13 KiB
Visual Regression Testing Setup Skill
Auto-invokes when user says:
- "Set up visual regression"
- "Add Chromatic tests"
- "Create visual tests for [component]"
- "Configure visual regression testing"
- "Add screenshot testing"
- "Set up Percy"
- "Add BackstopJS"
Skill Purpose
Generate complete visual regression testing setup with Storybook stories, configuration files, and CI/CD workflows.
Supports: Chromatic, Percy, BackstopJS Frameworks: React, Vue, Svelte (TypeScript/JavaScript) CI/CD: GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, CircleCI
What This Skill Does
- Detects existing setup: Storybook version, VR tool, CI platform
- Validates component: Extract props, variants, states
- Generates stories: Complete
.stories.tsxwith all variants - Creates config files: Chromatic, Percy, or BackstopJS configuration
- Sets up CI/CD: Auto-generate workflow files
- Provides instructions: Next steps for API tokens, first baseline
Workflow
Step 1: Validate Project Setup
Execute: vr_setup_validator.py
Check:
- Framework (React/Vue/Svelte) from package.json
- Existing Storybook config (.storybook/ directory)
- Existing VR tool (chromatic, percy, backstopjs in dependencies)
- CI platform (.github/, .gitlab-ci.yml, .circleci/)
- Component file exists and is valid
Output:
{
"framework": "react",
"storybook_version": "7.6.0",
"vr_tool": "chromatic",
"ci_platform": "github",
"component": {
"path": "src/components/ProfileCard.tsx",
"name": "ProfileCard",
"props": [...],
"valid": true
},
"dependencies": {
"installed": ["@storybook/react", "@storybook/addon-essentials"],
"missing": ["chromatic", "@chromatic-com/storybook"]
}
}
If Storybook not found: Ask user if they want to install Storybook first, provide setup instructions.
If multiple VR tools found: Ask user which to use (Chromatic recommended).
Step 2: Generate Storybook Stories
Execute: story_generator.py
Process:
- Parse component file (TypeScript/JSX/Vue SFC)
- Extract props, prop types, default values
- Identify variants (size, variant, disabled, etc.)
- Generate story file from template
- Add accessibility tests (@storybook/addon-a11y)
- Add interaction tests (if @storybook/test available)
Template: templates/story-template.tsx.j2
Example output (ProfileCard.stories.tsx):
import type { Meta, StoryObj } from '@storybook/react';
import { ProfileCard } from './ProfileCard';
const meta = {
title: 'Components/ProfileCard',
component: ProfileCard,
parameters: {
layout: 'centered',
},
tags: ['autodocs'],
argTypes: {
size: { control: 'select', options: ['sm', 'md', 'lg'] },
variant: { control: 'select', options: ['default', 'compact'] },
},
} satisfies Meta<typeof ProfileCard>;
export default meta;
type Story = StoryObj<typeof meta>;
export const Default: Story = {
args: {
name: 'John Doe',
avatar: 'https://example.com/avatar.jpg',
bio: 'Software Engineer',
size: 'md',
variant: 'default',
},
};
export const Small: Story = {
args: {
...Default.args,
size: 'sm',
},
};
export const Large: Story = {
args: {
...Default.args,
size: 'lg',
},
};
export const Compact: Story = {
args: {
...Default.args,
variant: 'compact',
},
};
// Accessibility test
Default.parameters = {
a11y: {
config: {
rules: [
{ id: 'color-contrast', enabled: true },
