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Playwright serves as the dependable choice for performing complete web application tests which work across different browsers and operating systems. This tool operates through the Document Object Model (DOM) of browsers but lacks ability to access elements which exist beyond this environment including native desktop applications and system dialogues and complex canvas UIs.
When your automation workflow is required to leave the web browser to interact with a desktop app for example, during a multi-factor authentication MFA process or file handling Playwright reaches its technical limit. This is where AskUI steps in. AskUI uses AI-powered visual recognition Computer Vision and human-like input simulation to automate tasks across any UI layer web, desktop, mobile, custom apps.
The combination of Playwright for web stability with AskUI for cross-platform visual control enables you to develop complete end-to-end workflows that connect different applications.
Prerequisites and Installation
To implement this hybrid approach, ensure you have the following components installed and configured:
1. AskUI: The AskUI controller must be installed and configured on your system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
2. Playwright Core: Install the Playwright package as a dev-dependency using npm.
npm install --save-dev playwright3. Browser: Install the necessary browser binaries like Chromium)that Playwright will control.
npx playwright install --with-deps chromiumConfiguring the Dual Environment
The core of the integration lies in configuring both tools to run within the same test context, typically handled in a setup file such as helpers/askui-helper.ts
The key setup steps include:
Both tools must be properly shut down in the afterAll hook to ensure resource cleanup and isolation between tests.
Writing a Hybrid Workflow (The Hand-off)
The test workflow demonstrates a smooth hand-off from Playwright's structural automation to AskUI's visual automation.
Example Scenario: Web Search and Visual Element Click
In this example, Playwright performs standard web navigation, and AskUI takes over to click an element based on its visual label.
describe('Cross-Application Workflow', () => {
it('should navigate via Playwright and select an image via AskUI', async () => {
// 1. Playwright Section: DOM-based automation
let page = await pwContext.newPage();
await page.goto('https://google.com/');
await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Reject all' }).click();
await page.locator('//textarea[@name="q"]').fill('Playwright framework');
await page.keyboard.press('Enter');
// --- HAND-OFF POINT ---
// 2. AskUI Section: Visual-based automation begins
// A click often ensures the browser window has focus before AskUI acts
await aui.mouseLeftClick().exec();
// AskUI uses visual recognition (text "Images") to click the button.
await aui.click().button().withText('Images').exec();
// AskUI performs an interaction based on a natural language description
// of a visual element, which is brittle for DOM tools.
await aui.moveMouseTo().element().matching('image with a red and a green mask in it').exec();
});
});The core takeaway is how aui.mouseLeftClick().exec() serves as the crucial technical step, ensuring the browser window is actively focused on the desktop before AskUI initiates its visual recognition and simulation commands. AskUI then uses its visual engine to interact with elements regardless of the underlying DOM structure.
Conclusion
The combination of Playwright with AskUI creates an advanced automated system which will maintain its functionality in upcoming years for executing intricate business operations. Playwright stands as the leading option for dependable web automation through structural methods yet AskUI provides essential functionality by allowing users to interact with desktop applications and native OS components and all visual elements that exist beyond the browser DOM. This integration ensures full coverage for all multi-step, cross-application scenarios.
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