@heytherevibin/skillforge 0.2.1

package/skills/windows-desktop-e2e/SKILL.md

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+---
+name: windows-desktop-e2e
+description: E2E testing for Windows native desktop apps (WPF, WinForms, Win32/MFC, Qt) using pywinauto and Windows UI Automation.
+---
+
+# Windows Desktop E2E Testing
+
+End-to-end testing for Windows native desktop applications using **pywinauto** backed by Windows UI Automation (UIA). Covers WPF, WinForms, Win32/MFC, and Qt (5.x / 6.x) — with Qt-specific guidance as a dedicated section.
+
+## When to Activate
+
+- Writing or running E2E tests for a Windows native desktop application
+- Setting up a desktop GUI test suite from scratch
+- Diagnosing flaky or failing desktop automation tests
+- Adding testability (AutomationId, accessible names) to an existing app
+- Integrating desktop E2E into a CI/CD pipeline (GitHub Actions `windows-latest`)
+
+### When NOT to Use
+
+- Web applications → use `e2e-testing` skill (Playwright)
+- Electron / CEF / WebView2 apps → the HTML layer needs browser automation, not UIA
+- Mobile apps → use platform-specific tools (UIAutomator, XCUITest)
+- Pure unit or integration tests that don't need a running GUI
+
+## Core Concepts
+
+All Windows desktop automation relies on **UI Automation (UIA)**, a Windows-built-in accessibility API. Every supported framework exposes a tree of UIA elements with properties Claude can read and act on:
+
+```
+Your test (Python)
+    └── pywinauto (UIA backend)
+        └── Windows UI Automation API   ← built into Windows, framework-agnostic
+            └── App's UIA provider      ← each framework ships its own
+                └── Running .exe
+```
+
+**UIA quality by framework:**
+
+| Framework | AutomationId | Reliability | Notes |
+|-----------|-------------|-------------|-------|
+| WPF | ★★★★★ | Excellent | `x:Name` maps directly to AutomationId |
+| WinForms | ★★★★☆ | Good | `AccessibleName` = AutomationId |
+| UWP / WinUI 3 | ★★★★★ | Excellent | Full Microsoft support |
+| Qt 6.x | ★★★★★ | Excellent | Accessibility enabled by default; class names change to `Qt6*` |
+| Qt 5.15+ | ★★★★☆ | Good | Improved Accessibility module |
+| Qt 5.7–5.14 | ★★★☆☆ | Fair | Needs `QT_ACCESSIBILITY=1`; objectName manual |
+| Win32 / MFC | ★★★☆☆ | Fair | Control IDs accessible; text matching common |
+
+## Setup & Prerequisites
+
+```bash
+# Python 3.8+, Windows only
+pip install pywinauto pytest pytest-html Pillow pytest-timeout
+# Optional: screen recording
+# Install ffmpeg and add to PATH: https://ffmpeg.org/download.html
+```
+
+Verify UIA is reachable:
+
+```python
+from pywinauto import Desktop
+Desktop(backend="uia").windows()  # lists all top-level windows
+```
+
+Install **Accessibility Insights for Windows** (free, from Microsoft) — your DevTools equivalent for inspecting the UIA element tree before writing any test.
+
+## Testability Setup (by Framework)
+
+The single most impactful thing you can do is **give every interactive control a stable AutomationId** before writing tests.