{ id: 'label', enabled: true },
],
},
},
};
Write to: {component_directory}/{ComponentName}.stories.tsx
Step 3: Generate Configuration Files
Execute: chromatic_config_generator.py (or percy/backstop equivalent)
For Chromatic:
Generate 3 files:
- chromatic.config.json:
{
"projectId": "<PROJECT_ID_PLACEHOLDER>",
"buildScriptName": "build-storybook",
"exitZeroOnChanges": true,
"exitOnceUploaded": true,
"onlyChanged": true,
"externals": ["public/**"],
"skip": "dependabot/**",
"ignoreLastBuildOnBranch": "main"
}
- Update .storybook/main.js (add addon):
module.exports = {
stories: ['../src/**/*.stories.@(js|jsx|ts|tsx)'],
addons: [
'@storybook/addon-links',
'@storybook/addon-essentials',
'@chromatic-com/storybook', // ← Added
'@storybook/addon-interactions',
],
framework: {
name: '@storybook/react-vite',
options: {},
},
};
- Update package.json (add scripts):
{
"scripts": {
"chromatic": "npx chromatic",
"chromatic:ci": "npx chromatic --exit-zero-on-changes"
}
}
For Percy: Generate .percy.yml instead
For BackstopJS: Generate backstop.config.js instead
Step 4: Generate CI/CD Workflow
Execute: ci_workflow_generator.py
Detect CI platform from existing files:
.github/workflows/→ GitHub Actions.gitlab-ci.yml→ GitLab CI.circleci/config.yml→ CircleCI- None → Ask user, default to GitHub Actions
GitHub Actions Example:
Generate: .github/workflows/chromatic.yml
name: Visual Regression Tests
on:
push:
branches: [main, develop]
pull_request:
branches: [main]
jobs:
chromatic:
runs-on: ubuntu-latest
steps:
- uses: actions/checkout@v4
with:
fetch-depth: 0 # Required for Chromatic
- name: Setup Node.js
uses: actions/setup-node@v4
with:
node-version: '20'
cache: 'npm'
- name: Install dependencies
run: npm ci
- name: Run Chromatic
uses: chromaui/action@latest
with:
projectToken: ${{ secrets.CHROMATIC_PROJECT_TOKEN }}
exitZeroOnChanges: true
onlyChanged: true
For GitLab CI: Add job to .gitlab-ci.yml
For CircleCI: Add job to .circleci/config.yml
Step 5: Provide Setup Instructions
Output to user:
✅ Visual regression testing setup complete!
## Files Created/Modified
✅ {ComponentName}.stories.tsx (Storybook story with variants)
✅ chromatic.config.json (Chromatic configuration)
✅ .storybook/main.js (Added @chromatic-com/storybook addon)
✅ package.json (Added chromatic scripts)
✅ .github/workflows/chromatic.yml (CI workflow)
## Next Steps
### 1. Install Dependencies
```bash
npm install --save-dev chromatic @chromatic-com/storybook
```
### 2. Create Chromatic Project
1. Go to https://www.chromatic.com/start
2. Sign in with GitHub
3. Create new project
4. Copy project token
### 3. Add Secret to GitHub
1. Go to repository Settings → Secrets and variables → Actions
2. Create secret: `CHROMATIC_PROJECT_TOKEN`
3. Paste your project token
### 4. Update chromatic.config.json
Replace `<PROJECT_ID_PLACEHOLDER>` with your actual project ID from Chromatic dashboard.
### 5. Create Baseline
```bash
npm run chromatic
```
This captures the initial screenshots as your baseline.
### 6. Test Visual Regression
1. Make a visual change to ProfileCard
2. Commit and push
3. CI will run Chromatic automatically
4. Review changes in Chromatic dashboard
## Documentation
See `.agent/sops/testing/visual-regression-setup.md` for detailed workflow.
