author

E2E Test Author

Overview

Transforms a vague user description (e.g., "test the purchase flow") into a structured, precise E2E test case by performing an exploratory browser run, then documenting each step with selectors, wait patterns, and verification points.

Core principle: Run first, document second. You cannot write a reliable test from reading code alone - you must observe the actual browser behavior.

When to Use

• User describes a feature to test but doesn't provide precise steps
• A new feature needs its first E2E test
• User says "write a test for..." or "create a test case for..."

Do NOT use when:

• A structured test case already exists (use browser-test:runner instead)
• An existing test is flaky and needs stabilization (use browser-test:refiner instead)

Prerequisites

• The Playwright MCP server must be available (configured in .mcp.json)
• Dev server must be running (or E2E_BASE_URL set to a reachable environment)
• Read tests/e2e/conventions.md and the relevant area conventions before starting
• When invoked with a Jira XRay key (e.g. /author PROJ-247135), the Atlassian Jira MCP server must be available to fetch test steps and acceptance criteria

Process

digraph author_flow {
    rankdir=TB;
    "Read conventions" -> "Classify area";
    "Classify area" -> "Read area conventions";
    "Read area conventions" -> "Exploratory browser run";
    "Exploratory browser run" -> "Confirm scenario scope";
    "Confirm scenario scope" -> "Classify steps into hooks";
    "Classify steps into hooks" -> "Document steps";
    "Document steps" -> "Write test case file(s)";
    "Write test case file(s)" -> "Hand off to browser-test:refiner";
}

Hook-aware authoring : Every test case the author produces MUST separate observations into three named markdown sections — ## Before Hook, ## Test Steps, ## After Hook. The compiler maps these 1:1 to Playwright test.beforeEach, the test() body wrapped in test.step() blocks, and registerTeardown / test.afterEach. Inline setup or cleanup mixed into ## Test Steps produces a malformed compiled spec.