bmad-method 5.1.3 → 6.0.0-alpha.1

package/src/modules/bmm/testarch/knowledge/timing-debugging.md

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+# Timing Debugging and Race Condition Fixes
+
+## Principle
+
+Race conditions arise when tests make assumptions about asynchronous timing (network, animations, state updates). **Deterministic waiting** eliminates flakiness by explicitly waiting for observable events (network responses, element state changes) instead of arbitrary timeouts.
+
+## Rationale
+
+**The Problem**: Tests pass locally but fail in CI (different timing), or pass/fail randomly (race conditions). Hard waits (`waitForTimeout`, `sleep`) mask timing issues without solving them.
+
+**The Solution**: Replace all hard waits with event-based waits (`waitForResponse`, `waitFor({ state })`). Implement network-first pattern (intercept before navigate). Use explicit state checks (loading spinner detached, data loaded). This makes tests deterministic regardless of network speed or system load.
+
+**Why This Matters**:
+
+- Eliminates flaky tests (0 tolerance for timing-based failures)
+- Works consistently across environments (local, CI, production-like)
+- Faster test execution (no unnecessary waits)
+- Clearer test intent (explicit about what we're waiting for)
+
+## Pattern Examples
+
+### Example 1: Race Condition Identification (Network-First Pattern)
+
+**Context**: Prevent race conditions by intercepting network requests before navigation
+
+**Implementation**:
+
+```typescript
+// tests/timing/race-condition-prevention.spec.ts
+import { test, expect } from '@playwright/test';
+
+test.describe('Race Condition Prevention Patterns', () => {
+  test('❌ Anti-Pattern: Navigate then intercept (race condition)', async ({ page, context }) => {
+    // BAD: Navigation starts before interception ready
+    await page.goto('/products'); // ⚠️ Race! API might load before route is set
+
+    await context.route('**/api/products', (route) => {
+      route.fulfill({ status: 200, body: JSON.stringify({ products: [] }) });
+    });
+
+    // Test may see real API response or mock (non-deterministic)
+  });
+
+  test('✅ Pattern: Intercept BEFORE navigate (deterministic)', async ({ page, context }) => {
+    // GOOD: Interception ready before navigation
+    await context.route('**/api/products', (route) => {
+      route.fulfill({
+        status: 200,
+        contentType: 'application/json',
+        body: JSON.stringify({
+          products: [
+            { id: 1, name: 'Product A', price: 29.99 },
+            { id: 2, name: 'Product B', price: 49.99 },
+          ],
+        }),
+      });
+    });
+
+    const responsePromise = page.waitForResponse('**/api/products');
+
+    await page.goto('/products'); // Navigation happens AFTER route is ready
+    await responsePromise; // Explicit wait for network
+
+    // Test sees mock response reliably (deterministic)
+    await expect(page.getByText('Product A')).toBeVisible();
+  });
+
+  test('✅ Pattern: Wait for element state change (loading → loaded)', async ({ page }) => {
+    await page.goto('/dashboard');
+
+    // Wait for loading indicator to appear (confirms load started)
+    await page.getByTestId('loading-spinner').waitFor({ state: 'visible' });
+
+    // Wait for loading indicator to disappear (confirms load complete)
+    await page.getByTestId('loading-spinner').waitFor({ state: 'detached' });
+
+    // Content now reliably visible
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('dashboard-data')).toBeVisible();
+  });
+
+  test('✅ Pattern: Explicit visibility check (not just presence)', async ({ page }) => {
+    await page.goto('/modal-demo');
+
+    await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Open Modal' }).click();
+
+    // ❌ Bad: Element exists but may not be visible yet
+    // await expect(page.getByTestId('modal')).toBeAttached()
+
+    // ✅ Good: Wait for visibility (accounts for animations)
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('modal')).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(page.getByRole('heading', { name: 'Modal Title' })).toBeVisible();
+  });
+
+  test('❌ Anti-Pattern: waitForLoadState("networkidle") in SPAs', async ({ page }) => {
+    // ⚠️ Deprecated for SPAs (WebSocket connections never idle)
+    // await page.goto('/dashboard')
+    // await page.waitForLoadState('networkidle') // May timeout in SPAs
+
+    // ✅ Better: Wait for specific API response
+    const responsePromise = page.waitForResponse('**/api/dashboard');
+    await page.goto('/dashboard');
+    await responsePromise;
+
+    await expect(page.getByText('Dashboard loaded')).toBeVisible();
+  });
+});
+```
+
+**Key Points**:
+
+- Network-first: ALWAYS intercept before navigate (prevents race conditions)
+- State changes: Wait for loading spinner detached (explicit load completion)
+- Visibility vs presence: `toBeVisible()` accounts for animations, `toBeAttached()` doesn't
+- Avoid networkidle: Unreliable in SPAs (WebSocket, polling connections)
+- Explicit waits: Document exactly what we're waiting for
+
+---
+
+### Example 2: Deterministic Waiting Patterns (Event-Based, Not Time-Based)
+
