lab-00-prerequisites

layout	default
title	Lab 00: Prerequisites
nav_order	2
description	Set up your development environment for the Playwright 101 workshop
permalink	/labs/lab-00-prerequisites/

Duration	15 minutes (self-paced)
Level	Beginner
Type	Setup

Learning Objectives

After completing this lab, you will have a fully configured development environment for writing and running Playwright tests throughout the workshop.

Prerequisites

• Windows, macOS, or Linux operating system
• Internet access
• A GitHub account (free tier is sufficient)

Exercises

Exercise 1: Install Node.js 20+

Download and install Node.js version 20 or later from nodejs.org. The LTS (Long Term Support) version is recommended. Verify the installation by running:

node --version

The output should display v20.x.x or higher.

Exercise 2: Install Visual Studio Code

Download and install Visual Studio Code from code.visualstudio.com. This serves as your primary editor for writing tests and interacting with GitHub Copilot.

Exercise 3: Install VS Code Extensions

Open VS Code and install the following extensions from the Extensions marketplace:

1. Playwright Test for VS Code — provides integrated test runner, debugging, and code generation directly in the editor
2. GitHub Copilot — enables AI-assisted test authoring used in Lab 03

Tip

Search for each extension by name in the Extensions sidebar (Ctrl+Shift+X) and select Install.

Exercise 4: Clone the Repository

Open a terminal and clone the workshop repository:

git clone https://github.com/devopsabcs-engineering/playwright-101.git

Exercise 5: Install Dependencies

Navigate to the test project directory and install the Node.js dependencies:

cd playwright-101/playwright-tests
npm install

Exercise 6: Install Playwright Browsers

Playwright requires browser binaries to execute tests. Install the Chromium browser with its system dependencies:

npx playwright install --with-deps chromium

Exercise 7: Verify Setup

Run the test suite to confirm everything is configured correctly:

npx playwright test

All tests should pass. A successful run produces output showing each test with a green checkmark.

Verification Checkpoint

All 7 Playwright tests pass in the terminal. If any test fails, review the exercises above and confirm each step completed successfully.

Summary

Your development environment is ready for the workshop. You have Node.js, VS Code with the required extensions, Playwright browsers, and a passing test suite.

Next Steps

Proceed to Lab 01: From User Stories to Test Cases.