Fixing Argos-CI Screenshots: Ensuring Dashboard Widgets Load

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Fixing Argos-CI Screenshots: Ensuring Dashboard Widgets Load

Hey guys! Ever been frustrated by screenshots that capture loading indicators instead of the actual data? It's a real pain, especially when you're relying on those screenshots for end-to-end (e2e) testing and visual regression checks. That's exactly what we were running into with our Argos-CI setup and our ndb-core dashboard widgets. After a recent package update, our e2e tests started taking screenshots before all the dashboard widgets had finished loading. The result? A bunch of screenshots showing loading spinners instead of the valuable data we needed. So, we had to roll up our sleeves and fix it. This article is all about how we tackled this issue, ensuring our Argos-CI screenshots are reliable and capture the fully loaded dashboard widgets. We will explore the challenges, the solutions, and the importance of ensuring our tests accurately represent the user experience.

The Problem: Loading Indicators in E2E Screenshots

So, what exactly was the problem? Well, Argos-CI is a fantastic tool for visual regression testing. It takes screenshots of your application at different stages and compares them to catch any visual changes. This is super helpful for spotting UI bugs or unintended style changes. However, if your screenshots are taken too early—before all the data has loaded or all the widgets have rendered—you're not getting an accurate representation of the final product. In our case, after a package update, the timing of our e2e tests and the loading of our dashboard widgets got out of sync. This meant that the screenshots captured the dashboard while it was still in the process of loading, displaying those annoying loading indicators instead of the actual data. This made the screenshots pretty much useless for visual regression testing, as any changes in the data would be missed. The initial issue stemmed from the timing of our e2e tests. We were taking the screenshots too quickly, before the dashboard widgets had finished fetching and rendering their data. This led to incomplete screenshots, defeating the purpose of visual regression testing. The key was to make the tests wait until everything was fully loaded.

Impact on Visual Regression Testing

This issue had a significant impact on our visual regression testing process. Because the screenshots were showing loading states instead of the actual data, we couldn't accurately compare the current state of the dashboard with previous versions. This meant that any visual changes in the data displayed by the widgets would go unnoticed, potentially leading to bugs or unintended UI issues. This could be a problem, like, a new chart style, or even a different type of data being displayed. If the screenshot only showed a loading spinner, we wouldn't see these changes. This made it difficult to catch regressions early on, which can be costly and time-consuming to fix later in the development cycle. Also, it undermined the reliability of our automated testing, making us question the accuracy of our test results. We rely on these tests to catch these issues. So, it was important that we got them fixed.

Identifying the Root Cause

To fix the problem, we first had to pinpoint the root cause. We reviewed the Argos-CI build logs and the e2e test code to understand where the timing was off. We realized the tests weren't waiting for the widgets to complete their data fetching and rendering. Specifically, the tests took screenshots immediately after navigating to the dashboard, without any explicit wait mechanism to ensure the widgets were fully loaded. The problem was that the e2e tests didn't have any mechanisms to wait for the widgets to finish loading. It was a simple case of the tests being too eager, jumping the gun, and taking screenshots before the widgets had a chance to render their content. Once we understood the problem, it was a question of introducing the correct waiting strategy.

The Solution: Implementing a Waiting Strategy

The solution involved implementing a waiting strategy within our e2e tests to ensure all dashboard widgets were fully loaded before taking a screenshot. We had to modify our e2e tests to incorporate a mechanism that waits for the widgets to finish loading. There are several ways to approach this, and the best approach will depend on your specific tech stack and how your widgets work. Here’s what we did, and the process we took to do it.

Choosing the Right Wait Mechanism

We explored several waiting mechanisms. The choice of which one to use is determined by the specific implementation of the dashboard widgets. We could wait for loading spinners to disappear, check for the presence of specific elements, or wait for network requests to complete. In our case, we opted to wait for specific elements within the widgets to be visible. Because the widgets are built using a specific component library, we know when their content is loaded. This is because we control the components, so we can know when they will finish rendering. This approach worked well because it provided a reliable indication that the widgets had finished loading their data and rendering their content. It's often better to wait for specific indicators of loading completion than to rely on generic waits or arbitrary delays.

Implementing the Wait in the E2E Tests

Once we decided on our approach, we integrated the wait mechanism into our e2e tests. We used the testing framework, which allowed us to wait for specific elements to become visible. This involved identifying the elements within the widgets that indicate that they are finished loading (e.g., the presence of data, the absence of loading spinners, or the visibility of specific content). We wrote code that instructs the testing framework to wait until these elements are visible before taking a screenshot. This ensured that the screenshots captured the fully loaded dashboard. Implementing the wait was straightforward. We wrapped the screenshot-taking command in a wait function. This wait function continuously checked for the presence of the elements that indicated loading completion, and it only took the screenshot when those elements were visible. It's important to make the tests wait for loading completion before taking a screenshot.