## Troubleshooting
**Storybook build fails**: Ensure all component dependencies are installed
**Chromatic upload fails**: Check project token in secrets
**No changes detected**: Chromatic only runs on changed stories (use `--force-rebuild` to test)
Predefined Functions Reference
vr_setup_validator.py
def detect_storybook_config(project_root: str) -> dict
def detect_vr_tool(project_root: str) -> str
def validate_component_path(component_path: str) -> dict
def check_dependencies(project_root: str) -> dict
Returns: Validation report with detected setup and missing dependencies
story_generator.py
def analyze_component(component_path: str, framework: str) -> dict
def generate_story(component_info: dict, template_path: str) -> str
def create_accessibility_tests(component_info: dict) -> str
def create_interaction_tests(component_info: dict) -> str
Returns: Generated story file content
chromatic_config_generator.py
def generate_chromatic_config(project_info: dict) -> str
def generate_storybook_config(existing_config: dict) -> str
def generate_package_scripts(existing_scripts: dict) -> dict
def generate_percy_config(project_info: dict) -> str # Percy alternative
def generate_backstop_config(project_info: dict) -> str # BackstopJS alternative
Returns: Configuration file contents as strings
ci_workflow_generator.py
def detect_ci_platform(project_root: str) -> str
def generate_github_workflow(project_info: dict) -> str
def generate_gitlab_ci(project_info: dict) -> str
def generate_circleci_config(project_info: dict) -> str
Returns: CI workflow file contents
Templates Reference
- story-template.tsx.j2: React/TypeScript story template
- story-template.vue.j2: Vue SFC story template
- chromatic-config.json.j2: Chromatic configuration
- percy-config.yml.j2: Percy configuration
- github-workflow.yml.j2: GitHub Actions workflow
- gitlab-ci.yml.j2: GitLab CI job
- storybook-main.js.j2: Storybook addon configuration
Examples
Example 1: Simple Component
User: "Set up visual regression for ProfileCard component"
→ Detects: React, existing Storybook, no VR tool
→ Generates: ProfileCard.stories.tsx with 4 variants
→ Creates: Chromatic config, GitHub workflow
→ Outputs: Setup instructions
See: examples/simple-component-vr.md
Example 2: Full Design System
User: "Set up visual regression for entire design system"
→ Detects: React, Storybook, components in src/components/
→ Generates: Stories for all components (Button, Input, Card, etc.)
→ Creates: Chromatic config with design token validation
→ Outputs: Bulk setup instructions
See: examples/design-system-vr.md
Example 3: Existing Storybook
User: "Add Chromatic to existing Storybook"
→ Detects: Storybook v7, existing stories
→ Adds: @chromatic-com/storybook addon
→ Creates: Chromatic config, CI workflow
→ Preserves: Existing stories and configuration
See: examples/existing-storybook-vr.md
Integration with product-design Skill
After product-design generates implementation plan, suggest visual regression:
"Implementation plan created! Consider setting up visual regression testing:
'Set up visual regression for {ComponentName}'
This ensures pixel-perfect implementation and prevents visual drift."
Tool Comparison
Chromatic (Recommended)
- ✅ Purpose-built for Storybook
- ✅ Component-focused testing
- ✅ UI review workflow
- ✅ Free tier: 5,000 snapshots/month
- ❌ Requires cloud service
Percy
- ✅ Multi-framework support
- ✅ Responsive testing
- ✅ Visual reviews
- ❌ More expensive
- ❌ Less Storybook-specific
BackstopJS
- ✅ Open source, self-hosted
- ✅ No cloud dependency
- ✅ Free
- ❌ More manual setup
- ❌ Less automation
Default: Chromatic (best Storybook integration)
Error Handling
Component Not Found
Error: Component file not found at {path}
Please provide correct path:
"Set up visual regression for src/components/ProfileCard.tsx"
Storybook Not Installed
Storybook not detected. Install first:
npm install --save-dev @storybook/react @storybook/addon-essentials
npx storybook init
Then retry: "Set up visual regression for ProfileCard"
Multiple VR Tools Detected
Multiple VR tools found: chromatic, percy
Which should I use?
- "Use Chromatic for visual regression"
- "Use Percy for visual regression"
Best Practices
- Start with key components: Don't test everything, focus on design system primitives
- Use interaction tests: Combine visual + functional testing
- Baseline on main: Always merge baselines to main branch
- Review changes: Don't auto-accept visual changes
- Test states: Capture hover, focus, error states
- Accessibility: Include a11y tests in all stories
Token Efficiency
Traditional approach (50k tokens):
- Read Storybook docs (20k)
- Read Chromatic docs (15k)
- Write stories manually (10k)
- Configure CI (5k)
With visual-regression skill (3k tokens):
- Skill auto-invokes (0 tokens)
- Instructions load (3k tokens)
- Functions execute (0 tokens)
Savings: 94% (47k tokens)
Version History
- v3.3.0: Initial release with Chromatic support
- Future: Percy, BackstopJS, Vue, Svelte support
Last Updated: 2025-10-21 Skill Type: Project-specific Generator: nav-skill-creator (self-improving)