Put your screenshot script and locked Playwright dependency in the repository, run it in a Docker image with the matching Playwright release, and let a scheduler start a short-lived container. Save captures to a mounted directory or upload them as workflow artifacts; files left only inside a removed container will not be a durable archive.
How the scheduled screenshot job fits together
- Keep the capture script, package manifest, and lockfile in your repository.
- Install the project dependencies inside the job. The Playwright Docker image includes browser binaries and system dependencies, but not the Playwright package itself.
- Use an image tag that matches the Playwright package version so the package can find the browser executables.
- Run the container on a schedule, write captures to a known output directory, then upload or otherwise persist that directory.
Pin the image and package versions, and keep the operating system, browser release, settings, and headless mode consistent when comparing screenshots. Rendering can also vary with hardware and power source. Playwright Docker documentation and Playwright screenshot documentation describe the relevant browser and capture behavior.
Build a minimal Node.js capture script
This uses Playwright’s browser API directly, rather than the Playwright Test runner, which is unnecessary for one scheduled capture. It expects the project dependency and a checked-in package-lock.json.
// screenshot.mjs
import { chromium } from 'playwright';
import { mkdir } from 'node:fs/promises';
const url = process.env.TARGET_URL;
if (!url) throw new Error('Set TARGET_URL');
const outputDir = process.env.OUTPUT_DIR ?? 'screenshots';
await mkdir(outputDir, { recursive: true });
const browser = await chromium.launch();
try {
const page = await browser.newPage({ viewport: { width: 1440, height: 1000 } });
await page.goto(url, { waitUntil: 'networkidle', timeout: 60_000 });
await page.screenshot({ path: `${outputDir}/page.png`, fullPage: true });
} finally {
await browser.close();
}fullPage: true captures the full page rather than only the viewport. The screenshot API also supports format, quality, and clipped-region options; use a stable filename to overwrite the last capture, or add a UTC timestamp if you need a history. See the screenshot options.
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Expose the command through package.json. Replace the example version with an exact release, and use the corresponding Docker image tag in the workflow or run command:
{
"scripts": {
"screenshot": "node screenshot.mjs"
},
"dependencies": {
"playwright": "1.XX.X"
}
}1.XX.X is a version-format illustration, not a value to copy. Choose and pin a real version, then match the image to it. The package and browser image must be aligned. Playwright’s Docker guidance covers its images and browser installation.
Schedule it with GitHub Actions
Create .github/workflows/screenshot.yml. This example schedules a daily run at 17:23 UTC and includes manual dispatch. Replace the image version, target URL, Node version, and action versions with values currently supported by your project and repository.
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name: Scheduled screenshot
on:
schedule:
- cron: '23 17 * * *'
workflow_dispatch:
jobs:
capture:
runs-on: ubuntu-latest
container:
# Match this release to the Playwright dependency in package.json.
image: mcr.microsoft.com/playwright:v<matching-version>-noble
steps:
- uses: actions/checkout@v6
- uses: actions/setup-node@v6
with:
node-version: '22'
- run: npm ci
- run: npm run screenshot
env:
TARGET_URL: https://example.com
OUTPUT_DIR: screenshots
- uses: actions/upload-artifact@v5
if: ${{ !cancelled() }}
with:
name: scheduled-screenshots
path: screenshots/
retention-days: 14The tag placeholder must be replaced with a real Playwright image release that matches the exact package release. The Node version, action major versions, and 14-day artifact retention are example choices, not requirements; confirm that they fit your project and current GitHub configuration. If npm ci needs another Node version, select a compatible runtime. Playwright recommends its prebuilt image in CI or installing browser dependencies through its CLI. See the Playwright CI guide.
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GitHub scheduled workflows use five-field POSIX cron, default to UTC, and run against the latest commit on the default branch; the workflow file must exist on that branch. GitHub documents a minimum interval of five minutes and supports IANA timezones. A scheduled start is not an exact-time guarantee: high load can delay runs and some queued runs may be dropped. The example uses minute 23 rather than the top of the hour to avoid the documented high-load period. Check the current GitHub schedule event documentation before relying on timing behavior.
Keep the output after the runner ends
The upload step stores screenshots/ as a workflow artifact so it can be retrieved after the job. Artifacts are generated output; dependency caches are for reusable inputs such as downloaded packages. Choose retention based on how long captures must remain available, or send them to storage designed for a longer archive. See GitHub’s artifact documentation.
