[QUESTION] Can not resolve "Browser" (Playwright) Library, Initializing library 'Browser' with no arguments failed

[danielHalan]

Please describe.

On one of the installations with VS Code + Robot Code (same version as other workstations working), there is an error that it can not resolve the "Browser" Library.

The error says it needs to be initialized (rfbrowser init), which I have done multiple times, with same result. Could not find node dependencies in installation directory "C:\Python\Lib\site-packages\Browser\wrapper" Run "rfbrowser init" to install the dependencies.

Have also confirmed that there are only one Python path in %PATH% and it is correct, and same as in the error message.

port definition contains errors.robotcode.namespace(ImportContainsErrors)
playwright.py(85, 1): Initializing library 'Browser' with no arguments failed: Could not find node dependencies in installation directory `C:\Python\Lib\site-packages\Browser\wrapper.` Run `rfbrowser init` to install the dependencies.
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "C:\Python\Lib\site-packages\Browser\browser.py", line 820, in __init__
self.playwright = Playwright(
^^^^^^^^^^^
File "C:\Python\Lib\site-packages\Browser\playwright.py", line 53, in __init__
self.ensure_node_dependencies()
File "C:\Python\Lib\site-packages\Browser\playwright.py", line 85, in ensure_node_dependencies
raise RuntimeError(
RuntimeError: Could not find node dependencies in installation directory `C:\Python\Lib\site-packages\Browser\wrapper.` Run `rfbrowser init` to install the dependencies.

Does anyone recognize the issue?

Desktop (please complete the following information): VS Code Version 1.85.1 RobotCode Version v0.68.3 OS: Windows Python Version 3.12.1 RobotFramework Version 7.0 Additional tools robocop

[danielHalan]

Got it working by, a complete uninstall of Node, Python & VS Code, including Deleting the folders after uninstall and re-installed all applications. and Robot Framework & Browser.

Must have been an old file disturbing the initialization.

[bennesp]

I have this error every month or so, do you have any suggestion on how to workaround this issue? I can't think of reinstalling the entire stack every time every month or so

[bennesp]

It seems that editing file .venv/lib/python3.11/site-packages/Browser/playwright.py and saving fixes the error.

So every time I:

• edit that file adding a comment
• save it
• reload the extension
• remove the previous edit to that file
• save it
• reload the extension

and everything works

This is still very awkward, it seems like a cache not invalidated. At least I found a workaround, documented here for future references

[d-biehl]

Begin by (re)initializing the browser library with rfbrowser init (consider using rfbrowser clean-node before if needed). Afterward, execute the command RobotCode: Clear Cache and Restart Language Server by pressing F1. This action will reset the library cache, and the Browser library should function properly again.

[bennesp]

I will give it a try for sure next time, thank you very much for the precious suggestions!