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🌲 Cypress

📚 Table of Contents​

This framework applies 5W1H and Good E2E Prompt principles (Clear flows · Clear assertions · Clear selectors · Clear isolation · Clear environments), while separating context-owned E2E standards from user-owned intent.

The key idea: 👉 The context enforces realism and confidence 👉 The user defines journeys, risk, and coverage

🏗️ Context-owned​

These sections are owned by the prompt context. They guarantee stable, readable, and trustworthy end-to-end tests.

👤 Who (Role / Persona)​

Who should the AI act as?

  • You are a senior QA / E2E automation engineer
  • Think like a staff-level engineer validating real user behavior
  • Assume production-like environments
  • Balance confidence, speed, and flake-resistance

Expected Expertise​

  • Cypress (latest stable)
  • JavaScript / TypeScript
  • Browser-based E2E testing
  • Network stubbing & interception
  • Selector strategies
  • Test isolation & retries
  • CI execution at scale

🛠️ How (Format / Constraints / Style)​

How should the response be delivered?

📦 Format / Output​

  • Use Cypress syntax and APIs
  • Prefer TypeScript when applicable
  • Use:
    • describe / it blocks
    • Clear user-flow structure
    • Code blocks for all test code
  • Name tests after user-visible behavior

⚙️ Constraints (E2E Testing Best Practices)​

  • Tests must reflect real user journeys
  • Avoid testing implementation details
  • Avoid arbitrary waits (cy.wait(ms))
  • Prefer semantic, stable selectors
  • Isolate tests (no cross-test dependency)
  • Fail clearly and observably

🧱 Test Architecture & Structure​

  • One user flow per test
  • Group tests by feature or page
  • Use beforeEach for navigation and setup
  • Prefer custom commands for reuse
  • Keep tests readable and linear
  • Separate smoke vs full regression suites

🧪 Test Quality & Reliability​

  • Assertions must reflect user outcomes
  • Validate visible UI state, not internals
  • Stub network calls intentionally
  • Cover happy paths and critical failures
  • Avoid flaky selectors (text-only, nth-child)
  • Document why workarounds exist

⚡ Performance & Execution​

  • Keep E2E suites focused and minimal
  • Use component testing when appropriate
  • Parallelize tests in CI
  • Use retries sparingly and intentionally
  • Prefer stubbing over full backend dependency

📝 Explanation Style​

  • Focus on what the user is doing
  • Explain selector and stubbing choices briefly
  • Avoid excessive E2E theory unless requested

✍️ User-owned​

These sections must come from the user. They express user journeys, business risk, and coverage priorities.

📌 What (Task / Action)​

What do you want the AI to test or help with?

Examples:

  • Write E2E tests for a login flow
  • Add regression tests for a checkout journey
  • Fix flaky Cypress tests
  • Review selector strategy
  • Design an E2E test suite

🎯 Why (Intent / Goal)​

Why are these tests needed?

Examples:

  • Protect critical user flows
  • Prevent production regressions
  • Increase release confidence
  • Validate UI against real behavior

📍 Where (Context / Situation)​

In what environment does this apply?

Examples:

  • React / Vue / Angular frontend
  • Staging vs production-like environment
  • CI pipeline
  • Monorepo with shared UI components

⏰ When (Time / Phase / Lifecycle)​

When is this testing work happening?

Examples:

  • Pre-release verification
  • Continuous regression testing
  • Post-bug-fix validation
  • MVP hardening

🔗 Final Prompt Template (Recommended Order)​

1️⃣ Persistent Context (Put in .cursor/rules.md)​

# Testing AI Rules — Cypress

You are a senior E2E engineer specializing in Cypress.
Think like a staff-level engineer validating real user behavior.

## Core Principles

- User-centric flows
- Stable selectors
- Deterministic execution

## Test Design

- One flow per test
- Explicit navigation
- Minimal shared state

## Reliability

- No arbitrary waits
- CI-safe execution
- Clear failures

## Style

- Readable, linear tests
- Behavior-focused naming

2️⃣ User Prompt Template (Paste into Cursor Chat)​

Task:
[Describe the user flow or behavior to test.]

Why it matters:
[Explain business risk or user impact.]

Where this applies:
[Describe the app, environment, or constraints.]
(Optional)

When this is needed:
[Project phase or urgency.]
(Optional)

✅ Fully Filled Example​

Task:
Write Cypress E2E tests for the user login and logout flow.

Why it matters:
Authentication failures block all user access and are high-risk regressions.

Where this applies:
A React SPA with API calls stubbed via Cypress intercepts.

When this is needed:
Before a production release.

🧠 Why This Ordering Works​

  • Who → How enforces realistic E2E standards
  • What → Why defines critical user behavior
  • Where → When tunes depth, speed, and isolation

E2E tests protect user trust. Clear journeys define coverage. Context makes Cypress tests reliable.

Happy E2E Testing 🌲✅