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Run the same job on a self-managed Docker host
A Linux host with Docker can run the same script from cron, a systemd timer, or an existing orchestrator. The schedule is outside the image. Configure the target through environment variables or a secrets store, mount a writable output directory, and route logs to the host’s logging system. The scheduler choice depends on the host’s logging, alerting, and persistence needs.
Before scheduling, test the container locally from the repository root. Substitute the same exact matching Playwright image release used by the package:
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docker run --rm --init --ipc=host
-e TARGET_URL=https://example.com
-e OUTPUT_DIR=/work/screenshots
-v "$PWD:/work"
-w /work
mcr.microsoft.com/playwright:v<matching-version>-noble
sh -lc 'npm ci && npm run screenshot'Because the repository is mounted at /work, the screenshots directory is on the host and remains after the container exits. Without a mounted directory or explicit upload, files in the container’s writable layer should be treated as temporary. Playwright recommends --init to handle PID 1 process behavior and --ipc=host for Chromium, which can run out of memory and crash without adequate shared memory. These settings are documented in Playwright’s Docker guidance.
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Choose hosted scheduling or a self-managed host
| Decision | Hosted GitHub Actions | Self-managed scheduled container |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduler | Workflow cron, with UTC default and documented IANA timezone support | Host scheduler or orchestrator, selected for the host’s needs |
| Output | Upload workflow artifacts for retrieval after the run | Mount a host directory or configure durable storage |
| Timing | Convenient, but starts can be delayed or dropped during high load | Depends on host availability and operations |
| Operations | Configure the workflow, dependencies, and artifact retention | Maintain the Docker host, scheduler, logs, alerts, and storage |
| Reproducibility | Pin image, package, and runtime inputs | The same pinning helps, with greater control over the host environment |
Make captures repeatable and safer
Control the variables that affect pixels
- Pin the Playwright package and matching Docker image rather than following changing tags.
- Use the same viewport, browser, settings, operating system, and headless mode for before-and-after comparisons.
- Use predictable output names for a latest-only artifact, or UTC timestamps for a retained series.
- Keep scheduled concurrency controlled if you expand the job into a test suite. Playwright recommends one worker in CI when stability and reproducibility matter.
- Do not assume browser caching will make CI faster: Playwright notes that restoring a cache can take as long as downloading browser binaries, and Linux system dependencies are not cacheable.
See the Playwright CI recommendations and screenshot documentation for the configuration considerations.
Isolate targets and credentials
Playwright describes its Docker image as intended for testing and development, and does not recommend it for visiting untrusted websites. The image runs as root by default, which disables Chromium’s sandbox. For scraping or crawling scenarios, Playwright recommends a separate user and a seccomp profile. Treat arbitrary target URLs as a security boundary, avoid placing secrets in the page context, and apply container hardening appropriate to your threat model. See Playwright’s Docker security guidance.
Troubleshoot failed or inconsistent runs
- Playwright cannot find a browser executable: Check that the installed Playwright package and Docker image use the same release. Also confirm that the job actually installs the package with
npm ci; the image does not install the project dependency for you. - Chromium crashes or reports memory trouble: Run with adequate shared memory; Playwright’s example recommends
--ipc=hostfor Chromium in Docker. - The screenshot directory is empty after the run: Confirm
OUTPUT_DIRand the screenshot path, then verify the directory is uploaded as an artifact or mounted to host storage. Container-local output disappears with a removed container. - The capture times out at navigation: Check the URL and network access from inside the container. The example waits for
networkidle; pages with continuing network activity may not reach that condition. Adjust the wait strategy to the target page’s behavior and define a timeout appropriate to the job. - The workflow did not run at the expected minute: Verify the workflow file is on the default branch and inspect the cron timezone. GitHub documents that scheduled starts can be delayed or dropped during high load.
- The screenshots differ between runs: Compare the image tag, package release, OS, viewport, settings, headless mode, and execution environment before treating a pixel difference as a site change.
- The browser launch fails without a clear cause: Set
DEBUG=pw:browserto enable Playwright browser debug output, then check the image/package match and container shared-memory configuration.
Or skip the browser setup
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curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://example.com -o shot.webpThis is a single HTTP request rather than a Docker browser job; use the API key issued for your account. Sign up for ScreenshotNeo’s free plan: 1,000 screenshots a month, no card required.
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