vscode-self-test

name	vscode-self-test
description	Test and profile VS Code extension flows end to end in an isolated VS Code window

Use this skill to verify a VS Code extension through the real UI. Every command is shorthand for:

node ~/.config/kilo/scripts/vscode-self-test/cli.mjs <command> [options]

Run commands from the extension repository or a worktree containing vscode-self-test.config.json. Every command emits JSON.

Lifecycle

st() { node ~/.config/kilo/scripts/vscode-self-test/cli.mjs "$@"; }
st start
st launch-vscode --mode dev --build true
st status
st stop-vscode --cleanup true
st stop

Use --mode vsix when packaged-extension behavior matters. Set VSCODE_EXEC_PATH if VS Code is not installed in a standard location.

Pass --headless true for automated runs. This hides VS Code windows while keeping the renderer available to Playwright. Electron still needs a display server on Linux, so use Xvfb in displayless CI environments.

Observe, act, verify

1. Launch isolated VS Code and open the surface with run-command or normal UI clicks.
2. Run frames when the extension UI uses a webview.
3. Capture observe --frame "$FRAME" and read the returned screenshot path.
4. Interact with stable --selector or --text locators. Avoid pixel coordinates.
5. Verify with wait, snapshot, observe, or focused evaluate DOM queries.
6. Check console --type error and logs if behavior is unclear.
7. Restart isolated VS Code for persistence tests.
8. Finish with stop-vscode --cleanup true, then stop.

Commands

state
frames
observe [--path FILE] [--selector CSS] [--text TEXT] [--frame MATCH]
screenshot [--path FILE] [--selector CSS] [--text TEXT] [--frame MATCH]
snapshot [--frame MATCH]
click [--selector CSS | --text TEXT] [--frame MATCH]
hover [--selector CSS | --text TEXT] [--frame MATCH]
type --value TEXT [--selector CSS | --text TEXT] [--clear] [--submit]
press --keys SHORTCUT
wait [--selector CSS | --text TEXT] [--frame MATCH]
run-command --command TEXT
console [--type error|warning|log]
logs [--filter TEXT]
evaluate --script JS [--frame MATCH]
profile-start [--frame MATCH]
profile-stop [--dir DIR]
profile-analyze --dir DIR [--path REPORT]

Webview content lives inside nested iframes. Use frames, select a unique frame URL substring, and pass it consistently to observe, interaction, DOM query, and profiling commands.

Screenshots are evidence only after reading the returned PNG file. Keep a tight observe, act, verify loop and do not guess selectors when the DOM can be inspected.