+**Context**: Replace all hard waits with observable event waits
+
+**Implementation**:
+
+```typescript
+// tests/timing/deterministic-waits.spec.ts
+import { test, expect } from '@playwright/test';
+
+test.describe('Deterministic Waiting Patterns', () => {
+  test('waitForResponse() with URL pattern', async ({ page }) => {
+    const responsePromise = page.waitForResponse('**/api/products');
+
+    await page.goto('/products');
+    await responsePromise; // Deterministic (waits for exact API call)
+
+    await expect(page.getByText('Products loaded')).toBeVisible();
+  });
+
+  test('waitForResponse() with predicate function', async ({ page }) => {
+    const responsePromise = page.waitForResponse((resp) => resp.url().includes('/api/search') && resp.status() === 200);
+
+    await page.goto('/search');
+    await page.getByPlaceholder('Search').fill('laptop');
+    await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Search' }).click();
+
+    await responsePromise; // Wait for successful search response
+
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('search-results')).toBeVisible();
+  });
+
+  test('waitForFunction() for custom conditions', async ({ page }) => {
+    await page.goto('/dashboard');
+
+    // Wait for custom JavaScript condition
+    await page.waitForFunction(() => {
+      const element = document.querySelector('[data-testid="user-count"]');
+      return element && parseInt(element.textContent || '0') > 0;
+    });
+
+    // User count now loaded
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('user-count')).not.toHaveText('0');
+  });
+
+  test('waitFor() element state (attached, visible, hidden, detached)', async ({ page }) => {
+    await page.goto('/products');
+
+    // Wait for element to be attached to DOM
+    await page.getByTestId('product-list').waitFor({ state: 'attached' });
+
+    // Wait for element to be visible (animations complete)
+    await page.getByTestId('product-list').waitFor({ state: 'visible' });
+
+    // Perform action
+    await page.getByText('Product A').click();
+
+    // Wait for modal to be hidden (close animation complete)
+    await page.getByTestId('modal').waitFor({ state: 'hidden' });
+  });
+
+  test('Cypress: cy.wait() with aliased intercepts', async () => {
+    // Cypress example (not Playwright)
+    /*
+    cy.intercept('GET', '/api/products').as('getProducts')
+    cy.visit('/products')
+    cy.wait('@getProducts') // Deterministic wait for specific request
+
+    cy.get('[data-testid="product-list"]').should('be.visible')
+    */
+  });
+});
+```
+
+**Key Points**:
+
+- `waitForResponse()`: Wait for specific API calls (URL pattern or predicate)
+- `waitForFunction()`: Wait for custom JavaScript conditions
+- `waitFor({ state })`: Wait for element state changes (attached, visible, hidden, detached)
+- Cypress `cy.wait('@alias')`: Deterministic wait for aliased intercepts
+- All waits are event-based (not time-based)
+
+---
+
+### Example 3: Timing Anti-Patterns (What NEVER to Do)
+
+**Context**: Common timing mistakes that cause flakiness
+
+**Problem Examples**:
+
+```typescript
+// tests/timing/anti-patterns.spec.ts
+import { test, expect } from '@playwright/test';
+
+test.describe('Timing Anti-Patterns to Avoid', () => {
+  test('❌ NEVER: page.waitForTimeout() (arbitrary delay)', async ({ page }) => {
+    await page.goto('/dashboard');
+
+    // ❌ Bad: Arbitrary 3-second wait (flaky)
+    // await page.waitForTimeout(3000)
+    // Problem: Might be too short (CI slower) or too long (wastes time)
+
+    // ✅ Good: Wait for observable event
+    await page.waitForResponse('**/api/dashboard');
+    await expect(page.getByText('Dashboard loaded')).toBeVisible();
+  });
+
+  test('❌ NEVER: cy.wait(number) without alias (arbitrary delay)', async () => {
+    // Cypress example
+    /*
+    // ❌ Bad: Arbitrary delay
+    cy.visit('/products')
+    cy.wait(2000) // Flaky!
+
+    // ✅ Good: Wait for specific request
+    cy.intercept('GET', '/api/products').as('getProducts')
+    cy.visit('/products')
+    cy.wait('@getProducts') // Deterministic
+    */
+  });
+
+  test('❌ NEVER: Multiple hard waits in sequence (compounding delays)', async ({ page }) => {
+    await page.goto('/checkout');
+
+    // ❌ Bad: Stacked hard waits (6+ seconds wasted)
+    // await page.waitForTimeout(2000) // Wait for form
+    // await page.getByTestId('email').fill('test@example.com')
+    // await page.waitForTimeout(1000) // Wait for validation
+    // await page.getByTestId('submit').click()
+    // await page.waitForTimeout(3000) // Wait for redirect
+
+    // ✅ Good: Event-based waits (no wasted time)
+    await page.getByTestId('checkout-form').waitFor({ state: 'visible' });
+    await page.getByTestId('email').fill('test@example.com');
+    await page.waitForResponse('**/api/validate-email');
+    await page.getByTestId('submit').click();
+    await page.waitForURL('**/confirmation');
+  });
+
+  test('❌ NEVER: waitForLoadState("networkidle") in SPAs', async ({ page }) => {
+    // ❌ Bad: Unreliable in SPAs (WebSocket connections never idle)
+    // await page.goto('/dashboard')
+    // await page.waitForLoadState('networkidle') // Timeout in SPAs!
