Java + Maven
Normal pom.xml project. Clone it, resolve dependencies, and run with Maven.
LOWRY LAB · AUTOMATION STARTER
Clone it. Pick a browser. Run a real UI test.
A deliberately small cross-browser automation starter built with Java 21, Maven, JUnit 5, and Playwright. It already tests the live Creature Forge app, so you start with something working and expand from there.
4browser targets
1real page object
1working E2E test
0driver executables to manage
START HERE
The smallest useful framework.
There is no reporting platform, dependency injection container, API framework, workflow layer, or giant configuration system yet. Every abstraction exists because the starter already needs it.
JUnit 5
The test lifecycle stays familiar. BaseTest creates and tears down the browser environment.
Playwright
Modern locators, auto-waiting, isolated browser contexts, and cross-browser automation.
Cross-browser from day one
Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and WebKit for Safari-engine coverage are already selectable from the command line.
ARCHITECTURE
Enough structure to grow. Not enough to hide what is happening.
CreatureForgeTestdescribes test intent
↓
CreatureForgePageknows the UI
↓
BaseTestowns JUnit setup / teardown
→
BrowserManagerowns browser choice and lifecycle
↓
Playwrightdrives the browser
Test
What are we proving?
Page object
How do we interact with this screen?
BaseTest
What happens before and after every test?
BrowserManager
Which browser runs, and how is it created and cleaned up?
CLONE → CONFIGURE → RUN
The whole onboarding story.
-
1
Have Java 21 and Maven
java -version mvn -version -
2
Install the Playwright-managed browsers once
mvn test -DskipTests mvn exec:java -e \ -Dexec.mainClass=com.microsoft.playwright.CLI \ -Dexec.args="install chromium firefox webkit" -
3
Run the included test
mvn testChrome is the default. The test runs against the live Creature Forge architecture demo.
BROWSER TARGETS
Same test. Different browser.
mvn test -Dbrowser=chromeInstalled Google Chromemvn test -Dbrowser=edgeInstalled Microsoft Edgemvn test -Dbrowser=firefoxPlaywright Firefoxmvn test -Dbrowser=safariPlaywright WebKit; not installed SafariWant to watch it?
mvn test -Dbrowser=chrome -Dheadless=falseTHE INCLUDED TEST
It tests something you can see.
The sample test opens Creature Forge, verifies all three architecture options, selects GraphQL, loads the boss example, verifies a GraphQL request appears, and checks that the UI receives Vharos, Warden of the Last Gate.
Open Creature Forge →Creature Forge
↓
Direct REST ✓
REST BFF ✓
GraphQL ✓
↓
Load boss example
↓
Verify returned UI