Code Example

Here’s a simplified code example to give you a feel for how we implemented the wait functionality (Note: this is a pseudo-code and might need adjustments based on your specific framework):

// Assuming you're using a testing framework like Cypress, Playwright, or Selenium
async function waitForWidgetsToLoad() {
  // Replace with the specific selectors for your widgets' loading indicators or content
  await cy.get('.widget-loading-spinner').should('not.exist'); // Example: Wait for spinners to disappear
  await cy.get('.widget-content').should('be.visible'); // Example: Wait for content to be visible
}

// In your test case
 it('should take a screenshot of the fully loaded dashboard', async () => {
  cy.visit('/dashboard');
  await waitForWidgetsToLoad();
  cy.screenshot('dashboard-fully-loaded');
 });

This simple code snippet shows how we added the loading wait into the testing procedure. First, we wrote a function that checks for the visibility of key elements. In this example, it waits for the loading spinners to disappear and for the content to be visible. Then, in the test case, we called this function before taking the screenshot. This ensures the screenshots only capture the fully loaded dashboard.

Testing and Verification

After implementing the waiting strategy, we needed to verify that the fix worked as expected. We ran the e2e tests to see if the screenshots now captured the fully loaded dashboard widgets. We reviewed the screenshots in Argos-CI and compared them to the previous screenshots, confirming that they no longer showed loading indicators. We also checked that the data displayed in the screenshots was accurate and up-to-date.

Running the E2E Tests

We re-ran the e2e tests in our CI pipeline, including the tests that take screenshots. We carefully monitored the test results to see if the screenshots were capturing the correct content. We also checked the test logs for any errors or warnings related to the new waiting mechanism. We made sure to test in different environments to ensure our tests work well in a variety of situations. Running the tests was the most crucial part because we wanted to be sure that the tests correctly took the screenshots.

Reviewing the Screenshots in Argos-CI

Once the tests completed, we reviewed the screenshots in Argos-CI. We compared the new screenshots with the old ones, paying close attention to the dashboard widgets. We looked for any loading indicators and confirmed that they were no longer present. We also verified that the data displayed in the widgets was accurate and up-to-date. This comparison was vital to ensure the fix had the intended effect. It's often necessary to compare current results with previous results to verify if changes have been correctly implemented.

Validating the Data Displayed

Finally, we validated the data displayed in the widgets to ensure it matched the expected values. This step was crucial to make sure the screenshots were capturing the correct information. We manually verified that the data displayed in the screenshots matched the data in our application. We also checked for any discrepancies or inconsistencies. This helped ensure that the screenshots were not only free of loading indicators but also that they accurately reflected the state of our application. Validation is the last step that will give us complete confidence in our changes.

Benefits of the Solution

The benefits of implementing this waiting strategy were significant, improving the reliability and usefulness of our visual regression testing. The solution we implemented provided numerous benefits. The first and most important was the improved reliability of our visual regression tests. We now get consistent screenshots that accurately reflect the state of our dashboards. The tests capture the correct data and widgets are correctly rendered. This ensures that any visual changes in the widgets are detected, increasing our confidence in the tests.

Improved Reliability of Visual Regression Tests

The most immediate benefit was the improved reliability of our visual regression tests. With the screenshots capturing the fully loaded widgets, we could confidently rely on the results to identify any visual regressions. The tests would accurately reflect the state of the dashboard, which increased confidence in the reliability of the tests. This is the cornerstone of the whole process. Accurate and reliable tests are crucial for detecting bugs.

Accurate Representation of the Dashboard State

The solution ensured an accurate representation of the dashboard state in the screenshots. This allows us to make sure the screenshots are useful for regression testing. This accurate representation is critical for catching bugs early on, before they make it into production. The screenshots now accurately reflect the data being displayed, which is essential to determine whether it is correct or not. Making sure that the screenshots are capturing the proper data is the goal of all of this.

Early Bug Detection

With reliable screenshots, we were able to detect bugs earlier in the development cycle. By catching visual regressions early on, we reduced the time and cost associated with fixing them. By making these tests work, we greatly reduced the cost of discovering and fixing issues. Early bug detection saves time and resources, allowing us to deliver a higher-quality product. This early detection is very important for efficient code production. The entire process works together to make sure that the product is working well.

Conclusion

In conclusion, ensuring that Argos-CI screenshots capture fully loaded dashboard widgets is critical for effective visual regression testing. By implementing a waiting strategy in our e2e tests, we were able to eliminate the issue of loading indicators in our screenshots, improving the reliability and accuracy of our tests. This fix illustrates the importance of carefully synchronizing your tests with your application's loading process to get the most out of your visual testing. It ensures that the tests accurately reflect the user experience, leading to early bug detection and a higher-quality product. The whole process makes for a better product.

Key Takeaways

To recap, here are the key takeaways:

  • Identify the Problem: Make sure you figure out what the root cause is before trying to make changes.
  • Choose the Right Wait Mechanism: Adapt the waiting strategy to your specific widgets and their loading behavior.
  • Implement the Wait in E2E Tests: Integrate the wait mechanism into your tests.
  • Test and Verify: Run the tests and confirm the screenshots are correct.

By following these steps, you can ensure your Argos-CI screenshots accurately represent your application's state, leading to more reliable visual regression testing and a better user experience. Thanks for reading, and happy testing, guys!