+
+### WPF
+
+```xml
+<!-- XAML: x:Name becomes AutomationId automatically -->
+<TextBox x:Name="usernameInput" />
+<PasswordBox x:Name="passwordInput" />
+<Button x:Name="btnLogin" Content="Login" />
+<TextBlock x:Name="lblError" />
+```
+
+### WinForms
+
+```csharp
+// Set in designer or code
+usernameInput.AccessibleName = "usernameInput";
+passwordInput.AccessibleName = "passwordInput";
+btnLogin.AccessibleName = "btnLogin";
+lblError.AccessibleName = "lblError";
+```
+
+### Win32 / MFC
+
+```cpp
+// Control resource IDs in .rc file are exposed as AutomationId strings
+// IDC_EDIT_USERNAME -> AutomationId "1001"
+// Prefer SetWindowText for Name; add IAccessible for richer support
+```
+
+### Qt — see dedicated section below
+
+---
+
+## Page Object Model
+
+```
+tests/
+├── conftest.py          # app launch fixture, failure screenshot
+├── pytest.ini
+├── config.py
+├── pages/
+│   ├── __init__.py      # required for imports
+│   ├── base_page.py     # locators, wait, screenshot helpers
+│   ├── login_page.py
+│   └── main_page.py
+├── tests/
+│   ├── __init__.py
+│   ├── test_login.py
+│   └── test_main_flow.py
+└── artifacts/           # screenshots, videos, logs
+```
+
+### base_page.py
+
+```python
+import os, time
+from pywinauto import Desktop
+from config import ACTION_TIMEOUT, ARTIFACT_DIR
+
+class BasePage:
+    def __init__(self, window):
+        self.window = window
+
+    # --- Locators (priority order) ---
+
+    def by_id(self, auto_id, **kw):
+        """AutomationId — most stable. Use as first choice."""
+        return self.window.child_window(auto_id=auto_id, **kw)
+
+    def by_name(self, name, **kw):
+        """Visible text / accessible name."""
+        return self.window.child_window(title=name, **kw)
+
+    def by_class(self, cls, index=0, **kw):
+        """Control class + index — fragile, avoid if possible."""
+        return self.window.child_window(class_name=cls, found_index=index, **kw)
+
+    # --- Waits ---
+
+    def wait_visible(self, spec, timeout=ACTION_TIMEOUT):
+        spec.wait("visible", timeout=timeout)
+        return spec
+
+    def wait_gone(self, spec, timeout=ACTION_TIMEOUT):
+        spec.wait_not("visible", timeout=timeout)
+        return spec
+
+    def wait_window(self, title, timeout=ACTION_TIMEOUT):
+        """Wait for a new top-level window (dialogs, child windows)."""
+        dlg = Desktop(backend="uia").window(title=title)
+        dlg.wait("visible", timeout=timeout)
+        return dlg
+
+    def wait_until(self, fn, timeout=ACTION_TIMEOUT, interval=0.3):
+        """Poll an arbitrary condition — use when UIA events are unreliable."""
+        deadline = time.time() + timeout
+        while time.time() < deadline:
+            try:
+                if fn():
+                    return True
+            except Exception:
+                pass
+            time.sleep(interval)
+        raise TimeoutError(f"Condition not met within {timeout}s")
+
+    # --- Actions ---
+
+    def click(self, spec):
+        self.wait_visible(spec)
+        spec.click_input()
+
+    def type_text(self, spec, text):
+        self.wait_visible(spec)
+        ctrl = spec.wrapper_object()
+        try:
+            ctrl.set_edit_text(text)
+        except Exception as e:
+            # Qt 5.x fallback: UIA Value Pattern may be incomplete
+            import sys, pywinauto.keyboard as kb
+            print(f"[windows-desktop-e2e] set_edit_text failed ({e}), using keyboard fallback", file=sys.stderr)
+            ctrl.click_input()
+            kb.send_keys("^a")
+            kb.send_keys(text, with_spaces=True)
+
+    def get_text(self, spec):
+        ctrl = spec.wrapper_object()
+        for attr in ("window_text", "get_value"):
+            try:
+                v = getattr(ctrl, attr)()
+                if v:
+                    return v
+            except Exception:
+                pass
+        return ""
+
+    # --- Artifacts ---
+
+    def screenshot(self, name):
+        os.makedirs(ARTIFACT_DIR, exist_ok=True)
+        path = os.path.join(ARTIFACT_DIR, f"{name}.png")
+        self.window.capture_as_image().save(path)
+        return path
+```
+
+### login_page.py
+
+```python
+from pages.base_page import BasePage
+
+class LoginPage(BasePage):
+    @property
+    def username(self): return self.by_id("usernameInput")
+
+    @property
+    def password(self): return self.by_id("passwordInput")
+
+    @property
+    def btn_login(self): return self.by_id("btnLogin")
+
+    @property
+    def error_label(self): return self.by_id("lblError")
+
+    def login(self, user, pwd):
+        self.type_text(self.username, user)
+        self.type_text(self.password, pwd)
+        self.click(self.btn_login)
+
+    def login_ok(self, user, pwd, main_title="Main Window"):
+        self.login(user, pwd)
+        return self.wait_window(main_title)
+
+    def login_fail(self, user, pwd):
+        self.login(user, pwd)
+        self.wait_visible(self.error_label)
+        return self.get_text(self.error_label)
+```
+
+### conftest.py
+
+> For new projects prefer the **Tier 1 sandbox fixture** (see below) — it adds filesystem isolation at zero extra cost. This basic fixture is for minimal/legacy setups only.
