TestGuild Automation Podcast Exploring Playwright and MCP with Debbie O'Brien
Jul 6, 2025
Join Debbie O'Brien, Principal Technical Program Manager at Microsoft and Playwright advocate, as she shares her journey from web design to spearheading the Playwright community. Discover how Playwright’s Model Context Protocol (MCP) enhances browser automation with AI and natural language. Debbie provides real-world insights on overcoming testing challenges in teams and emphasizes the importance of embracing AI in automation. With practical tips and a forward-looking perspective, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of testing.
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Long Road From Web Design To Test Advocacy
- Debbie O'Brien described starting web design in 1997 and re-skilling through major web shifts like Flash to mobile.
- She recounted convincing teams to adopt testing despite resistance and job-security fears from bug-fix teams.
Ease Of Use Drives Adoption
- Playwright lowers the barrier to entry by being easier to set up and use than older tools like Selenium.
- Competition from tools like Cypress accelerates improvements across testing frameworks.
Give LLMs A Browser With MCP
- Use an MCP server to give language models direct browser control for exploration and actions.
- Leverage MCP to have agents interact with pages, fill forms, and generate test scenarios you might miss.