| name | generate-e2e-test |
| description | Generate an end-to-end test for a given feature or user story. Use when the user asks to create E2E tests, automate workflows, test user flows, or convert manual workflows into Playwright tests. Leverages Playwright MCP to perform the workflow interactively before generating test code. |
| argument-hint | Write/paste your workflow description here along with hints about where to write the code. |
| allowed-tools | mcp__Playwright_browser_click, mcp__Playwright_browser_console_messages, mcp__Playwright_browser_drag, mcp__Playwright_browser_evaluate, mcp__Playwright_browser_file_upload, mcp__Playwright_browser_fill_form, mcp__Playwright_browser_handle_dialog, mcp__Playwright_browser_hover, mcp__Playwright_browser_navigate, mcp__Playwright_browser_navigate_back, mcp__Playwright_browser_network_requests, mcp__Playwright_browser_press_key, mcp__Playwright_browser_resize, mcp__Playwright_browser_select_option, mcp__Playwright_browser_snapshot, mcp__Playwright_browser_take_screenshot, mcp__Playwright_browser_type, mcp__Playwright_browser_wait_for, mcp__Playwright_browser_mouse_click_xy, mcp__Playwright_browser_mouse_drag_xy, mcp__Playwright_browser_mouse_move_xy, mcp__Playwright_browser_verify_element_visible, mcp__Playwright_browser_verify_text_visible, mcp__Playwright_browser_verify_value, Read, Write, Edit, Grep, Glob, Bash, TodoWrite |
Generate E2E Test
This Skill converts workflow descriptions into working automated end-to-end tests by first performing the workflow step-by-step using Playwright MCP browser tools, then generating and refining test code based on the actual interaction.
Overview
Convert the following workflow description into working automated tests:
$ARGUMENTS
Process
1. Initial Setup
- Start Playwright MCP browser session using
browser_navigate to target URL
- Ask the user to authenticate and perform any initialization steps if needed (there are likely already helper methods in the project test platform files for this)
- Take initial snapshot using
browser_snapshot to understand page structure and confirm readiness to begin with the user
2. Manual Workflow Execution
For each step in the described workflow:
Capture state: Use browser_snapshot before each interaction to understand the current page structure
Perform action: Execute using appropriate MCP tools:
browser_click - Click buttons, links, or elements
browser_type - Type text into fields
browser_fill_form - Fill multiple form fields at once
browser_select_option - Select from dropdowns
browser_press_key - Press keyboard keys
- Other browser tools as needed
Collect selectors:
- Primary: Note
ref values from accessibility snapshots (most stable)
- Fallback: Use
browser_evaluate with queries like document.querySelector('[data-testid="..."]') if needed
Verify outcomes: Use browser_wait_for or snapshot to confirm expected results after each action
Document: Track successful selector patterns and interaction sequences for test generation
3. Generate Test Code
Read project conventions: Review TESTING.md for:
- Test runner setup and syntax
- Available helper methods and fixtures
- Assertion patterns
- File naming and location conventions
Write test spec: Transform recorded workflow into test code using:
- Collected selectors (prefer stable attributes: data-testid, aria-label, role+name)
- Project's testing patterns from TESTING.md
- Appropriate waits and assertions
- Helper methods from
tests/e2e/utils/test-helpers.ts
File location: Place test in appropriate directory under tests/e2e/ based on feature area:
tests/e2e/admin/ - Super admin features
tests/e2e/auth/ - Authentication flows
tests/e2e/client/ - Client-specific features
tests/e2e/dashboard/ - Dashboard pages
tests/e2e/marketing/ - Public pages
tests/e2e/workouts/ - Workout features
4. Validate & Refine
Run test: Execute using project's test command from TESTING.md:
pnpm test:e2e:ai tests/e2e/your-test.spec.ts
Debug failures:
- If selector issues: Return to MCP browser, use
browser_snapshot and browser_evaluate to find better selectors
- If timing issues: Add appropriate waits using
waitForElementWithRetry or similar helpers
- If assertion failures: Verify expected values using MCP tools
Iterate: Repeat debugging until test passes consistently
Key MCP Tools Usage
Discovery:
browser_snapshot (primary) - Get page structure and element information
browser_evaluate (for complex queries) - Execute JavaScript to query DOM
Actions:
browser_click - Click elements
browser_type - Type text
browser_fill_form - Fill multiple form fields
browser_select_option - Select dropdown options
browser_press_key - Press keyboard keys
Validation:
browser_wait_for - Wait for elements or conditions
browser_verify_* tools - Verify element visibility, text, and values
Debugging:
browser_console_messages - Check console errors
browser_network_requests - Inspect network activity
browser_take_screenshot - Capture visual state
Best Practices
Selector Strategy
- Prefer accessibility-based selectors (role, aria-label) over fragile CSS
- Use test utilities like
getByRole(), getByText(), getByLabel() from Playwright
- Always verify selectors return only a single element to avoid strict mode violations
- Check if actions are in dropdown menus (look for "More actions" buttons)
Waiting and Timing
- Always wait for elements/text after navigation or async operations
- Use helper methods like
waitForElementWithRetry() for robust waiting
- For table data: Use
waitForTableLoaded(page) before interacting with table elements
Test Structure
- Use fixtures from
tests/e2e/fixtures.ts for pre-configured test data
- Test both happy path and error conditions when specified
- Scope selectors to specific containers to avoid matching toast notifications
- Clean up test data using protected email patterns (
e2e-*@example.com)
Navigation
- Use
navigateToPage() helper instead of page.goto() for reliable client-side routing
- Wait for content-based conditions, not just
domcontentloaded
Examples
Simple Form Test
import { test, expect } from './fixtures'
import { navigateToPage, expectToast } from './utils/test-helpers'
test('user can create exercise', async ({ page, superAdminUser }) => {
await navigateToPage(page, '/super-admin/exercises')
await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Add Exercise' }).click()
await page.getByLabel('Name').fill('Bench Press')
await page.getByLabel('Muscle Group').selectOption('Chest')
await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Save' }).click()
await expectToast(page, 'Exercise created successfully')
})
Workflow with Dropdown Menu
test('user can delete exercise', async ({ page, superAdminUser }) => {
await navigateToPage(page, '/super-admin/exercises')
const row = page.locator('tr').filter({ hasText: 'Bench Press' })
await row.locator('[aria-label*="More actions"]').click()
await page.getByRole('menuitem', { name: 'Delete' }).click()
await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Confirm' }).click()
await expectToast(page, 'Exercise deleted successfully')
})
Requirements
- Playwright MCP server must be running and connected
- Development server should be running at http://localhost:3000
- Project must have
TESTING.md and test utilities configured
Troubleshooting
If tests fail:
- Read the AI Coding Agent Reporter output in
test-report-for-coding-agents/all-failures.md
- Check console logs using
browser_console_messages
- Inspect DOM structure with
browser_snapshot
- Verify network requests with
browser_network_requests
- Take screenshots at failure points with
browser_take_screenshot
If stuck debugging, ask a human to inspect the Playwright trace in playwright-report/ which contains detailed execution information.