+
+```python
+import os, pytest
+os.environ["QT_ACCESSIBILITY"] = "1"  # Required for Qt 5.x UIA support
+
+from pywinauto import Application
+from config import APP_PATH, MAIN_WINDOW_TITLE, LAUNCH_TIMEOUT, ARTIFACT_DIR
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def app(request):
+    if not APP_PATH:
+        pytest.exit("APP_PATH environment variable is not set", returncode=1)
+    proc = Application(backend="uia").start(APP_PATH, timeout=LAUNCH_TIMEOUT)
+    win  = proc.window(title=MAIN_WINDOW_TITLE)
+    win.wait("visible", timeout=LAUNCH_TIMEOUT)
+    yield win
+    # Screenshot on failure
+    if getattr(getattr(request.node, "rep_call", None), "failed", False):
+        os.makedirs(ARTIFACT_DIR, exist_ok=True)
+        try:
+            win.capture_as_image().save(
+                os.path.join(ARTIFACT_DIR, f"FAIL_{request.node.name}.png")
+            )
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+    # Graceful exit first, force-kill as fallback
+    # proc is a pywinauto Application — use wait_for_process_exit(), not wait_for_process()
+    try:
+        win.close()
+        proc.wait_for_process_exit(timeout=5)
+    except Exception:
+        proc.kill()
+
+@pytest.hookimpl(tryfirst=True, hookwrapper=True)
+def pytest_runtest_makereport(item, call):
+    outcome = yield
+    setattr(item, f"rep_{outcome.get_result().when}", outcome.get_result())
+```
+
+### config.py
+
+```python
+import os
+APP_PATH          = os.environ.get("APP_PATH", "")           # set via env — no default path
+MAIN_WINDOW_TITLE = os.environ.get("APP_TITLE", "")
+LAUNCH_TIMEOUT    = int(os.environ.get("LAUNCH_TIMEOUT", "15"))
+ACTION_TIMEOUT    = int(os.environ.get("ACTION_TIMEOUT", "10"))
+ARTIFACT_DIR      = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "artifacts")
+```
+
+### pytest.ini
+
+```ini
+[pytest]
+testpaths = tests
+markers =
+    smoke: fast smoke tests for critical paths
+    flaky: known-unstable tests
+addopts = -v --tb=short --html=artifacts/report.html --self-contained-html
+```
+
+## Locator Strategy
+
+```
+AutomationId  >  Name (text)  >  ClassName + index  >  XPath
+  (stable)         (readable)       (fragile)           (last resort)
+```
+
+Inspect with Accessibility Insights → **Properties** pane → look for `AutomationId` first.
+
+```python
+# Inspect at runtime — paste into a REPL to explore the tree
+win.print_control_identifiers()
+# or narrow scope:
+win.child_window(auto_id="groupBox1").print_control_identifiers()
+```
+
+## Wait Patterns
+
+```python
+# Wait for control to appear
+page.wait_visible(page.by_id("statusLabel"))
+
+# Wait for control to disappear (e.g. loading spinner)
+page.wait_gone(page.by_id("spinnerOverlay"))
+
+# Wait for a dialog to pop up
+dlg = page.wait_window("Confirm Delete")
+
+# Custom condition (e.g. text changes)
+page.wait_until(lambda: page.get_text(page.by_id("lblStatus")) == "Ready")
+```
+
+**Never use `time.sleep()` as primary synchronization** — use `wait()` or `wait_until()`.
