browserstack — Claude Code skill: what it does, how to install

---
name: "browserstack"
description: >-
  Run tests on BrowserStack. Use when user mentions "browserstack",
  "cross-browser", "cloud testing", "browser matrix", "test on safari",
  "test on firefox", or "browser compatibility".
---

# BrowserStack Integration

Run Playwright tests on BrowserStack's cloud grid for cross-browser and cross-device testing.

## Prerequisites

Environment variables must be set:
- `BROWSERSTACK_USERNAME` — your BrowserStack username
- `BROWSERSTACK_ACCESS_KEY` — your access key

If not set, inform the user how to get them from [browserstack.com/accounts/settings](https://www.browserstack.com/accounts/settings) and stop.

> **The BrowserStack MCP server is not auto-registered (issue #978).**
> `pw-browserstack` was removed from the plugin's `.mcp.json` because it failed to
> connect for every user (the plugin ships no `node_modules`). The `browserstack_*`
> MCP tools used below, and the `/pw:browserstack` command, will fail with "tool
> not found" until it is enabled manually — see the **Integrations** section of the
> plugin's `CLAUDE.md` (`cd integrations/browserstack-mcp && npm install`, then
> register the server in your own user/project MCP config). Setting the env vars
> alone is not sufficient.

## Capabilities

### 1. Configure for BrowserStack

```
/pw:browserstack setup
```

Steps:
1. Check current `playwright.config.ts`
2. Add BrowserStack connect options:

```typescript
// Add to playwright.config.ts
import { defineConfig } from '@playwright/test';

const isBS = !!process.env.BROWSERSTACK_USERNAME;

export default defineConfig({
  // ... existing config
  projects: isBS ? [
    {
      name: "chromelatestwindows-11",
      use: {
        connectOptions: {
          wsEndpoint: `wss://cdp.browserstack.com/playwright?caps=${encodeURIComponent(JSON.stringify({
            'browser': 'chrome',
            'browser_version': 'latest',
            'os': 'Windows',
            'os_version': '11',
            'browserstack.username': process.env.BROWSERSTACK_USERNAME,
            'browserstack.accessKey': process.env.BROWSERSTACK_ACCESS_KEY,
          }))}`,
        },
      },
    },
    {
      name: "firefoxlatestwindows-11",
      use: {
        connectOptions: {
          wsEndpoint: `wss://cdp.browserstack.com/playwright?caps=${encodeURIComponent(JSON.stringify({
            'browser': 'playwright-firefox',
            'browser_version': 'latest',
            'os': 'Windows',
            'os_version': '11',
            'browserstack.username': process.env.BROWSERSTACK_USERNAME,
            'browserstack.accessKey': process.env.BROWSERSTACK_ACCESS_KEY,
          }))}`,
        },
      },
    },
    {
      name: "webkitlatestos-x-ventura",
      use: {
        connectOptions: {
          wsEndpoint: `wss://cdp.browserstack.com/playwright?caps=${encodeURIComponent(JSON.stringify({
            'browser': 'playwright-webkit',
            'browser_version': 'latest',
            'os': 'OS X',
            'os_version': 'Ventura',
            'browserstack.username': process.env.BROWSERSTACK_USERNAME,
            'browserstack.accessKey': process.env.BROWSERSTACK_ACCESS_KEY,
          }))}`,
        },
      },
    },
  ] : [
    // ... local projects fallback
  ],
});
```

3. Add npm script: `"test:e2e:cloud": "npx playwright test --project='chrome@*' --project='firefox@*' --project='webkit@*'"`

### 2. Run Tests on BrowserStack

```
/pw:browserstack run
```

Steps:
1. Verify credentials are set
2. Run tests with BrowserStack projects:
   ```bash
   BROWSERSTACK_USERNAME=$BROWSERSTACK_USERNAME \
   BROWSERSTACK_ACCESS_KEY=$BROWSERSTACK_ACCESS_KEY \
   npx playwright test --project='chrome@*' --project='firefox@*'
   ```
3. Monitor execution
4. Report results per browser

### 3. Get Build Results

```
/pw:browserstack results
```

Steps:
1. Call `browserstack_get_builds` MCP tool
2. Get latest build's sessions
3. For each session:
   - Status (pass/fail)
   - Browser and OS
   - Duration
   - Video URL
   - Log URLs
4. Format as summary table

### 4. Check Available Browsers

```
/pw:browserstack browsers
```

Steps:
1. Call `browserstack_get_browsers` MCP tool
2. Filter for Playwright-compatible browsers
3. Display available browser/OS combinations

### 5. Local Testing

```
/pw:browserstack local
```

For testing localhost or staging behind firewall:
1. Install BrowserStack Local: `npm install -D browserstack-local`
2. Add local tunnel to config
3. Provide setup instructions

## MCP Tools Used

| Tool | When |
|---|---|
| `browserstack_get_plan` | Check account limits |
| `browserstack_get_browsers` | List available browsers |
| `browserstack_get_builds` | List recent builds |
| `browserstack_get_sessions` | Get sessions in a build |
| `browserstack_get_session` | Get session details (video, logs) |
| `browserstack_update_session` | Mark pass/fail |
| `browserstack_get_logs` | Get text/network logs |

## Output

- Cross-browser test results table
- Per-browser pass/fail status
- Links to BrowserStack dashboard for video/screenshots
- Any browser-specific failures highlighted