ZeroStep

What is ZeroStep?

ZeroStep is an open-source AI-powered tool designed to supercharge your Playwright tests. It leverages the power of GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 through its ai() function to make end-to-end (E2E) testing simpler and more resilient to changes. Instead of relying on CSS selectors or XPath locators, ZeroStep uses AI to determine the actions to take based on plain-text instructions.

How does ZeroStep work?

ZeroStep integrates directly into Playwright, allowing you to incorporate AI into your tests without altering your existing development workflow. The core functionality revolves around the ai() function, which takes plain-text instructions as input. Here's how it works:

1. Plain-Text Instructions: You provide instructions in plain English describing the actions you want to perform.
2. AI Interpretation: ZeroStep's AI assistant, powered by GPT-3.5 and GPT-4, interprets these instructions at runtime.
3. Dynamic Action Execution: The AI determines the necessary actions to execute within the Playwright test environment.

This approach eliminates the need for hardcoded selectors and locators, making tests more adaptable to changes in the application's UI.

How to use ZeroStep?

To start using ZeroStep, follow these steps:

1. Installation: Install ZeroStep as a development dependency using npm:

   npm i @zerostep/playwright -D
   

2. Import the ai function: Import the ai function into your Playwright test file:

   import { test, expect } from '@playwright/test'
   import { ai } from '@zerostep/playwright'
   

3. Use the ai function: Use the ai function within your tests to execute actions based on plain-text instructions:

   test.describe('Calendly', () => {
     test('book the next available timeslot', async ({ page }) => {
       await page.goto('https://calendly.com/zerostep-test/test-calendly')
   
       await ai('Verify that a calendar is displayed', { page, test })
       await ai('Dismiss the privacy modal', { page, test })
       await ai('Click on the first day in the month with times available', { page, test })
       await ai('Click on the first available time in the sidebar', { page, test })
       await ai('Click the Next button', { page, test })
       await ai('Fill out the form with realistic values', { page, test })
       await ai('Submit the form', { page, test })
   
       const element = await page.getByText('You are scheduled')
       expect(element).toBeDefined()
     })
   })
   

Why choose ZeroStep?

ZeroStep offers several advantages over traditional E2E testing approaches:

• Resilient to Change: Tests are less likely to break due to UI changes, as the AI can adapt to new layouts and designs.
• Faster Development: Writing tests becomes quicker and easier, as you can express actions in plain text instead of writing complex code.
• Test-Driven Development (TDD) Approach: Since tests are not tightly coupled to implementation details, you can write E2E tests before the functionality is fully implemented.
• Simplified Automation: Complex scenarios become easier to automate using plain-text instructions.

Who is ZeroStep for?

ZeroStep is designed for developers and QA engineers who want to improve the efficiency and reliability of their Playwright E2E tests. It is particularly useful for:

• Teams working on applications with frequently changing UIs.
• Developers who want to adopt a TDD approach to E2E testing.
• QA engineers looking for a more intuitive and less error-prone way to automate complex scenarios.

Pricing

ZeroStep offers a free tier with 500 ai() function calls per month and unlimited users. Paid plans start at $20 per month, which includes 2,000 ai() function calls per month.

By using AI to interpret plain-text instructions, ZeroStep makes E2E testing more accessible, efficient, and resilient. It helps teams deliver high-quality software with greater confidence and speed.