E2E: migrate frontend to Cypress (consolidate #729 + #774); keep Python Playwright

Goal

Consolidate frontend E2E from Jest/Puppeteer to Cypress; keep Python Playwright for backend/embeddings E2E (separate concern).

Context

Frontend browser E2E is effectively dead on main today:

• yarn test:e2e runs Jest (package.json), but application/frontend/src/test/basic-e2e.test.ts is fully commented out (legacy Puppeteer)
• .github/workflows/e2e.yml is entirely commented out — E2E does not run in CI
• jest-puppeteer / puppeteer remain in package.json as dead tooling

Playwright in this repo is Python-only (application/prompt_client/ for embeddings/scraping). It is not the frontend E2E runner. make install-python must keep playwright install.

Two open PRs overlap on Cypress migration (see Pending merges):

• #729 — restore Cypress under application/frontend/src/test/cypress/, re-enable e2e.yml
• #774 — fuller migration: root cypress.config.js, cypress/e2e/smoke.cy.js, stabilized make e2e, switches test:e2e to cypress run

Related: #523 (fix e2e tests).

Implementation instructions

0. Playwright guardrail (dependency — do first)

• Ensure playwright install stays in install-python (Makefile) — required for application/prompt_client/
• Merge or cherry-pick branch chore/playwright-install-guardrail (commit 69049e36) before or as part of this work — documents the guardrail in Makefile + AGENTS.md
• Do not remove Python Playwright when migrating frontend to Cypress

1. Document legacy Jest/Puppeteer coverage

Read application/frontend/src/test/basic-e2e.test.ts (commented) and record what routes/flows it covered. Historical coverage included:

Flow	Route / behavior
Homepage search UI	/ — #SearchBar visible, contains "Search"
No-results search	/ → search asdf → "No results match your search term"
Successful free-text search	/ → search crypto → results with standards + CREs
Standard browse	/node/standard/ASVS — heading, pagination, section link, external reference, CRE link
CRE search by ID	/ → search 558-807 → CRE title, nested accordion
CRE filter (case-insensitive)	/cre/558-807?applyFilters=true&filters=asvs and filters=ASVS
Smartlink redirect	/smartlink/standard/CWE/1002 → /node/standard/CWE/sectionid/1002; /smartlink/standard/CWE/404 → external CWE URL

2. Migrate to Cypress

• Use #774 as the base (Makefile e2e fixes, root cypress.config.js, smoke suite, package.json scripts)
• Cherry-pick anything still useful from #729 if not duplicated
• package.json: test:e2e → cypress run; add cypress:open / cypress:run; add cypress devDependency
• Root cypress.config.js + cypress/e2e/ suite (start with smoke, expand toward legacy coverage)
• Remove obsolete cypress.json and commented/deleted basic-e2e.test.ts
• make e2e: deterministic Flask on 127.0.0.1:5000, readiness wait, trap cleanup (from #774)
• Prefer stable selectors (form#search-bar, semantic roles) over brittle CSS chains
• Close #729 as superseded once consolidated PR merges

3. Wire Cypress into CI

• Re-enable .github/workflows/e2e.yml (or equivalent job) so PRs run Cypress smoke E2E
• Fix YAML indentation/structure (both #729 and #774 drafts need review — current e2e.yml on main is fully commented)
• Ensure deploy workflows (deploy.yml, deploy-staging.yml) can depend on a green Test-e2e job again

4. Keep Python Playwright separate

• Do not conflate Cypress (frontend) with Python Playwright (embeddings/scraping)
• Python tests under application/tests/ that use Playwright (e.g. prompt_client_pdf_embeddings_test.py, embedding registration tests) must still pass

5. Cleanup (in scope or follow-up PR)

• Remove or fully replace deprecated Jest E2E config (jest-puppeteer, puppeteer in package.json) without leaving dead tooling
• Document local run instructions (see success criteria)

Success criteria

All must pass before closing this issue:

• Route/feature coverage at least equivalent to historical Jest/Puppeteer E2E — minimum smoke (homepage search form, search → /search/{term}, browse /root_cres); stretch goal: port the flows in the table above (standard browse, CRE search/filter, smartlink)
• Clean code: follows existing frontend conventions; no flaky tests; sensible selectors; documented how to run locally (make e2e, yarn cypress:open)
• E2E restored in CI: Cypress job green on PRs (.github/workflows/e2e.yml or equivalent)
• Python Playwright tests still run and pass — playwright install in make install-python unchanged; embedding/scraping tests unaffected
• make frontend / yarn build passes
• README or AGENTS.md notes how to run Cypress locally
• Deprecated Jest E2E tooling removed or fully replaced — no commented-out Puppeteer suite, no test:e2e → jest on main
• make lint passes
• make e2e passes locally (Cypress smoke: 3+ tests green)
• Only one open Cypress migration PR; #729 closed as superseded

Pending merges

Item	Status
chore/playwright-install-guardrail (69049e36)	Remote branch exists; no open PR; not on main
#774	Open — recommended base for consolidated work
#729	Open — supersede/close after consolidation
#732	Open — Cypress Makefile integration (stale, Test check failing)
.github/workflows/e2e.yml on main	Fully commented out — E2E not in CI

PRs to merge/close

PR	Action
#774	Base for consolidated migration (after playwright guardrail)
#729	Close as superseded
chore/playwright-install-guardrail	Open PR and merge first (or include in consolidated PR)