MCP/playwright-mcp
1
0
Fork 0
Code Issues Pull Requests Actions Packages Projects Releases Wiki Activity
playwright-mcp/FEATURE-GAP-ANALYSIS.md
Ryan Malloy bef766460f analysis: comprehensive feature gap analysis between TypeScript and Python MCPlaywright 
- Detailed comparison of 56 TypeScript vs 46 Python tools
- Identified 10 missing tools in Python version including our new MCP client identification system
- Prioritized implementation roadmap with 4-phase approach
- Highlighted critical missing features: debug toolbar, extension management, coordinate tools
- Implementation complexity analysis with time estimates

The Python version is missing key features like:
- Complete MCP client identification system (5 tools)
- Chrome extension management (4 tools)
- Coordinate-based interaction tools (3 tools)
- PDF generation and enhanced navigation

This analysis provides a clear roadmap for achieving feature parity and making the Python version the most comprehensive Playwright MCP implementation.
2025-09-10 16:02:35 -06:00

209 lines
7.2 KiB
Markdown
Raw Permalink Blame History

# Feature Gap Analysis: TypeScript vs Python MCPlaywright
## Overview
Comparison between the TypeScript Playwright MCP server (`/home/rpm/claude/playwright-mcp`) and the Python MCPlaywright project (`/home/rpm/claude/mcplaywright`) to identify missing features and implementation opportunities.
## 📊 Tool Count Comparison
| Version | Total Tools | Core Tools | Extensions |
|---------|-------------|------------|------------|
| **TypeScript** | **56 tools** | 45 core | 11 specialized |
| **Python** | **46 tools** | 42 core | 4 specialized |
| **Gap** | **10 tools missing** | 3 missing | 7 missing |
## 🚨 Major Missing Features in Python Version
### 1. **MCP Client Identification System** ⭐ **NEW FEATURE**
**Status: COMPLETELY MISSING**
**TypeScript Tools:**
- `browser_enable_debug_toolbar` - Django-style debug toolbar for client identification
- `browser_inject_custom_code` - Custom JavaScript/CSS injection
- `browser_list_injections` - View active injections
- `browser_disable_debug_toolbar` - Remove debug toolbar
- `browser_clear_injections` - Clean up injections
**Impact:**
- **HIGH** - This is the key feature we just built for managing parallel MCP clients
- Solves the problem: *"I'm running many different 'mcp clients' in parallel on the same machine"*
- No equivalent exists in Python version
**Implementation Required:**
- Complete code injection system (547 lines in TypeScript)
- Debug toolbar JavaScript generation
- Session-persistent injection management
- Auto-injection hooks in page lifecycle
- LLM-safe HTML comment wrapping
### 2. **Chrome Extension Management**
**Status: COMPLETELY MISSING**
**TypeScript Tools:**
- `browser_install_extension` - Install unpacked Chrome extensions
- `browser_install_popular_extension` - Auto-install popular extensions (React DevTools, etc.)
- `browser_list_extensions` - List installed extensions
- `browser_uninstall_extension` - Remove extensions
**Impact:**
- **MEDIUM** - Important for debugging React/Vue apps and development workflows
- No extension support in Python version
### 3. **Coordinate-Based Interaction (Vision Tools)**
**Status: COMPLETELY MISSING**
**TypeScript Tools:**
- `browser_mouse_click_xy` - Click at specific coordinates
- `browser_mouse_drag_xy` - Drag between coordinates
- `browser_mouse_move_xy` - Move mouse to coordinates
**Impact:**
- **MEDIUM** - Required for vision-based automation and legacy UI interaction
- Enables pixel-perfect automation when accessibility tree fails
### 4. **PDF Generation**
**Status: COMPLETELY MISSING**
**TypeScript Tools:**
- `browser_pdf_save` - Save current page as PDF
**Impact:**
- **LOW-MEDIUM** - Useful for report generation and documentation
### 5. **Advanced Navigation & Browser Control**
**Status: PARTIALLY MISSING**
**Missing in Python:**
- `browser_navigate_back` - Browser back button
- `browser_navigate_forward` - Browser forward button
- `browser_resize` - Resize browser window
- `browser_set_offline` - Toggle offline mode
- `browser_list_devices` - List emulation devices