+
+## Artifact Management
+
+```python
+# Screenshot on demand
+page.screenshot("after_login")
+
+# Full-screen capture (when window is off-screen or minimised)
+import pyautogui
+pyautogui.screenshot("artifacts/fullscreen.png")
+
+# Screen recording with ffmpeg (start before test, stop after)
+import subprocess
+
+def start_recording(name):
+    return subprocess.Popen([
+        "ffmpeg", "-f", "gdigrab", "-framerate", "10",
+        "-i", "desktop", "-y", f"artifacts/videos/{name}.mp4"
+    ], stdin=subprocess.PIPE, stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL, stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL)
+
+def stop_recording(proc):
+    proc.stdin.write(b"q"); proc.stdin.flush(); proc.wait(timeout=10)
+```
+
+## Flaky Test Handling
+
+```python
+# Quarantine — equivalent to Playwright's test.fixme()
+@pytest.mark.skip(reason="Flaky: animation race on slow CI. Issue #42")
+def test_animated_transition(self, app): ...
+
+# Skip in CI only
+@pytest.mark.skipif(os.environ.get("CI") == "true", reason="Flaky in CI #43")
+def test_heavy_load(self, app): ...
+```
+
+Common causes and fixes:
+
+| Cause | Fix |
+|-------|-----|
+| Control not ready | Replace `time.sleep` with `wait_visible` |
+| Window not focused | Add `win.set_focus()` before interactions |
+| Animation in progress | `wait_until(lambda: not loading_indicator.exists())` |
+| Dialog timing | `wait_window(title, timeout=15)` |
+| CI display not ready | Set `DISPLAY` or use virtual desktop in CI |
+
+## Test Isolation & Sandbox
+
+Three tiers of isolation — use the lightest tier that satisfies your needs.
+
+### Tier 1 — Filesystem Isolation (default, always use)
+
+Each test gets its own `APPDATA` / `LOCALAPPDATA` / `TEMP` via `subprocess.Popen` and `Application.connect()`. pytest's `tmp_path` fixture handles cleanup automatically.
+
+```python
+# conftest.py — replace the basic `app` fixture with this
+import os, subprocess, pytest
+from pywinauto import Application
+from config import APP_PATH, APP_ARGS, APP_TITLE, LAUNCH_TIMEOUT, ACTION_TIMEOUT, ARTIFACT_DIR
+
+@pytest.fixture(scope="function")
+def app(request, tmp_path):
+    """Fresh process + isolated user-data dirs per test."""
+    if not APP_PATH:
+        pytest.exit("APP_PATH not set", returncode=1)
+
+    # Redirect all per-user storage to an isolated tmp directory
+    sandbox_env = os.environ.copy()
+    sandbox_env["QT_ACCESSIBILITY"]  = "1"
+    sandbox_env["APPDATA"]           = str(tmp_path / "AppData" / "Roaming")
+    sandbox_env["LOCALAPPDATA"]      = str(tmp_path / "AppData" / "Local")
+    sandbox_env["TEMP"] = sandbox_env["TMP"] = str(tmp_path / "Temp")
+    for p in (sandbox_env["APPDATA"], sandbox_env["LOCALAPPDATA"], sandbox_env["TEMP"]):
+        os.makedirs(p, exist_ok=True)
+
+    if not APP_TITLE:
+        pytest.exit("APP_TITLE environment variable is not set", returncode=1)
+
+    # shlex.split handles quoted args with spaces; plain split() breaks on them
+    import shlex
+    # Launch via subprocess so we can pass env; connect pywinauto by PID
+    proc = subprocess.Popen(
+        [APP_PATH] + shlex.split(APP_ARGS),
+        env=sandbox_env,
+    )
+    pw_app = Application(backend="uia").connect(process=proc.pid, timeout=LAUNCH_TIMEOUT)
+    win    = pw_app.window(title=APP_TITLE)
+    win.wait("visible", timeout=LAUNCH_TIMEOUT)
+    yield win
+
+    if getattr(getattr(request.node, "rep_call", None), "failed", False):
+        os.makedirs(ARTIFACT_DIR, exist_ok=True)
+        try:
+            win.capture_as_image().save(
+                os.path.join(ARTIFACT_DIR, f"FAIL_{request.node.name}.png")
+            )
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+    try:
+        win.close()
+        proc.wait(timeout=5)
+    except Exception:
+        proc.kill()
+    # tmp_path is cleaned up automatically by pytest
+
+@pytest.hookimpl(tryfirst=True, hookwrapper=True)
+def pytest_runtest_makereport(item, call):
+    outcome = yield
+    setattr(item, f"rep_{outcome.get_result().when}", outcome.get_result())
+```
+
+### Tier 2 — Windows Job Object (optional: process-lifetime containment)
+
+Attach the process to a Job Object so it is **automatically terminated** when
+the test fixture's job handle is GC'd. Also prevents the app from spawning
+child processes that escape fixture cleanup.
