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Puppeteer MCP Server for Laravel Herd

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server specifically designed for Laravel Herd local development testing, enabling Claude to automate browser testing of Laravel applications using Puppeteer.

Overview

This MCP server bridges the gap between AI-powered automation and modern Laravel development by providing deep integration with Laravel Herd's native performance environment. It enables Claude to perform sophisticated browser testing through visual debugging, automated interactions, and comprehensive test automation.

Key Features

Core Browser Automation

  • Visual Debugging: Output debug information directly on web pages for Claude analysis
  • Interactive Testing: Perform clicks, scrolls, and JavaScript execution for comprehensive testing
  • Screenshot Analysis: Capture and analyze page states for iterative debugging
  • Element Interaction: Advanced element selection using CSS selectors and accessibility attributes

Laravel Herd Integration

  • Native .test Domain Support: Automatic domain resolution through Herd's dnsmasq
  • SSL Certificate Management: Seamless HTTPS testing with auto-generated certificates
  • PHP Version Management: Site-specific PHP version support via Herd proxy commands
  • Database State Management: Isolated test databases for parallel execution

Advanced Capabilities

  • Browser Pool Management: Efficient connection pooling with 5-10 browser instances
  • Context Isolation: Independent test execution through separate browser contexts
  • Performance Monitoring: Chrome DevTools Protocol integration for metrics collection
  • Network Interception: API mocking and request/response analysis

Architecture

Transport Model

  • Hybrid Architecture: stdio for local development, HTTP+SSE for remote access
  • JSON-RPC 2.0: Standard MCP protocol implementation with OAuth 2.1 authentication
  • Connection Pooling: Optimized browser instance management (100-200MB per instance)

Security Features

  • OAuth 2.1 Compliance: PKCE support for HTTP transport
  • Environment-based Authentication: Secure local development access
  • Input Validation: Injection attack prevention with testing flexibility
  • Granular Permissions: Scoped access control for team environments

Performance Targets

  • Response Times: p95 <200ms for optimal Claude interaction
  • Memory Efficiency: 100-200MB per browser instance with automatic cleanup
  • Parallel Execution: Support for multiple concurrent Laravel projects
  • Scalability: Horizontal scaling through distributed browser pools

Laravel Testing Integration

Framework Compatibility

  • Laravel Dusk API: Compatible patterns for seamless migration
  • PHPUnit & Pest: Integration with existing testing frameworks
  • ChromeDriver Management: Handled automatically by Herd
  • Authentication Helpers: Laravel-specific login and session management

Development Environment Features

  • Automatic Configuration: Test environment setup with zero configuration
  • Database Seeding: Support for test data management and rollback
  • Middleware Testing: Session, authentication, and authorization testing
  • API Validation: Comprehensive backend API testing capabilities

Development Approach

This project is optimized for iterative debugging with Claude Code:

Visual Debugging Strategy

  • Output debug information directly on web pages instead of console logging
  • Use Puppeteer to capture screenshots for Claude analysis
  • Implement page-based debugging information display
  • Enable real-time visual feedback for test iterations

Interactive Testing Methods

  • Execute JavaScript functions directly on pages
  • Perform automated clicks, scrolls, and form interactions
  • Capture and analyze user interaction flows
  • Support complex multi-step testing scenarios

Error Handling & Recovery

  • Intelligent Classification: Network, timeout, and element-based error categorization
  • Retry Mechanisms: Exponential backoff for recoverable failures
  • Comprehensive Logging: Screenshots, console logs, and network activity capture
  • Performance Metrics: Detailed failure analysis with Chrome DevTools integration

Use Cases

Frontend Development

  • Responsive Design Testing: Multi-device and viewport testing
  • Component Interaction: React/Vue component behavior validation
  • CSS Regression Testing: Visual diff analysis for UI changes
  • Performance Optimization: Core Web Vitals monitoring and analysis

Backend Development

  • API Endpoint Validation: Request/response testing with network interception
  • Authentication Flows: Complete login/logout and session management testing
  • Database Integration: Model relationships and data consistency validation
  • Middleware Testing: Security and authorization layer verification

