vc:agent-browser

# agent-browser Skill

Browser automation CLI designed for AI agents. Uses "snapshot + refs" paradigm for 93% less context than Playwright MCP.

## Quick Start

```bash
# Install globally
npm install -g agent-browser

# Download Chromium (one-time)
agent-browser install

# Linux: include system deps
agent-browser install --with-deps

# Verify
agent-browser --version
```

## Core Workflow

The 4-step pattern for all browser automation:

```bash
# 1. Navigate
agent-browser open https://example.com

# 2. Snapshot (get interactive elements with refs)
agent-browser snapshot -i
# Output: button "Sign In" @e1, textbox "Email" @e2, ...

# 3. Interact using refs
agent-browser fill @e2 "user@example.com"
agent-browser click @e1

# 4. Re-snapshot after page changes
agent-browser snapshot -i
```

## Project-Specific Setup

For project-specific connection patterns, logged-in session reuse through `chrome-debug`, and when to use `agent-browser` vs `chrome-devtools` vs direct non-browser verification, see the project's browser-automation testing notes in the consuming repo, if present. This skill file stays a generic tool reference only and should not redefine the project's broader testing policy.

---

## When to Use (vs chrome-devtools)

| Use agent-browser | Use chrome-devtools |
|-------------------|---------------------|
| Long autonomous AI sessions | Quick one-off screenshots |
| Context-constrained workflows | Custom Puppeteer scripts needed |
| Video recording for debugging | WebSocket full frame debugging |
| Cloud browsers (Browserbase) | Existing workflow integration |
| Multi-tab handling | Need Sharp auto-compression |
| Self-verifying build loops | Session with auth injection |

**Token efficiency:** ~280 chars/snapshot vs 8K+ for Playwright MCP.

## Command Reference

### Navigation
```bash
agent-browser open <url>       # Navigate to URL
agent-browser back             # Go back
agent-browser forward          # Go forward
agent-browser reload           # Reload page
agent-browser close            # Close browser
```

### Analysis (Snapshot)
```bash
agent-browser snapshot         # Full accessibility tree
agent-browser snapshot -i      # Interactive elements only (recommended)
agent-browser snapshot -c      # Compact output
agent-browser snapshot -d 3    # Limit depth
agent-browser snapshot -s "nav" # Scope to CSS selector
```

### Interactions (use @refs from snapshot)
```bash
agent-browser click @e1        # Click element
agent-browser dblclick @e1     # Double-click
agent-browser fill @e2 "text"  # Clear and fill input
agent-browser type @e2 "text"  # Type without clearing
agent-browser press Enter      # Press key
agent-browser hover @e1        # Hover over element
agent-browser check @e3        # Check checkbox
agent-browser uncheck @e3      # Uncheck checkbox
agent-browser select @e4 "opt" # Select dropdown option
agent-browser scroll @e1       # Scroll element into view
agent-browser scroll down 500  # Scroll page by pixels
agent-browser drag @e1 @e2     # Drag from e1 to e2
agent-browser upload @e5 file.pdf  # Upload file
```

### Information Retrieval
```bash
agent-browser get text @e1     # Get text content
agent-browser get html @e1     # Get HTML
agent-browser get value @e2    # Get input value
agent-browser get attr @e1 href  # Get attribute
agent-browser get title        # Page title
agent-browser get url          # Current URL
agent-browser get count "li"   # Count elements
agent-browser get box @e1      # Bounding box
```

### State Checks
```bash
agent-browser is visible @e1   # Check visibility
agent-browser is enabled @e1   # Check if enabled
agent-browser is checked @e3   # Check if checked
```

### Media
```bash
agent-browser screenshot           # Capture viewport
agent-browser screenshot --full    # Full page
agent-browser screenshot -o ss.png # Save to file
agent-browser pdf -o page.pdf      # Export PDF
agent-browser record start         # Start video recording
agent-browser record stop          # Stop and save video
agent-browser record restart       # Restart recording
```

### Wait Conditions
```bash
agent-browser wait @e1                    # Wait for element
agent-browser wait --text "Success"       # Wait for text to appear
agent-browser wait --url "/dashboard"     # Wait for URL pattern
agent-browser wait --load                 # Wait for page load
agent-browser wait --idle                 # Wait for network idle
agent-browser wait --fn "() => window.ready"  # Wait for JS condition
```

### Browser Configuration
```bash
agent-browser viewport 1920 1080   # Set viewport size
agent-browser device "iPhone 14"   # Emulate device
agent-browser geolocation 40.7 -74.0  # Set geolocation
agent-browser offline true         # Enable offline mode
agent-browser headers '{"X-Custom":"val"}'  # Set headers
agent-browser credentials user pass  # HTTP auth
agent-browser color-scheme dark    # Set color scheme
```

### Storage Management
```bash
agent-browser cookies              # List cookies
agent-browser cookies set name=val # Set cookie
agent-browser cookies clear        # Clear cookies
agent-browser storage local        # Get localStorage
agent-browser storage session      # Get sessionStorage
agent-browser state save auth.json # Save browser state
agent-browser state load auth.json # Load browser state
```

### Network Control
```bash
agent-browser network route "**/*.jpg" --abort    # Block requests
agent-browser network route "**/api/*" --body '{"data":[]}'  # Mock response
agent-browser network unroute "**/*.jpg"          # Remove specific route
agent-browser network requests                    # List intercepted requests
```

### Semantic Finding
```bash
agent-browser find role button           # Find by ARIA role
agent-browser find text "Submit"         # Find by text content
agent-browser find label "Email"         # Find by label
agent-browser find placeholder "Search"  # Find by placeholder
agent-browser find testid "login-btn"    # Find by data-testid
agen