+
+> **Scope of isolation:** Job Objects do NOT virtualize filesystem access or
+> block network traffic. File-write and network isolation require AppContainer,
+> Windows Firewall rules, or Tier 3 (Windows Sandbox). Use Tier 2 only for
+> process-lifetime and child-process containment.
+
+Requires no extra dependencies.
+
+```python
+import ctypes, ctypes.wintypes as wt
+
+def restrict_process(pid: int):
+    """
+    Attach the process to a Job Object that prevents it from:
+    - spawning processes outside the job (LIMIT_KILL_ON_JOB_CLOSE)
+    Does NOT block network — use Windows Firewall rules for that.
+    """
+    JOB_OBJECT_LIMIT_KILL_ON_JOB_CLOSE = 0x00002000
+    # Minimal rights: SET_QUOTA (0x0100) | TERMINATE (0x0001)
+    PROCESS_SET_QUOTA_AND_TERMINATE    = 0x0101
+
+    kernel32 = ctypes.windll.kernel32
+    job   = kernel32.CreateJobObjectW(None, None)
+    hproc = kernel32.OpenProcess(PROCESS_SET_QUOTA_AND_TERMINATE, False, pid)
+
+    # Correct struct layout — LimitFlags is at offset +16, not +44
+    class JOBOBJECT_BASIC_LIMIT_INFORMATION(ctypes.Structure):
+        _fields_ = [
+            ("PerProcessUserTimeLimit", wt.LARGE_INTEGER),
+            ("PerJobUserTimeLimit",     wt.LARGE_INTEGER),
+            ("LimitFlags",             wt.DWORD),
+            ("MinimumWorkingSetSize",   ctypes.c_size_t),
+            ("MaximumWorkingSetSize",   ctypes.c_size_t),
+            ("ActiveProcessLimit",      wt.DWORD),
+            ("Affinity",               ctypes.c_size_t),
+            ("PriorityClass",          wt.DWORD),
+            ("SchedulingClass",        wt.DWORD),
+        ]
+
+    info = JOBOBJECT_BASIC_LIMIT_INFORMATION()
+    info.LimitFlags = JOB_OBJECT_LIMIT_KILL_ON_JOB_CLOSE
+    ok = kernel32.SetInformationJobObject(job, 2, ctypes.byref(info), ctypes.sizeof(info))
+    if not ok:
+        raise ctypes.WinError()
+    kernel32.AssignProcessToJobObject(job, hproc)
+    kernel32.CloseHandle(hproc)
+    return job  # keep alive — job closes (kills proc) when GC'd
+
+# After proc = subprocess.Popen(...):  job = restrict_process(proc.pid)
+```
+
+### Tier 3 — Windows Sandbox (CI full-OS isolation)
+
+When you need a clean Windows image per run (no leftover registry keys, no
+shared GPU state, true isolation), run the **entire test suite** inside
+[Windows Sandbox](https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/security/application-security/application-isolation/windows-sandbox/windows-sandbox-overview).
+
+**Requirement:** Windows 10/11 Pro or Enterprise, Virtualization enabled.
+
+Create `e2e-sandbox.wsb` in your project root:
+
+```xml
+<Configuration>
+  <MappedFolders>
+    <!-- App binary (read-only) -->
+    <MappedFolder>
+      <HostFolder>C:\path\to\your\build\Release</HostFolder>
+      <SandboxFolder>C:\app</SandboxFolder>
+      <ReadOnly>true</ReadOnly>
+    </MappedFolder>
+    <!-- Test suite (read-write for artifacts) -->
+    <MappedFolder>
+      <HostFolder>C:\path\to\your\e2e_test</HostFolder>
+      <SandboxFolder>C:\e2e_test</SandboxFolder>
+      <ReadOnly>false</ReadOnly>
+    </MappedFolder>
+  </MappedFolders>
+  <LogonCommand>
+    <!--
+      Windows Sandbox starts with no Python. Install it silently first,
+      then install deps and run tests. Artifacts are written back to the
+      host via the MappedFolder above.
