Docs Weren’t Enough? Here’s the Real Smart UI + Storybook Guide

Hey there, fellow developers and UI enthusiasts!

Ever felt like you're banging your head against a wall, trying to get two seemingly perfect tools to play nice, only to find the "official documentation" is more like a cryptic treasure map with half the clues missing? Yeah, that was me, just a few days ago, on a quest to integrate my glorious Storybook project with Smart UI for some sweet, sweet screenshot capturing.

The mission: Capture baseline screenshots of my Storybook components using Smart UI on LambdaTest. The reality: Errors, dead ends, and a desperate search for a video tutorial that simply didn't exist.

My initial reaction? A mix of frustration and a strong urge to send a strongly-worded email to the "docs department." But then, a thought struck me: "Why not turn this headache into a helpful guide for others?" And so, dear reader, this blog post was born!

Consider this your personal lifeline, your secret handshake, your "what the docs should have told you" guide to getting Smart UI and Storybook to tango.

So, grab a coffee (or something stronger, no judgment here!), because we're about to dive into the nitty-gritty of generating a baseline build for your Storybook project in Smart UI with LambdaTest. And trust me, it's way less painful than my initial attempts!

The "Aha!" Moment: My Working Steps (Finally!)

After a perilous journey through trial and error, a few whispered incantations, and perhaps a sacrifice to the coding gods, I finally cracked the code. Here are the steps that actually worked for me. Prepare for enlightenment!

Step 1: The Global Goodie Bag – SmartUI Storybook CLI

First things first, let's get the SmartUI Storybook CLI installed globally. This little helper is going to be your best friend. Open up your command prompt (CMD) and type with conviction:

Bash

npm install -g @lambdatest/smartui-storybook

Pro-tip: If you encounter any permission issues, you might need to run your CMD as an administrator. Just sayin'.

Step 2: The Config Caper – Crafting Your .smartui.json

Now, navigate to the root of your Storybook project in your terminal. This is where the magic (and the configuration) happens. We need to create a .smartui.json file. Execute this command:

Bash

smartui config create .smartui.json

This command should generate a basic .smartui.json file for you. If it doesn't, or if you prefer to create it manually, no worries! Just create a file named .smartui.json in your project's root directory.

Step 3: The Secret Sauce – Populating Your .smartui.json

This is where you infuse your .smartui.json file with the necessary credentials and project details. Open up your newly created (or existing) .smartui.json and add the following juicy bits. Remember to replace the placeholder values with your actual LambdaTest credentials and project token!

JSON

{
  "lambdatest": {
    "username": "archa",
    "accessKey": "PleaseTypeYours",
    "buildName": "My Storybook Test Build",
    "projectName": "Storybook",
    "debug": true,
    "smartUI": true,
    "projectToken": "AlsoYourUnique"
  }
}

A quick heads-up on the projectToken: Make sure this is exactly correct! This token is what connects your local project to your specific project on the LambdaTest Smart UI platform. A misplaced character can lead to tears (and errors).

Step 4: The Environment Variable Encore – Setting PROJECT_TOKEN

While we've added the projectToken to our .smartui.json, it's good practice to also set it as an environment variable for good measure. This can sometimes help ensure everything is picked up correctly. In your CMD, before running the next commands, set it like so:

Bash

set PROJECT_TOKEN=Enter yours without quotes

Note: If you're on macOS/Linux, you'd use export PROJECT_TOKEN=... instead of set.

Step 5: The Build Bonanza – Generating Your Storybook Static Build

Now, it's time to build your Storybook project into a static bundle. This is the version that Smart UI will interact with. In your project's root directory, run:

Bash

yarn build-storybook

This command will typically create a storybook-static directory in your project, containing all the static files needed for your Storybook to run as a standalone application.

Step 6: The Grand Finale – Smart UI Takes the Stage!

And now, for the moment you've been waiting for! With your static Storybook build ready, it's time to tell Smart UI to get to work and capture those beautiful screenshots. Execute this command in your CMD:

Bash

smartui storybook ./storybook-static

This command tells Smart UI to look for your Storybook's static build in the ./storybook-static directory (which yarn build-storybook just created). Smart UI will then go component by component, capture screenshots, and upload them to your LambdaTest Smart UI project.

And There You Have It!

If all goes well (and it should, with these steps!), you'll see Smart UI working its magic in your terminal, and soon, your LambdaTest Smart UI dashboard will be brimming with crisp, clear screenshots of your Storybook components.

No more frantic searching, no more cryptic errors, just smooth sailing!

I hope this "fun blog" (as I intended it to be!) saves you the headache I went through. The world of front-end development is full of exciting challenges, and sometimes, the biggest challenge is just getting the tools to cooperate. But with a bit of perseverance and a shared journey, we can conquer anything the docs throw (or don't throw) at us!

Happy screenshotting, and may your UI always be smart!