keybase-e2e-tests

name	keybase-e2e-tests
description	Use when writing, fixing, or adding e2e flow tests for the Keybase app — desktop (Playwright) or iOS (Appium + WebdriverIO). Covers testID conventions, navigation patterns, common pitfalls, and the two-harness structure.

Keybase E2E Flow Tests

Overview

Two harnesses, one shared testID registry. Always implement Electron + iOS for each bucket together (pairing rule in plans/flow-test.md).

Shared testID Registry

shared/tests/e2e/shared/test-ids.ts — single source of truth for all testID values.

Adding a testID to a component:

import * as TestIDs from '@/tests/e2e/shared/test-ids'
// ...
<Kb.ScrollView testID={TestIDs.SETTINGS_ADVANCED}>

Rule: Add testID prop to an already-existing element (input, scroll view, pre-existing wrapper). Never add a new container just to attach a testID.

Desktop — Playwright

What	Where
Test files	shared/tests/e2e/electron/flows/*.test.ts
Nav helpers	shared/tests/e2e/electron/helpers/navigate.ts
Run all	yarn test:e2e:desktop
Run branch	yarn test:e2e:desktop:branch

Navigation helpers: navigateToChat, navigateToFiles, navigateToTeams, navigateToGit, navigateToSettings, navigateToPeople, navigateToCrypto, navigateToDevices

Common pitfall — hidden nav stack elements: React Navigation keeps prior screens mounted but hidden. getByTestId(X) may match 2+ elements (one hidden, one visible), causing Playwright strict-mode failures. Fix: use a selector unique to the destination screen rather than one shared with the source screen. Example: after navigating into a Files subfolder, the root screen's files-browser is still in the DOM but hidden — check for the Filter textbox instead, which only exists in subfolder views.

iOS — Appium + WebdriverIO (TypeScript)

What	Where
Flow files	shared/tests/e2e/ios-appium/flows/*.test.ts
Helpers	shared/tests/e2e/ios-appium/helpers/ (elements, navigate, app)
Aggregate spec	shared/tests/e2e/ios-appium/all.test.ts (imports all flows → ONE session)
Config	shared/tests/e2e/ios-appium/wdio.conf.ts
Run both devices	KB_SMOKE_USER=<user> yarn test:e2e:ios (iPhoneTest + iPadTest in PARALLEL; app installed on both)
Run one device	KB_SMOKE_USER=<user> yarn test:e2e:ios:iphone / yarn test:e2e:ios:ipad (serial runner, shuts down other sims)
Report	yarn test:e2e:ios:report (reads ONLY tests/results/ios-appium-debug-{iphone,ipad}; each run overwrites its device's dir; per-image timestamps show when each device last ran)

Drives the already-installed app black-box (no rebuild). Selectors: ~<testID> (testID → iOS accessibilityIdentifier). Helpers: el/els/waitForTestID/byText/tab (elements), escapeToTabs/goBack/navigateTo*/scrollDownToText (navigate). escapeToTabs runs before every test (resets to the tab root).

Gotchas (hard-won — read before adding flows):

• Native tab bar: tap tabs by label (tab('People') → ~People), NOT nav-tab-* testIDs — those don't reach the native UITabBar.
• Container testIDs (a flex Kb.Box2 wrapping a list) report visible="false" to XCUITest even when on screen → use waitForTestID (it uses waitForExist, presence), never toBeDisplayed.
• testIDs must be on the MOBILE-rendered element. Many components branch on isMobile/.desktop/.native; a desktop-only testID is invisible on iOS (see [[project_e2e_testid_mobile_branch]]). Put the testID on the clickable/leaf element (e.g. Kb.ListItem's testID, a ClickableBox), not a non-clickable wrapping Box2 — wdio .click() no-ops on a non-accessible container.
• byText uses CONTAINS — tappable rows have merged accessibility labels (e.g. ", Crypto"), so exact match fails.
• Kb.Tabs supports a per-tab testID (needed for icon-only tabs like the team Settings gear). The app remembers the last-selected team tab → select tabs by testID, don't assume the default.
• Modals: dismiss via Done/Close/Cancel (escapeToTabs does this first, before back buttons — a modal's back button is a no-op that loops).
• HMR applies testID/component changes to the running sim app — no manual reload needed when adding testIDs.
• Wait for a real data row (not just the list container) before asserting/screenshotting, so shots show loaded content.

iOS tab structure: People & Teams are direct tabs; Chat & Files have their own nav helpers; Crypto/Devices/Git/Settings live under the More tab (navigateToMore).

Plan

plans/flow-test.md — bucket checklist ordered easiest-first. Work one bucket at a time, both platforms together.