Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Jenkins Pipeline for Playwright Tests

Prerequisites for Jenkins Pipeline for Playwright:

Before getting into the details of the integration process, ensure the following prerequisites are in place:

• Jenkins server installed and running.
• Node.js installed on the Jenkins server.
• Playwright dependencies installed (npm install playwright).
• A basic understanding of Jenkins pipelines and Playwright.

1. Create Playwright Test Scripts:

• Write your Playwright test scripts in your project repository.
• Example test script (test.js):

const { chromium } = require('playwright');

(async () => {
  const browser = await chromium.launch();
  const page = await browser.newPage();
  await page.goto('https://example.com');
  // Perform actions and assertions here
  await browser.close();
})();

2. Jenkinsfile Creation

1. Create a Jenkinsfile:
   • Within your project repository, create a file named “Jenkinsfile“.
   • This file defines the entire pipeline configuration in the code.
2. Choose Pipeline Type:
   • Decide between Declarative or Scripted pipeline syntax. For simplicity, let’s use Declarative.

3. Define Stages in the Jenkins Pipeline

Set Up Stages:

• Define stages that represent different steps in your pipeline.

pipeline {
    agent any
    stages {
        stage('Checkout') {
            steps {
                // Checkout source code from the repository
                checkout scm
            }
        }
        stage('Install Dependencies') {
            steps {
                // Install Node.js and Playwright dependencies
                sh 'npm install'
            }
        }
        stage('Run Playwright Tests') {
            steps {
                // Execute Playwright tests
                sh 'npx playwright test test.js'
            }
        }
        // Add more stages as needed (e.g., deploy, notifications)
    }
}

4. Configure Jenkins Pipeline Project:

1. Create Pipeline Project:
   • In Jenkins, create a new pipeline project or configure an existing one.
2. Specify Pipeline from SCM:
   • Choose “Pipeline script from SCM” in the project configuration.
   • Select your version control system (e.g., Git) and provide the repository URL.
3. Set Jenkinsfile Path:
   • Specify the path to your Jenkinsfile within the repository.
   • This might be something like /path/to/your/repo/Jenkinsfile if it’s in the root directory.
4. Save Configuration:
   • Scroll to the bottom of the page and click “Save” or “Apply” to save the project configuration.

5. Trigger Pipeline Execution:

1. Open your web browser and navigate to your Jenkins instance.

2. Select Your Pipeline Project:

• From the Jenkins dashboard, locate and click on your Playwright-enabled pipeline project.

3. Manual Trigger:

• Within the project page, look for the “Build Now” or “Build with Parameters” option and click it.
• This action manually triggers a build of your pipeline.

4. Monitor Pipeline Execution:

• As the pipeline runs, Jenkins displays the progress in real-time on the project page.
• Each stage (e.g., Checkout, Linting, Install Dependencies) will appear and transition through various states.

5. View Console Output:

• Click on the running build to access the detailed console output.
• The console output provides logs and information for each executed step within the pipeline stages.

6. Analyze Logs for Each Stage:

• Review the console output for any errors, warnings, or informational messages logged during each stage’s execution.
• Look for specific messages related to Playwright tests (in the “Run Playwright Tests” stage) to ensure proper execution.

7. Interpreting Success or Failure:

• A successful pipeline execution displays a green checkmark, indicating that all stages are completed without errors.
• If any stage fails, Jenkins displays a red ‘x’ and provides details on the failed stage.

8. Post-Build Actions:

• Once the pipeline completes, review any post-build actions configured in the Jenkinsfile.
• Check for cleanup tasks or notifications triggered based on the pipeline’s success or failure.

Additional enhancements to Jenkinsfile:

let’s enhance the Jenkinsfile by adding more stages to the pipeline. We’ll expand upon the pipeline by including stages for linting, building, and potentially deploying the application.

Additional Stages Overview:

• Linting: Checks the code for style and formatting issues using a linter like ESLint.
• Build: Executes the build process if your project requires it (e.g., transpiling TypeScript, bundling assets).
• Deploy: Deploy the application, possibly to a staging environment for further testing.
• Notify: Sends notifications or alerts, informing stakeholders about the build status or any issues encountered.

pipeline {
    agent any

    stages {
        stage('Checkout') {
            steps {
                // Checkout source code from the repository
                checkout scm
            }
        }

        stage('Linting') {
            steps {
                // Run linting checks (assuming using ESLint for JavaScript)
                sh 'npm run lint'
            }
        }

        stage('Install Dependencies') {
            steps {
                // Install Node.js and Playwright dependencies
                sh 'npm install'
            }
        }

        stage('Build') {
            steps {
                // Build the application (if applicable)
                sh 'npm run build'
            }
        }

        stage('Run Playwright Tests') {
            steps {
                // Execute Playwright tests
                sh 'npx playwright test test.js'
            }
        }

        stage('Deploy') {
            steps {
                // Example: Deploy to a staging environment
                sh 'npm run deploy:staging'
            }
        }

        stage('Notify') {
            steps {
                // Example: Send notifications or alerts based on the build status
                echo 'Build completed. Sending notifications...'
                // Add notification mechanisms like email or Slack
            }
        }
    }

    post {
        always {
            // Cleanup or post-build actions (optional)
            echo 'Pipeline completed. Performing cleanup...'
        }
        success {
            // Actions to perform when the pipeline succeeds (optional)
            echo 'Pipeline succeeded! All tests passed.'
        }
        failure {
            // Actions to perform when the pipeline fails (optional)
            echo 'Pipeline failed! Tests may have failed.'
        }
    }
}