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BackstopJS
Automated visual regression testing for web applications
BackstopJS captures screenshots, compares them against baselines, and generates visual diff reports, supporting Chrome Headless, Playwright, Puppeteer, Docker, and CI pipelines with a simple three‑command workflow.
Overview
Highlights
In‑browser reporting UI with diff inspector and scrubber
Docker rendering for cross‑platform consistency
Playwright/Puppeteer scripts to simulate user interactions
CLI integration with CI pipelines and JUnit reports
Pros
- Three‑command setup gets you started quickly
- Supports headless Chrome and modern automation frameworks
- Docker option eliminates environment‑specific rendering issues
- Rich visual diff UI aids rapid debugging
Considerations
- Requires a Node.js environment
- Configuration files have a learning curve for newcomers
- Screenshot storage can grow large over time
- Focused on web UI; not suitable for native mobile apps
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Fit guide
Great for
- Front‑end developers needing automated UI regression checks
- QA teams integrating visual tests into CI/CD pipelines
- Projects with responsive designs across multiple viewports
- Teams using Playwright or Puppeteer for interaction testing
Not ideal when
- Backend‑only services without a user interface
- Native mobile app testing without a web view
- Very small projects with minimal UI changes
- Teams lacking JavaScript or Node.js expertise
How teams use it
Detect CSS regressions after theme update
Automated screenshots reveal layout shifts, enabling quick approval or rollback.
Validate responsive design across devices
Tests run across defined viewports, ensuring consistent appearance on mobile, tablet, and desktop.
Capture UI changes from feature flag toggles
Interaction scripts simulate user actions, confirming visual state matches expectations.
Integrate visual checks into CI pipeline
JUnit reports feed into CI dashboards, failing builds when visual diffs exceed thresholds.
Tech snapshot
JavaScript93%
HTML4%
Shell2%
CSS1%
Dockerfile1%
Frequently asked questions
How do I install BackstopJS?
Run `npm install -g backstopjs` for a global install or `npm install backstopjs` locally and require it in your Node code.
Can I run tests in Docker?
Yes, add the `--docker` flag to `backstop test` to execute rendering inside a Docker container for consistent results.
Which browsers are supported?
Chrome Headless is the default; Playwright and Puppeteer allow testing with additional browsers and interaction capabilities.
How are visual differences reported?
The in‑browser UI shows reference, test, and diff images with a scrubber; the CLI also outputs a summary and JUnit report.
How do I approve updated screenshots?
Run `backstop approve` (optionally with `--filter`) to promote test images to the reference baseline.
Project at a glance
Dormant- Stars
- 7,086
- Watchers
- 7,086
- Forks
- 610
LicenseMIT
Repo age11 years old
Last commitlast year
Primary languageJavaScript
Last synced 3 hours ago