE_PORT>/), not Vite.
• Do not pass VITE_DEV_SERVER_URL — inherited dev env makes the app enter dev mode, open DevTools, and show a blank window trying to reach a Vite port that is not running. launchEnv.ts strips dev-only vars for release (same rule as apps/desktop/scripts/start-electron.mjs).
• Renderer window detection uses serverPort, not webPort. No dev:web stack is started for release.
• vp run e2e:release is headed on macOS — Playwright Electron opens a visible packaged app window; no need to add e2e:headed.

Known Electron / UI gotchas

Auth

• Do not drive Google OAuth in the Electron page. Desktop OAuth opens an external browser via desktopBridge; in-page email/password locators will not work.
• Use @clerk/testing **clerk.signIn({ page, emailAddress })** (ticket flow) in signInWithClerkGoogleTestUser. Requires CLERK_SECRET_KEY + a Clerk user for KATACODE_E2E_GOOGLE_EMAIL.
• Clerk loads on the app shell once cloud config is present; wait for command-palette-trigger, then clerk.loaded.
• Sign in to Kata Code Connect appears only in the Settings sidebar footer, not on the main chat sidebar.

Navigation

• Electron uses hash history (#/settings/general). Bare page.goto("/settings/…") is invalid.
• Prefer in-app clicks (openSettings in settings.ts clicks the sidebar Settings data-sidebar="menu-button").
• Settings title on Electron is a <span>, not a heading — wait on a panel control (e.g. getByLabel("Theme preference")).

Toasts and overlays

• Provider update toasts can block clicks on settings controls and model picker options.
• Call dismissBlockingToasts(page) (toast close: [data-slot="toast-close"]) before theme or model selection when needed.

Agent / model picker

• Before sendAgentInstruction, call **selectComposerModel(page, turn.model)** so the test uses KATACODE_E2E_AGENT_MODEL (e.g. gpt-5.4-mini), not whatever default the composer had.
• Flow: click [data-chat-provider-model-picker="true"] → fill Search models… with slug tokens (hyphens → spaces) → click matching [role="option"].
• @agent tests need KATACODE_E2E_AGENT_PROVIDER, KATACODE_E2E_AGENT_MODEL, and the matching provider API key.

Reusable building blocks

Harness (e2e/src/harness/)

• testFixtures.ts — test, appWindow, authenticatedAppWindow, runContext, launchTarget
• appLaunch.ts — dev stack + Electron launch (technical readiness only)
• isolatedRun.ts — temp KATACODE_HOME, shared dev-runner port allocation, cleanup
• readiness.ts — TCP / Vite readiness probes
• env.ts — prerequisite checks (readClerkPrerequisites, readAgentProviderPrerequisites, …)

Flows (e2e/src/flows/)

Module	Key exports
shell.ts	waitForAppShell
pairing.ts	waitForAppEnvironmentReady (used by appWindow fixture)
auth.ts	signInWithClerkGoogleTestUser, expectSignedInClerkState, assertAuthPrerequisites
navigation.ts	openCommandPalette, dismissBlockingToasts
settings.ts	openSettings, setTheme, expectResolvedTheme
workspace.ts	createSeededWorkspace, createOrOpenProject
agentChat.ts	assertAgentPrerequisites, selectComposerModel, sendAgentInstruction, expectAssistantReply

Assertions (e2e/src/assertions/)

Launch health checks only (assertNoFatalLaunchErrors). Import flows directly for actions and UI waits.

Typical test shapes

Smoke (@smoke) — no auth

import { assertNoFatalLaunchErrors } from "../../src/assertions/appAssertions.ts";
import { E2E_TAGS } from "../../src/config/tags.ts";
import { test, expect } from "../../src/harness/testFixtures.ts";

test.describe(`App launch ${E2E_TAGS.smoke}`, () => {
  test("launches Electron past pairing and reaches the app shell", async ({
    launchedApp,
    appWindow,
  }) => {
    await expect(appWindow.getByTestId("command-palette-trigger")).toBeVisible();
    assertNoFatalLaunchErrors(launchedApp.readFatalErrors());
  });
});

Settings (@settings) — Clerk ticket sign-in + theme

import { E2E_TAGS } from "../../src/config/tags.ts";
import { expectResolvedTheme, openSettings, setTheme } from "../../src/flows/settings.ts";
import { test } from "../../src/harness/testFixtures.ts";

test.describe(`Settings theme ${E2E_TAGS.settings}`, () => {
  test("persists dark theme after reload", async ({ authenticatedAppWindow }) => {
    await openSettings(authenticatedAppWindow);
    await setTheme(authenticatedAppWindow, "dark");
    await authenticatedAppWindow.reload();
    await openSettings(authenticatedAppWindow);
    await expectResolvedTheme(authenticatedAppWindow, "dark");
  });
});

Agent (@agent) — model selection + real LLM reply

import {
  assertAgentPrerequisites,
  expectAssistantReply,
  selectComposerModel,
  sendAgentInstruction,
} from "../../src/flows/agentChat.ts";
import { createOrOpenProject, createSeededWorkspace } from "../../src/flows/workspace.ts";
import { E2E_TAGS } from "../../src/config/tags.ts";
import { E2E_TIMEOUTS } from "../../src/config/timeouts.ts";
import { test } from "../../src/harness/testFixtures.ts";

test.describe(`Deterministic agent chat ${E2E_TAGS.agent}`, () => {
  test.describe.configure({ timeout: E2E_TIMEOUTS.agentTestMs });

  test("returns the exact expected assistant message from a real provider", async ({
    authenticatedAppWindow,
    runContext,
  }) => {
    const turn = assertAgentPrerequisites("deterministic agent chat");
    const seededPath = await createSeededWorkspace(runContext, "agent-chat-basic");
    await createOrOpenProject(authenticatedAppWindow, seededPath);
    await selectComposerModel(authenticatedAppWindow, turn.model);
    await sendAgentInstruction(authenticatedAppWindow, turn.);
     (authenticatedAppWindow, turn., turn);
  });
});

Verification commands

vp run e2e --list --grep @your-tag
vp run e2e:headed --project desktop-dev --grep @your-tag   # maintainer verify
vp run e2e:ui --project desktop-dev --grep @your-tag       # explore / debug
vp check
vp run typecheck
vp test e2e/src/**/*.test.ts

Suggested rollout order for the starter suite: @smoke → @settings → @agent.

For release-only coverage (headed on macOS — no e2e:headed needed):

KATACODE_E2E_RELEASE_APP="/path/to/Kata Code.app" vp run e2e:release --grep @smoke