+    -->
+    <Command>powershell -Command "
+      winget install --id Python.Python.3.11 --silent --accept-package-agreements;
+      $env:PATH += ';' + $env:LOCALAPPDATA + '\Programs\Python\Python311\Scripts';
+      cd C:\e2e_test;
+      pip install -r requirements.txt;
+      pytest tests\ -v
+    "</Command>
+  </LogonCommand>
+</Configuration>
+```
+
+Launch: `WindowsSandbox.exe e2e-sandbox.wsb`
+
+> pywinauto and the app both run **inside** the sandbox (same session required).
+> Artifacts are written back to the host via the mapped folder.
+
+### Tier comparison
+
+| Tier | Isolation | Setup cost | Works on CI | Use when |
+|------|-----------|-----------|-------------|----------|
+| 1 — `tmp_path` env redirect | Filesystem | Zero | Always | Default for all tests |
+| 2 — Job Object | Process tree | Low | Always | Prevent child-process escape |
+| 3 — Windows Sandbox | Full OS | Medium | Needs Pro/Enterprise image | Nightly clean-room runs |
+
+### Prevent hanging tests
+
+Add `pytest-timeout` to cap any single test. In `pytest.ini` set `timeout = 60` and `timeout_method = thread`. Note: `thread` method cannot kill Qt app subprocesses on Windows — add `atexit.register(lambda: [p.kill() for p in psutil.Process().children(recursive=True)])` in `conftest.py` to reap orphans.
+
+## CI/CD Integration
+
+```yaml
+# .github/workflows/e2e-desktop.yml
+name: Desktop E2E
+on: [push, pull_request]
+
+jobs:
+  e2e:
+    runs-on: windows-latest   # real GUI environment, no Xvfb needed
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+        with: { python-version: "3.11" }
+
+      - name: Install deps
+        run: pip install pywinauto pytest pytest-html Pillow
+
+      - name: Build app
+        run: cmake --build build --config Release  # adjust to your build system
+
+      - name: Run E2E
+        env:
+          APP_PATH: ${{ github.workspace }}\build\Release\MyApp.exe
+          APP_TITLE: "My Application"
+          CI: "true"
+        run: pytest tests/ --html=artifacts/report.html --self-contained-html --junitxml=artifacts/results.xml -v
+
+      - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        if: always()
+        with:
+          name: e2e-artifacts
+          path: artifacts/
+          retention-days: 14
+```
+
+## Qt Specific
+
+### Enable UIA in Qt 5.x
+
+Qt 5.x accessibility is disabled by default in some builds (especially 5.7–5.14). Set the environment variable **before** launching. Qt 6.x enables accessibility by default — skip this step for Qt 6.
+
+```python
+# conftest.py — add at module top
+import os
+os.environ["QT_ACCESSIBILITY"] = "1"
+```
+
+Or export it in CI:
+
+```yaml
+env:
+  QT_ACCESSIBILITY: "1"
+```
+
+### Add Stable Identifiers to Qt Widgets
+
+```cpp
+// Preferred: both objectName and accessibleName
+void setTestId(QWidget* w, const char* id) {
+    w->setObjectName(id);
+    w->setAccessibleName(id);  // becomes UIA Name property
+}
+
+// In your dialog constructor:
+setTestId(ui->usernameEdit, "usernameInput");
+setTestId(ui->passwordEdit, "passwordInput");
+setTestId(ui->loginButton,  "btnLogin");
+setTestId(ui->errorLabel,   "lblError");
+```
+
+Centralise all IDs in a header to avoid typos:
+
+```cpp
+// test_ids.h
+#define TID_USERNAME   "usernameInput"
+#define TID_PASSWORD   "passwordInput"
+#define TID_BTN_LOGIN  "btnLogin"
+#define TID_LBL_ERROR  "lblError"
+```
+
+### Qt-Specific Quirks
+
+**QComboBox** — the dropdown is a separate top-level window:
+
+```python
+from pywinauto import Desktop
+
+def select_combo_item(page, combo_spec, item_text):
+    page.click(combo_spec)
+    # Dropdown appears as a new root-level window
+    # class_name varies by Qt version — verify with Accessibility Insights
+    # Qt 5.x: "Qt5QWindowIcon"  |  Qt 6.x: "Qt6QWindowIcon" — verify with Accessibility Insights
+    popup = Desktop(backend="uia").window(class_name_re="Qt[56]QWindowIcon")
+    popup.wait("visible", timeout=5)
+    popup.child_window(title=item_text).click_input()
+```
+
+**QMessageBox / QDialog** — also separate top-level windows:
+
+```python
+dlg = page.wait_window("Confirm")          # wait for dialog title
+dlg.child_window(title="OK").click_input() # click button inside it
+```
+
+**QTableWidget / QTableView** — row/cell access:
+
+```python
+table = page.by_id("tblUsers").wrapper_object()
+cell  = table.cell(row=0, column=1)
+print(cell.window_text())
+```
+
+**Self-drawn controls** (`paintEvent`-only, `QGraphicsView`, `QOpenGLWidget`) — UIA cannot see their internals. Use the Fallback section below.
