browse
by garrytanbrowse is a fast headless browser skill for QA, dogfooding, and browser automation. Use it to open pages, interact with elements, verify state, compare before and after actions, capture screenshots, and check responsive layouts, forms, uploads, dialogs, and element states. Install browse when you need browser evidence instead of a generic prompt.
This skill scores 78/100, which means it is a solid listing candidate for directory users who need a fast headless browser workflow for QA, dogfooding, screenshots, and state verification. The repository shows enough real operational content that an agent can likely trigger and use it with less guesswork than a generic prompt, though users should still expect some adoption friction from missing install-command guidance and a few placeholder markers.
- Explicit trigger language and use cases in SKILL.md: "browse a page," "headless browser," "take page screenshot," plus QA testing, deployment verification, and bug evidence.
- Large, workflow-heavy skill body with many headings and signal counts for scope, workflow, constraints, and practical steps, suggesting real operational guidance rather than a stub.
- Supporting code and scripts indicate a functioning browser-skill system, including client/server integration, activity/audit logging, and a build script for Node compatibility.
- The SKILL.md excerpt shows placeholder markers and no install command, so first-time setup may require extra repository exploration.
- The description is broad but the directory evidence does not include a concise quick-start or reference docs, which may slow agent adoption for users seeking immediate execution confidence.
Overview of browse skill
What browse is for
The browse skill is a fast headless browser tool for QA, dogfooding, and browser automation. It is designed for when you need to open a page, interact with it, verify state, compare before and after an action, or capture evidence such as screenshots and element-state checks. If your job is “test this flow in a browser and tell me what happened,” browse is the right fit.
Who should install it
Install browse if you regularly validate web pages, demos, forms, responsive layouts, uploads, dialogs, or deployment checks. It is especially useful for agents that must prove a UI behavior with screenshots or state assertions instead of relying on a generic prompt. It is less useful for pure backend tasks or simple page reading.
What makes browse different
The browse skill is built around real browser execution, not just text-based page inspection. The repo signals support for command routing, browser management, CDP bridging, network capture, cookie handling, and annotated visual checks. That means browse is aimed at practical browser automation with evidence, not a lightweight “summarize this site” helper.
How to Use browse skill
Install browse correctly
Use the install path shown in the skill docs or your skill manager’s add command, then confirm the skill is discoverable in your local skill directory. The repo includes helper shims such as bin/find-browse, which suggests browse is meant to be located and invoked from a workspace-aware install. If the binary is missing, the first fix is usually to run the skill setup/build path rather than rewriting prompts.
Give browse a task, not a vague goal
Strong browse usage starts with an explicit browser job: URL, action, expected result, and what evidence you want back. Good input looks like: “Open the login page, submit valid credentials, confirm redirect to /dashboard, and return a screenshot plus any console or network errors.” Weak input like “test the site” leaves too much routing ambiguity.
Read these files first
For install and usage decisions, start with SKILL.md, then inspect PLAN-snapshot-dropdown-interactive.md for known workflow constraints, SKILL.md.tmpl for how the skill is generated, and bin/find-browse plus bin/remote-slug for path and repo resolution behavior. If you are evaluating browser automation fit, also skim src/browser-manager.ts, src/cdp-bridge.ts, and src/browser-skill-commands.ts to understand what the skill can actually execute.
Use the skill in a workflow
A reliable browse workflow is: define the page state you want, run the browser action, verify the output, then iterate on the next constraint. For example, specify responsive width, form inputs, or expected DOM changes up front so browse can check them in one pass. This reduces back-and-forth and makes the first run more useful than a generic prompt.
browse skill FAQ
Is browse only for screenshots?
No. Screenshots are only one output. The skill is also intended for navigation, interaction, state verification, responsive checks, form testing, uploads, and bug evidence. If your real need is “prove this browser behavior,” browse is more complete than a screenshot-only tool.
How is browse different from a normal prompt?
A normal prompt asks an agent to reason about a browser task. The browse skill gives the agent a browser-specific execution path, including command routing and browser-state checks. That usually means less guesswork, better repeatability, and clearer evidence when a flow fails.
Is browse beginner-friendly?
Yes, if you can describe a browser task clearly. Beginners do best when they provide a URL, one action, one expected result, and one evidence request. If you already know how to write a test case, you can usually use browse effectively on the first try.
When should I not use browse?
Do not use browse when you only need static content extraction, repo inspection, or a plain coding answer. It is also a poor fit if you cannot specify a browser target or if the task does not require an actual rendered page. In those cases, a normal agent prompt is simpler.
How to Improve browse skill
Give stronger browser inputs
The best browse results come from inputs that name the page, the user action, the success condition, and the artifact you want returned. For example: “On the pricing page, switch to annual billing, confirm the total updates, and capture a screenshot of the final state.” That is better than “check pricing,” because it removes ambiguity around what success means.
Watch for the common failure modes
The most common browse failure is under-specification: missing URL, missing state, or missing expected outcome. The second is asking for visual proof without saying what part of the page matters. If the task includes forms, menus, dialogs, or dynamic content, say so explicitly; those details materially affect browse usage.
Iterate after the first run
If the first result is close but incomplete, refine the next prompt with the exact mismatch: wrong viewport, missed element, stale state, or missing network evidence. Browse is most valuable when each pass narrows uncertainty. Use the output to add constraints rather than restating the same request.
Tune browse for Browser Automation
For browser automation, include concrete fixtures: test account type, device size, locale, and whether cookies or login state matter. If you are validating a bug, include the repro step and the expected/actual delta. This makes browse act like a browser automation assistant instead of a generic QA note-taker, and it usually produces better evidence on the first pass.