How to Get Started with Playwright: 1

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 at first. But don’t worry—I’ve broken it down into simple, bite-sized steps so you can jump in and begin your Playwright journey with confidence.
This is my first blog, and I’m excited to share what I’ve learned so far. Let’s dive right in!

✨ Step 1: Installing Node.js (The Foundation)

Before we can run Playwright, we need to install Node.js—the core platform that lets us use Playwright and other JavaScript libraries.

🔹 Download Node.js

Head over to the official Node.js website and download the latest version suitable for your system. When you install Node.js, it also comes with npm (Node Package Manager), which we’ll need to install Playwright.

🔹 Run the Installer

After downloading, run the installer and follow the prompts. Once completed, Node.js and npm will be ready to use.

✅ Step 2: Verifying Node.js Installation

Let’s confirm that everything is installed correctly:
Open Command Prompt or your preferred terminal.
Run the following commands:

node -v # Shows the installed Node.js version
npm -v # Shows the installed npm version

If you see version numbers for both, you're all set!
If not, try reinstalling Node.js and ensure the installation completes without errors.

💻 Step 3: Installing Visual Studio Code (VS Code)

Next, you’ll need a code editor to write your Playwright scripts. Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a fantastic choice—lightweight, customizable, and beginner-friendly.

🔹 Download & Install

Go to the VS Code download page and get the latest version for your system. Once downloaded, run the installer and follow the setup instructions.

🚀 Step 4: Installing Playwright

Now comes the exciting part—installing Playwright!

✅ Create a Project Folder

First, create a new folder where your Playwright project will live. Then:
Open VS Code
Go to File > Open Folder
Select the folder you just created
Open the integrated terminal in VS Code using Ctrl + ~.

🛠️ Option 1: Install via Command Line (Recommended)

In the terminal, run:
npm init playwright@latest

This command launches an interactive setup wizard, which will help you:
Choose the programming language (JavaScript or TypeScript)
Select browsers to install (Chromium, Firefox, WebKit)
Decide if you want GitHub Actions for CI setup

💡 Pro Tip: You can skip the wizard by adding --yes, but I recommend going through it manually the first time.

Once complete, your folder structure will look like this:

my-playwright-project/
├── playwright.config.js # Playwright configuration
├── package.json # Project metadata & dependencies
├── tests/ # Folder for your test files
│ └── example.spec.js # Sample test (or .ts if you chose TypeScript)

🧩 Option 2: Use the VS Code Extension (for Running & Debugging Tests)

If you prefer a GUI-based approach or want to debug inside VS Code:
Open the Extensions panel (Ctrl + Shift + X)
Search for Playwright Test
Click Install

🔔 Important:

The Playwright Test extension does not install Playwright itself. You’ll still need to run npm init playwright@latest as shown above. The extension helps you run and debug tests within VS Code once everything is installed.

📚 Step 5: Explore the Playwright Docs

Congrats! 🎉 You’ve set everything up and are ready to start testing.
Before diving in, I highly recommend bookmarking the official Playwright documentation. It includes:
Guides and tutorials
API references
Examples of real-world testing scenarios
It’s super helpful as you continue learning.

🔚 Wrapping Up

And just like that—you’ve completed your setup and taken your first big step into the world of browser automation with Playwright! 💪
I know starting something new can feel like a lot, but trust me—once you get going, things will begin to click. Just take it one small step at a time.

🌟 What’s Next?

In my next blog, I’ll walk you through how to write and run your very first Playwright test case.

If you're also learning Playwright or have tips to share, feel free to connect or comment. Let’s grow together! 😊

Until next time,

Good luck and happy testing!

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