testing-windows-desktop

# Testing the pi-gui desktop app on Windows ## Setup - Ensure pnpm is available: `corepack enable` then `corepack prepare pnpm@<version from package.json> --activate`. - Install: `pnpm install` (repo root). - Launch the app for GUI testing: `pnpm --filter @pi-gui/desktop dev`. Optionally set `PI_APP_USER_DATA_DIR` to an isolated temp dir. - A working launch prints `starting electron app...` and the renderer dev server (`http://localhost:5173`) and must NOT print `spawn pnpm ENOENT`. ## What renders where - Empty state: sidebar (New thread / Threads / Skills / Extensions / Settings) + "Open a folder to start". - Navigation (Settings / Skills / Threads) is a good cheap proof the renderer is interactive. ## Integrated terminal (node-pty / ConPTY) — IMPORTANT gotcha - The Terminal item in the Open side panel menu is disabled until there is an **active session**: `terminalAvailable={Boolean(selectedSessionKey)}` in `apps/desktop/src/app/App.tsx`. - Creating a session through the live UI requires a **connected provider/model**. Without provider credentials you CANNOT reach the terminal via the GUI ("No models available" blocks send). - Workaround that needs no credentials: run a **headless Playwright spec in background test mode**. Use helpers from `apps/desktop/tests/helpers/electron-app.ts`: `launchDesktop(userDataDir, { initialWorkspaces, testMode: "background" })` -> `createNamedThread(window, ...)` -> open Terminal from the Open side panel menu (or press Ctrl+J) -> type a command -> assert `.xterm-rows` text. - Use a **cross-platform command**: `echo <marker>` works in both `cmd.exe` (Windows default shell via `defaultShellForPlatform()`) and POSIX shells. The existing `tests/core/integrated-terminal.spec.ts` uses `printf`/`pwd`, which do NOT exist in `cmd.exe` — that lane runs on Linux and macOS CI only, so don't expect it to pass as-is on Windows. - Run a single spec: `pnpm --filter @pi-gui/desktop run test:e2e:runner -- apps/desktop/tests/core/<spec>.spec.ts`. Delete any temporary spec you add after the run. ## Native Windows folder picker - "Open first folder" opens the real Windows folder dialog (itself a Windows-compat proof). - Computer-use `type` action may DROP uppercase letters and `:` in the dialog's path field (e.g. `C:\Users\Administrator` becomes `\sers\dministrator`). Workaround: put the path on the clipboard (`Set-Clipboard -Value "<path>"`) and `Ctrl+V` into the Folder field, then Select Folder. ## Cosmetic (not functional) macOS-centric labels on Windows - Settings shortcut hints may show `Cmd+…` and the integrated-terminal shell field placeholder may read `/bin/zsh`. Display-only; the actual default shell resolves to `cmd.exe`. ## Reporting - Record GUI interactions with annotations (setup / test_start / assertion). Do not record shell-only runs. - Mark the live-UI terminal test `untested` (not failed) when blocked by missing provider credentials, and note the headless spec result separately. ## Devin Secrets Needed - None required for launch / navigation / folder picker / headless terminal test. - A provider API key (e.g. an LLM provider configured under Settings > Providers) is required only to create a session through the **live UI** and thus exercise the terminal through the GUI.