+
+    // ✅ Good: Wait for specific API responses
+    await page.goto('/dashboard');
+    await page.waitForResponse('**/api/dashboard');
+    await page.waitForResponse('**/api/user');
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('dashboard-content')).toBeVisible();
+  });
+
+  test('❌ NEVER: Sleep/setTimeout in tests', async ({ page }) => {
+    await page.goto('/products');
+
+    // ❌ Bad: Node.js sleep (blocks test thread)
+    // await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 2000))
+
+    // ✅ Good: Playwright auto-waits for element
+    await expect(page.getByText('Products loaded')).toBeVisible();
+  });
+});
+```
+
+**Why These Fail**:
+
+- **Hard waits**: Arbitrary timeouts (too short → flaky, too long → slow)
+- **Stacked waits**: Compound delays (wasteful, unreliable)
+- **networkidle**: Broken in SPAs (WebSocket/polling never idle)
+- **Sleep**: Blocks execution (wastes time, doesn't solve race conditions)
+
+**Better Approach**: Use event-based waits from examples above
+
+---
+
+## Async Debugging Techniques
+
+### Technique 1: Promise Chain Analysis
+
+```typescript
+test('debug async waterfall with console logs', async ({ page }) => {
+  console.log('1. Starting navigation...');
+  await page.goto('/products');
+
+  console.log('2. Waiting for API response...');
+  const response = await page.waitForResponse('**/api/products');
+  console.log('3. API responded:', response.status());
+
+  console.log('4. Waiting for UI update...');
+  await expect(page.getByText('Products loaded')).toBeVisible();
+  console.log('5. Test complete');
+
+  // Console output shows exactly where timing issue occurs
+});
+```
+
+### Technique 2: Network Waterfall Inspection (DevTools)
+
+```typescript
+test('inspect network timing with trace viewer', async ({ page }) => {
+  await page.goto('/dashboard');
+
+  // Generate trace for analysis
+  // npx playwright test --trace on
+  // npx playwright show-trace trace.zip
+
+  // In trace viewer:
+  // 1. Check Network tab for API call timing
+  // 2. Identify slow requests (>1s response time)
+  // 3. Find race conditions (overlapping requests)
+  // 4. Verify request order (dependencies)
+});
+```
+
+### Technique 3: Trace Viewer for Timing Visualization
+
+```typescript
+test('use trace viewer to debug timing', async ({ page }) => {
+  // Run with trace: npx playwright test --trace on
+
+  await page.goto('/checkout');
+  await page.getByTestId('submit').click();
+
+  // In trace viewer, examine:
+  // - Timeline: See exact timing of each action
+  // - Snapshots: Hover to see DOM state at each moment
+  // - Network: Identify slow/failed requests
+  // - Console: Check for async errors
+
+  await expect(page.getByText('Success')).toBeVisible();
+});
+```
+
+---
+
+## Race Condition Checklist
+
+Before deploying tests:
+
+- [ ] **Network-first pattern**: All routes intercepted BEFORE navigation (no race conditions)
+- [ ] **Explicit waits**: Every navigation followed by `waitForResponse()` or state check
+- [ ] **No hard waits**: Zero instances of `waitForTimeout()`, `cy.wait(number)`, `sleep()`
+- [ ] **Element state waits**: Loading spinners use `waitFor({ state: 'detached' })`
+- [ ] **Visibility checks**: Use `toBeVisible()` (accounts for animations), not just `toBeAttached()`
+- [ ] **Response validation**: Wait for successful responses (`resp.ok()` or `status === 200`)
+- [ ] **Trace viewer analysis**: Generate traces to identify timing issues (network waterfall, console errors)
+- [ ] **CI/local parity**: Tests pass reliably in both environments (no timing assumptions)
+
+## Integration Points
+
+- **Used in workflows**: `*automate` (healing timing failures), `*test-review` (detect hard wait anti-patterns), `*framework` (configure timeout standards)
+- **Related fragments**: `test-healing-patterns.md` (race condition diagnosis), `network-first.md` (interception patterns), `playwright-config.md` (timeout configuration), `visual-debugging.md` (trace viewer analysis)
+- **Tools**: Playwright Inspector (`--debug`), Trace Viewer (`--trace on`), DevTools Network tab
+
+_Source: Playwright timing best practices, network-first pattern from test-resources-for-ai, production race condition debugging_