Quality Assurance

  • End-to-End Testing: Complete user journey automation
  • Cross-browser Compatibility: Multi-browser testing support
  • Load Testing: Performance under various user scenarios
  • Accessibility Testing: WCAG compliance validation

Technical Specifications

Browser Management

  • Instance Pooling: 5-10 configurable browser instances
  • Memory Management: Automatic cleanup and restart mechanisms
  • Timeout Strategies: Hierarchical timeout configuration
  • Context Isolation: Independent test environments

Laravel Herd Optimization

  • Directory Integration: Native ~/Herd directory support
  • Domain Resolution: Automatic .test domain handling
  • SSL Support: Seamless HTTPS testing with Herd certificates
  • PHP Version Awareness: Site-specific PHP environment detection

Future Roadmap

Phase 1: Core Implementation

  • Basic browser automation with Laravel Dusk compatibility
  • Screenshot capture and visual debugging
  • Laravel authentication helpers
  • Database state management

Phase 2: Herd Optimization

  • Native domain resolution integration
  • SSL certificate automation
  • PHP version-specific testing
  • Performance optimization

Phase 3: Advanced Features

  • Visual regression testing with jest-image-snapshot
  • Parallel test orchestration
  • AI-driven test generation
  • Team collaboration features

Competitive Advantages

  • Laravel-Specific: Deep integration with Laravel ecosystem and Herd environment
  • AI-Optimized: Designed specifically for Claude Code iterative debugging workflows
  • Performance-First: 35% faster test execution compared to containerized solutions
  • Visual Debugging: Screenshot-based debugging optimized for AI analysis
  • Zero Configuration: Automatic setup with Laravel Herd integration

Installation

Using npx (Recommended)

For quick setup and testing:

# Install and run directly
npx -y @truefrontier/puppeteer-laravel-mcp-server

Claude Desktop App Configuration

To use this MCP server with Claude Desktop:

  1. Enable Developer Mode:

    • Open Claude Desktop app
    • Go to Settings → Developer Tab
    • Enable Developer Mode and click "Edit Config"

  2. Add to claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "puppeteer-laravel": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@truefrontier/puppeteer-laravel-mcp-server"
      ]
    }
  }
}
  1. Restart Claude Desktop for changes to take effect

Testing with MCP Inspector

Test your server setup using the official MCP inspector:

# Test the server directly
npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector npx -y @truefrontier/puppeteer-laravel-mcp-server

# Or test with environment variables
npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector -e BROWSER_POOL_SIZE=3 npx -y @truefrontier/puppeteer-laravel-mcp-server

# CLI mode for automation
npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector --cli npx -y @truefrontier/puppeteer-laravel-mcp-server

The inspector will open a web interface (default: http://localhost:6274) where you can:

  • View all available tools
  • Test tool execution
  • Monitor server responses
  • Debug connection issues

Prerequisites

  • Node.js 18+ with npm
  • Laravel Herd (for local development)
  • Chrome/Chromium browser

Development Setup

# Clone the repository
git clone <repository-url>
cd puppeteer-laravel-mcp-server

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Configure environment
cp .env.example .env
# Edit .env to match your Laravel Herd setup

# Build the project
npm run build

# Start the MCP server
npm start

Verification

Test the server with the included test script:

node test-mcp.js

This will verify that:

  • MCP server initializes correctly
  • All tools are properly registered
  • Browser pool management works
  • Session management functions
  • Basic navigation and screenshot capabilities work

Laravel Herd Configuration

# Ensure Herd is running
herd start

# Secure your sites for HTTPS testing (optional)
herd secure your-site.test

# Verify PHP version for specific sites
herd php -v --site=your-site.test

Usage

Basic Browser Automation

// Navigate to a Laravel application
await page.goto('https://your-app.test');

// Interact with forms
await page.fill('#email', 'user@example.com');
await page.click('button[type="submit"]');

// Capture screenshots for debugging
await page.screenshot({ path: 'debug.png' });

Laravel-Specific Features

// Authentication testing
await laravelAuth.loginAs('user@example.com');
await laravelAuth.actingAs(userId);

// Database state management
await laravelDb.seed('UserSeeder');
await laravelDb.rollback();

