Cypress - GitHub

Cypress - GitHub Integration

Integrating Cypress with GitHub enhances your development workflow by providing automated checks and rich reporting directly within your pull requests. This is primarily achieved through the Cypress Dashboard and the Cypress GitHub App.

Benefits of GitHub Integration

• Pull Request Status Checks: Automatically run Cypress tests for each pull request and see the pass/fail status directly on GitHub.
• Test Result Summaries: Get detailed reports, including screenshots and videos (if enabled), linked from the PR.
• Prevent Merging Flaky or Failing Tests: Enforce policies that require tests to pass before merging code.
• Improved Collaboration: Developers and QA can easily see test outcomes and diagnose failures.

Setting up the Integration

The integration process involves connecting your Cypress project (via the Cypress Dashboard) to your GitHub repository.

Step 1: Set up your Project in Cypress Dashboard

If you haven’t already, you’ll need to set up your project in the Cypress Dashboard:

1. Log in to the Cypress Dashboard.
2. Create or select an organization.
3. Set up a new project, which will give you a unique projectId.
4. Add this projectId to your cypress.config.js or cypress.config.ts file.

// cypress.config.js
const { defineConfig } = require('cypress');

module.exports = defineConfig({
  projectId: 'your-project-id',
  e2e: {
    // ...
  },
});

Step 2: Install the Cypress GitHub App

The Cypress GitHub App needs to be installed and configured for your GitHub organization or specific repositories.

1. From Cypress Dashboard: Navigate to your project’s settings in the Cypress Dashboard. Look for an ‘Integrations’ or ‘GitHub Integration’ section.
2. Click the option to install or configure the GitHub App. This will typically redirect you to GitHub.
3. On GitHub: You’ll be prompted to choose which GitHub account or organization to install the app on.
4. You can then choose to grant access to all repositories or only select repositories.
5. Authorize and install the app.

The exact UI labels and steps might vary slightly as both Cypress Dashboard and GitHub evolve, so refer to the official Cypress documentation for the most current visual guides.

Step 3: Configure GitHub Integration in Project Settings

Once the app is installed, you need to link your Cypress Dashboard project to a specific GitHub repository:

• In the Cypress Dashboard, go to your project’s settings and find the GitHub Integration section.
• You should be able to select the GitHub repository you want to associate with this Cypress project.
• Configure options such as PR status checks and commit status updates.

Running Tests in CI with GitHub Actions (Example)

To trigger Cypress tests on pull requests, you’ll typically use a CI/CD provider. GitHub Actions is a popular choice. Here’s a basic example of a GitHub Actions workflow file (.github/workflows/cypress-tests.yml):

name: Cypress Tests

on:
  pull_request:
    branches:
      - main # Or your default branch

jobs:
  cypress-run:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: Checkout code
        uses: actions/checkout@v3

      - name: Cypress run
        uses: cypress-io/github-action@v6
        with:
          record: true # Enable recording to Cypress Dashboard
          # browser: chrome # Optionally specify browser
        env:
          CYPRESS_RECORD_KEY: ${{ secrets.CYPRESS_RECORD_KEY }}
          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }} # Required for status checks

Important:

• You need to add your CYPRESS_RECORD_KEY (obtained from the Cypress Dashboard project settings) as a secret in your GitHub repository settings (under ‘Secrets and variables’ > ‘Actions’).
• The GITHUB_TOKEN is usually available by default but explicitly passing it can be good practice for certain permissions.

Troubleshooting

• Missing Status Checks: Ensure the Cypress GitHub App has the necessary permissions for your repository and that the integration is correctly configured in the Cypress Dashboard.
• Authentication Issues: Verify your CYPRESS_RECORD_KEY is correct and accessible in your CI environment.
• Consult Official Documentation: Both Cypress and GitHub provide detailed documentation. Refer to them for specific setup steps and troubleshooting common issues.

Integrating Cypress with GitHub significantly streamlines the testing and review process, helping teams maintain higher code quality.