### 6. **Enhanced Artifact Management**
**Status: PARTIALLY MISSING**
**Missing in Python:**
- `browser_configure_artifacts` - Dynamic artifact storage control
- `browser_get_artifact_paths` - Show artifact locations
- `browser_reveal_artifact_paths` - Debug artifact storage
## ✅ Features Present in Both Versions
### Core Browser Automation
- ✅ Navigation, clicking, typing, form interaction
- ✅ Tab management (new, close, switch)
- ✅ Dialog handling (alerts, confirms, prompts)
- ✅ File upload and element interaction
- ✅ Page snapshots and screenshots
### Advanced Features
- ✅ **Smart video recording** with multiple modes
- ✅ **HTTP request monitoring** with filtering and export
- ✅ **Session management** with persistent state
- ✅ **Browser configuration** with device emulation
- ✅ Wait conditions and element detection
## 🎯 Python Version Advantages
The Python version has some unique strengths:
### 1. **FastMCP Integration**
- Built on FastMCP 2.0 framework
- Better structured tool organization
- Enhanced session management
### 2. **Enhanced Session Handling**
- `browser_list_sessions` - Multi-session management
- `browser_close_session` - Session cleanup
- `browser_get_session_info` - Session introspection
### 3. **Improved Wait Conditions**
- More granular wait tools
- `browser_wait_for_element` - Element-specific waiting
- `browser_wait_for_load_state` - Page state waiting
- `browser_wait_for_request` - Network request waiting
## 📋 Implementation Priority for Python Version
### **Priority 1: Critical Missing Features**
1. **MCP Client Identification System** ⭐ **HIGHEST PRIORITY**
- Debug toolbar for multi-client management
- Custom code injection capabilities
- Session-persistent configuration
- Auto-injection on page creation
2. **Chrome Extension Management**
- Developer tool extensions (React DevTools, Vue DevTools)
- Extension installation and management
- Popular extension auto-installer
### **Priority 2: Important Missing Features**
3. **Enhanced Navigation Tools**
- Browser back/forward navigation
- Window resizing capabilities
- Offline mode toggle
- Device list for emulation
4. **Coordinate-Based Interaction**
- Vision-based tool support
- Pixel-perfect mouse control
- Legacy UI automation support
### **Priority 3: Nice-to-Have Features**
5. **PDF Generation**
- Page-to-PDF conversion
- Report generation capabilities
6. **Enhanced Artifact Management**
- Dynamic artifact configuration
- Debug path revelation
- Centralized storage control
## 🛠️ Implementation Approach
### **Phase 1: MCP Client Identification (Week 1)**
- Port debug toolbar JavaScript generation
- Implement code injection system
- Add session-persistent injection management
- Create auto-injection hooks
### **Phase 2: Chrome Extensions (Week 2)**
- Add extension installation tools
- Implement popular extension downloader
- Create extension management interface
### **Phase 3: Navigation & Control (Week 3)**
- Add missing navigation tools
- Implement browser control features
- Add device emulation enhancements
### **Phase 4: Advanced Features (Week 4)**
- Coordinate-based interaction tools
- PDF generation capabilities
- Enhanced artifact management
## 📊 Feature Implementation Complexity
| Feature Category | Lines of Code | Complexity | Dependencies |
|------------------|---------------|------------|--------------|
| **Client Identification** | ~600 lines | **High** | JavaScript generation, DOM injection |
| **Extension Management** | ~300 lines | **Medium** | Chrome API, file handling |
| **Navigation Tools** | ~150 lines | **Low** | Basic Playwright APIs |
| **Coordinate Tools** | ~200 lines | **Medium** | Vision capability integration |
| **PDF Generation** | ~100 lines | **Low** | Playwright PDF API |
## 🎯 Expected Outcome
After implementing all missing features, the Python version would have:
- **66+ tools** (vs current 46)
- **Complete feature parity** with TypeScript version
- **Enhanced multi-client management** capabilities
- **Full development workflow support** with extensions
- **Vision-based automation** support
The Python version would become the **most comprehensive** Playwright MCP implementation available.
Reference in New Issue View Git Blame Copy Permalink