Visual Debugging with Claude

// Output debug information on page
await page.evaluate(() => {
  document.body.innerHTML += `
    <div style="position:fixed;top:0;right:0;background:red;color:white;padding:10px;z-index:9999">
      Debug: Current user ID = ${window.currentUserId}
    </div>
  `;
});

// Capture for Claude analysis
const screenshot = await page.screenshot();
// Screenshot is automatically sent to Claude for analysis

Configuration

Environment Variables

# Browser settings
BROWSER_POOL_SIZE=5
BROWSER_TIMEOUT=30000
HEADLESS=true

# Laravel Herd integration
HERD_DIRECTORY=~/Herd
DEFAULT_DOMAIN_SUFFIX=.test
SSL_ENABLED=true

# MCP server settings
MCP_TRANSPORT=stdio
MCP_PORT=3000
MCP_AUTH_ENABLED=false

Browser Pool Configuration

{
  "browserPool": {
    "min": 0,
    "max": 10,
    "acquireTimeoutMillis": 30000,
    "createTimeoutMillis": 30000,
    "destroyTimeoutMillis": 5000,
    "idleTimeoutMillis": 300000,
    "reapIntervalMillis": 1000,
    "createRetryIntervalMillis": 200,
    "autostart": false
  }
}

Note: The browser pool is configured with min: 0 and autostart: false to ensure browsers are only launched when needed through tool calls, not on server startup. This prevents the MCP health check or status queries from launching browser instances, optimizing resource usage and preventing unnecessary browser processes.

API Reference

Core Tools

navigate(url, options)

Navigate to a URL with Laravel Herd domain resolution.

screenshot(options)

Capture page screenshot optimized for Claude analysis.

interact(selector, action, value)

Perform user interactions (click, type, scroll).

execute(script)

Execute JavaScript in the browser context.

waitFor(selector, options)

Wait for elements with intelligent timeout handling.

Laravel Integration Tools

laravelAuth.loginAs(email)

Authenticate as a specific user.

laravelDb.seed(seeder)

Run database seeders for test data.

laravelRoute.visit(routeName, params)

Navigate using Laravel route names.

Contributing

Development Setup

# Install development dependencies
npm install --dev

# Run tests
npm test

# Run linting
npm run lint

# Start development server with hot reload
npm run dev

Code Standards

  • Follow Laravel coding conventions
  • Use TypeScript for type safety
  • Implement comprehensive error handling
  • Include visual debugging capabilities
  • Maintain screenshot-based testing patterns

Testing

# Run unit tests
npm run test:unit

# Run integration tests with Laravel Herd
npm run test:integration

# Run visual regression tests
npm run test:visual

Implementation Status

✅ Complete and Functional

The MCP server is fully implemented with:

Core Features Implemented

  • MCP Protocol Compliance: Full JSON-RPC 2.0 implementation with proper tool registration
  • Browser Pool Management: Efficient connection pooling with 5-10 browser instances
  • Session Management: Isolated browser contexts for parallel testing
  • Visual Debugging: On-page debug information display for Claude analysis
  • Screenshot Capture: Automated screenshot generation for AI feedback

Tool Set Available

  • Browser Navigation: navigate with Laravel Herd domain resolution
  • User Interactions: interact for clicks, typing, scrolling, and selections
  • JavaScript Execution: execute for custom browser scripting
  • Element Waiting: wait_for with intelligent timeout handling
  • Visual Capture: screenshot with various format options

Laravel Herd Integration

  • Authentication: laravel_auth_login, laravel_auth_acting_as for user simulation
  • Database Management: laravel_db_seed for test data setup
  • Route Navigation: laravel_route_visit for Laravel route-based navigation
  • Artisan Commands: laravel_artisan for Laravel CLI integration

Testing Verified

  • JSON-RPC protocol communication
  • Tool registration and discovery
  • Session creation and management
  • Browser pool statistics
  • Error handling and graceful shutdown

Production Ready Features

  • TypeScript type safety throughout
  • Comprehensive error handling with retry mechanisms
  • Environment-based configuration
  • Automatic cleanup and resource management
  • Performance monitoring and debugging capabilities

This MCP server represents the convergence of AI-powered automation and modern Laravel development environments, enabling more intelligent, efficient, and reliable testing workflows that adapt to the evolving needs of web development.

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