How to Get Started with Playwright: 1 - A Beginner’s Journey

Are you ready to start automating browsers and making your testing process a whole lot more efficient? Awesome! If you're a beginner like me, getting started with Playwright can feel overwhelming. But don’t worry—I’ve broken it down into simple, bite-sized steps so you can jump in and start your Playwright journey with confidence.

Let’s dive in!

Step 1: Installing Node.js (The Foundation)

First things first, before we get our hands on Playwright, we need to set up Node.js, the core foundation that will allow us to run Playwright and other JavaScript libraries.

Download Node.js

Head over to the official Node.js website and download the latest version for your system. Node.js will also come with npm, the package manager, which is key for installing libraries like Playwright.

Run the Installer

After downloading, simply run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions. Once done, you’re all set to move forward.

Step 2: Checking if Node.js is Installed

Now that Node.js is installed, let’s make sure everything is working as it should. Here’s how you can verify it:

1. Open Command Prompt (or your terminal of choice).
2. Type the following commands to check the installed versions:
   
   node -v   # This will show you the installed version of Node.js.
   npm -v   # This checks the version of npm.

If you see version numbers, you’re good to go! If not, try reinstalling Node.js and following the instructions carefully.

Step 3: Installing Visual Studio Code (VS Code)

Next up: VS Code! You’ll need a code editor to write your Playwright scripts, and VS Code is a fantastic choice.

Download VS Code

Visit the VS Code download page and grab the latest version for your system.

Install VS Code

Once downloaded, run the installer and follow the instructions. You’re just about ready to start writing code!

Step 4: Installing Playwright

Now for the fun part: installing Playwright. First, create a folder for your Playwright project. Once your project folder is ready, you have two methods to install Playwright. But before that -

Open Your Project in VS Code

Once your project folder is ready:

1. Open VS Code.
2. Click on File > Open Folder.
3. Select your newly created project folder.
4. Now, you’re ready to proceed with the next step

Option 1: Installing Playwright the Command Line

Run the following command on integrated terminal (Ctrl + ~) to quickly install Playwright and initialize your project with Playwright configuration:

npm init playwright@latest

What happens when you run this?

• This command will set up a new Node.js project and automatically install Playwright.

Option 2: Installing Playwright Using VS Code Extension

If you’re using Visual Studio Code, you can install the Playwright Test extension directly.

1. Open VS Code and go to the Extensions pane (Ctrl+Shift+X).
2. Search for Playwright Test and click Install.
3. Once installed, you can easily set up Playwright from within VS Code by using the commands in the Playwright extension.

Once Playwright is installed, you’ll see a folder structure in your project like this:

• playwright.config.js: The configuration file for Playwright where you can customize your testing setup.
• package.json: Contains project dependencies and scripts.
• example.spec.js: A sample test file created by Playwright, ready to be used for writing your first test.

Step 5: Diving Into Playwright Docs

You’re all set up! Now, it’s time to explore Playwright in depth. Here are some excellent resources to help you on your journey:

• Official Playwright Documentation: Check out Playwright Docs for detailed guides and examples.

Wrapping Up & Next Steps

And just like that, you’ve installed everything you need to start your Playwright journey. It’s exciting, right? 🌟

I hope this guide helps you feel more confident in getting started with Playwright. It might seem like a lot at first, but remember—every journey begins with a single step. Keep experimenting, keep learning, and soon you'll be automating all your browser testing with ease!

What’s Next?

In my next post, I’ll show you how to write and run your first Playwright test. Stay tuned! 🚀

Good luck, and happy testing! 😊