About Playwright
Playwright is a test library. One API drives Chromium, Firefox and WebKit. Tests live in a project repository and run in CI. It is not a service you leave running for customers.
Why it exists
Browser tests were tied to one browser's tools and failed for timing reasons. One runner with auto-waiting narrowed that gap.
Who uses it
Developers and QA who ship a web interface.
What it is used for
End-to-end checks of a site you already run. It does not host that site.
Open source behind the product
The Apache-2.0 library is the product. CI systems run the same tests you run locally. There is no open-core server to deploy. Browser binaries download when you install them.
How to run it on a server
- Add it to the web project with the package manager in the docs. This is a development tool, not a production service.
- Install the browser binaries on the CI runner and cache them if the runner allows it.
- Point tests at a site you started for the test, or at a staging URL you are allowed to automate.
- Do not publish a Playwright process as a public service.
Follow the project's own guide for the version you install. Commands and file names change between releases.
How to contribute
microsoft/playwright accepts issues and pull requests under its contributing guide. A failing test that reproduces a browser bug is a strong report.
- Read the project's guidelines. Open the repository and look for CONTRIBUTING, the code of conduct and the README.
- Find something to work on. Browse good first issues or all open issues. Documentation and bug reports count.
- Make a small change. Fork the repository, work on a branch, and keep the change focused.
- Open a pull request. Say what changed and why, and link the issue. See open pull requests.
Contributions are accepted under the project's own licence (Apache-2.0). Some projects also ask you to sign a contributor agreement. A doc fix or a reproduced bug is a real contribution.
Licence: Apache-2.0
Permissive. You can use, modify and distribute it, including commercially, keeping the licence and notices. It includes an express patent grant.
This is a plain-English guide, not legal advice. Read the licence in the repository before you ship it or sell a service on top of it.