The test case is pretty simple. It just logs in, navigates around, and logs out. But in headless mode, it fails right at the start with a NoSuchElementException when trying to find the ‘Sign In’ link.
Any ideas why it works normally but not headless? Are there special considerations for headless mode I’m missing?
I have run into similar issues with Selenium running in headless mode. In my experience, these problems can be due to multiple factors. It is important to verify that your virtual framebuffer, such as Xvfb, is initializing correctly and that the Firefox version in the headless environment exactly matches the one used in the standard mode. Moreover, headless browsers sometimes load JavaScript or other dynamic content more slowly, so explicitly waiting for elements to be available may resolve the NoSuchElementException. Also, since the different IP configuration might induce connectivity challenges, it is worth checking that the hub and node settings are correctly aligned. If none of these solutions work, trying an alternative like headless Chrome could provide more stability.
hey jack, have u tried usin a different browser? sometimes firefox can be finicky in headless mode. i’ve had better luck with chrome. also, make sure ur geckodriver is compatible with that firefox version. if all else fails, try addin some explicit waits before clickin the ‘Sign In’ link. good luck!
I’ve dealt with similar headless mode hiccups before. One thing that often gets overlooked is the viewport size. Headless browsers sometimes default to a smaller viewport, which can cause elements to be hidden or not render as expected. Try setting a larger viewport size explicitly when initializing your WebDriver.
Also, double-check your Firefox versions. Even minor version differences can cause unexpected behavior. Make sure you’re using the exact same version (38.0.1) in both setups.
Another trick that’s helped me is adding some extra logging to pinpoint where things are going wrong. You might want to add some debug statements or screenshots right before the ‘Sign In’ step to see what the page looks like in headless mode.
Lastly, consider upping the implicit wait time for headless mode. Sometimes network conditions or resource loading can be slightly different, and a longer wait might solve the issue.