pseudo-agentic-automation

name	pseudo-agentic-automation
description	Use for browser or GUI automation tasks that require iterative scripts, runtime adaptation, and debugging loops (for example dynamic scraping, authenticated web flows, CAPTCHA handoffs, and headed/headless browser control).

Pseudo-Agentic Automation

Quick Index (Action-Routed)

Read First (All Actions)

1. Overview
2. Preconditions
3. Use This Skill When / Do Not Use This Skill When

Action Modules (Read As Needed)

1. Running automation loops:
   • Execution Loop
   • Tool Guidance
2. Hardening runtime behavior:
   • Robust Patterns
   • Pitfalls
   • Security and Ops

Output

1. Deliverable Format

Overview

Use this skill for browser and GUI automation tasks that need iterative script execution, debugging, and adaptation.

Use Scripted Command Execution for simple command chains, setup tasks, and deterministic local operations. If the request can be solved with deterministic shell commands alone, switch to that skill.

Preconditions

Before execution:

1. confirm automation target and success criteria
2. confirm required credentials/access are available
3. confirm whether headless or headed mode is appropriate
4. confirm any legal/terms constraints for scraping/automation
5. for new projects (model has not worked on before), ask whether model should run tests/build by default or user will run them to save tokens
6. operate locally by default; do not deploy unless explicitly requested

Use This Skill When

• The target is a dynamic/authenticated website.
• No stable API exists.
• Browser rendering and interaction is required for E2E behavior checks.
• Native GUI control is required and direct shell actions are insufficient.

Do Not Use This Skill When

• A static file can be fetched directly.
• A straightforward REST API call solves the request.
• The task is simple local shell/file work.

Execution Loop

1. Clarify goal and constraints.
2. Prepare minimal runtime dependencies.
3. Write scripts that output machine-readable success data and rich failure diagnostics.
4. Execute scripts.
5. Inspect logs/artifacts and iterate.
6. Stop after bounded retries and escalate with concrete failure evidence.

Retry budget:

1. default max retries: 3
2. if blocked by CAPTCHA/anti-bot twice, switch to human-handoff flow
3. if selectors keep failing with no stable anchors, escalate with captured artifacts

Tool Guidance

• browser-use: for highly dynamic pages with unstable selectors.
• Playwright: for deterministic browser automation and structured extraction.
• Puppeteer: for Node-centric automation or PDF-heavy workflows.
• PyAutoGUI: fallback only; coordinate-based and fragile.
• PyWinAuto / Appium: preferred for semantic native UI automation where available.

Robust Patterns

• Log precise failure context to stderr (URL, selector, compact DOM snapshot).
• Always close browser/resources in finally.
• Write large outputs to files (JSON preferred), then read those artifacts.
• On CAPTCHA/challenges, switch to headed mode and perform explicit human handoff.

Pitfalls

1. Infinite retries: cap attempts.
2. Zombie processes: always clean up child processes.
3. Headless detection: switch to headed mode when anti-bot behavior appears.
4. Fragile selectors: prefer role/text/test-id over dynamic classes.

Security and Ops

1. Run scripts in project-local or temporary directories.
2. Keep credentials in environment variables.
3. Minimize dependency-install side effects.

Deliverable Format

When applying this skill, provide:

1. target and completion criteria
2. script/run summary
3. artifact locations (logs/screenshots/outputs)
4. pass/fail outcome
5. blockers and next action

Related Skills

• Scripted Command Execution: use for deterministic local command workflows.
• Token Reduction: keep automation reports concise while preserving evidence.