+
+## Fallback: Screenshot Mode
+
+When a control is not reachable via UIA (self-drawn, third-party, game engine):
+
+```bash
+pip install pyautogui Pillow opencv-python
+```
+
+```python
+import pyautogui, cv2, numpy as np
+from PIL import Image
+
+def find_image_on_screen(template_path, confidence=0.85):
+    """Locate a template image on screen. Returns (x, y) center or None."""
+    screen   = np.array(pyautogui.screenshot())
+    template = np.array(Image.open(template_path))
+    result   = cv2.matchTemplate(
+        cv2.cvtColor(screen, cv2.COLOR_RGB2BGR),
+        cv2.cvtColor(template, cv2.COLOR_RGB2BGR),
+        cv2.TM_CCOEFF_NORMED,
+    )
+    _, max_val, _, max_loc = cv2.minMaxLoc(result)
+    if max_val >= confidence:
+        h, w = template.shape[:2]
+        return max_loc[0] + w // 2, max_loc[1] + h // 2
+    return None
+
+def click_image(template_path, confidence=0.85):
+    pos = find_image_on_screen(template_path, confidence)
+    if pos is None:
+        raise RuntimeError(f"Image not found on screen: {template_path}")
+    pyautogui.click(*pos)
+```
+
+**Use sparingly** — image matching breaks on DPI changes, theme switches, and partial occlusion.
+Always try UIA first; fall back to screenshots only for genuinely unreachable controls.
+
+## Anti-Patterns
+
+```python
+# BAD: fixed sleep
+time.sleep(3)
+page.click(page.by_id("btnSubmit"))
+
+# GOOD: condition wait
+page.wait_visible(page.by_id("btnSubmit"))
+page.click(page.by_id("btnSubmit"))
+```
+
+```python
+# BAD: brittle class+index locator as primary strategy
+page.by_class("Edit", index=2).type_keys("hello")
+
+# GOOD: AutomationId
+page.by_id("usernameInput").set_edit_text("hello")
+```
+
+```python
+# BAD: assert on pixel coordinates
+assert btn.rectangle().left == 120
+
+# GOOD: assert on content / state
+assert page.get_text(page.by_id("lblStatus")) == "Logged in"
+assert page.by_id("btnLogout").is_enabled()
+```
+
+```python
+# BAD: share app instance across all tests (state leaks)
+@pytest.fixture(scope="session")
+def app(): ...
+
+# GOOD: fresh process per test (or per class at most)
+@pytest.fixture(scope="function")
+def app(): ...
+```
+
+## Running Tests
+
+```bash
+# All tests
+pytest tests/ -v
+
+# Smoke only
+pytest tests/ -m smoke -v
+
+# Specific file
+pytest tests/test_login.py -v
+
+# With custom app path
+APP_PATH="C:\build\Release\MyApp.exe" APP_TITLE="MyApp" pytest tests/ -v
+
+# Detect flaky tests (repeat each 5 times)
+pip install pytest-repeat
+pytest tests/test_login.py --count=5 -v
+```
+
+## Related Skills
+
+- `e2e-testing` — Playwright E2E for web applications
+- `cpp-testing` — C++ unit/integration testing with GoogleTest
+- `cpp-coding-standards` — C++ code style and patterns