Zombie.js headless browser fails to load a URL

Other Questions Headless Browser
1

Here are the tools I’m using:

  • Ubuntu G5 3.13.0-48-powerpc64-smp
  • Node.js v0.10.38
  • Zombie version 3.1.0 (released on 2015-03-15)
  • Jasmine-node 1.14.3

Below is my test script, sample_zombie_spec.js:

var Browser, assertion, testBrowser, testUrl, expectedTitle;

assertion = require('assert');
Browser = require('zombie');

var targetUrl = "https://google.com";
var expectedPageTitle = "Google";

testUrl = targetUrl;
expectedTitle = expectedPageTitle;

testBrowser = new Browser();

describe('homepage', function() {
    describe('title check', function() {
      it('should display the correct title', function(done) {
        testBrowser.visit(testUrl).then(function() {
          assertion.equal(testBrowser.text('title'), expectedTitle);
          done();
        }).catch(function(error) {
          console.log('Error during execution: ', error);
          done(error);
        });
      });
    });
});

This script is located in the spec/ directory, so I executed:

jasmine-node spec/

The output revealed:

F

Failures:

  1) homepage title check should display the correct title
   Message:
     TypeError: Object [object Promise] has no method 'catch'
   Stacktrace:
     TypeError: Object [object Promise] has no method 'catch'
    at null.<anonymous> (/path/to/sample_zombie_spec.js:21:12)

I also attempted this code on a different system:

Tools for the second system:

  • Darwin 14.3.0
  • io.js v1.8.1
  • Zombie version 4.0.7 (released on 2015-04-10)
  • Jasmine-node 1.14.3

I got similar failure results:

F

Failures:

 1) homepage title check should display the correct title
 Message:
    TypeError: undefined is not a function
 Stacktrace:
    TypeError: undefined is not a function
   at null.<anonymous> (/path/to/sample_zombie_spec.js:21:12)

I have tried various URLs including localhost, but nothing seems to work. Since I’m new to JavaScript, Node.js, io.js, Zombie, and Jasmine, I’m mostly following documentation and community advice. Any help would be greatly appreciated, as I feel I might be missing something very basic. Thank you!

2

The issue is your Node.js version (v0.10.38) which doesn't natively support Promises. Solutions:

  1. Upgrade Node.js:

    Consider updating to Node.js 14.x or 16.x for native Promise support.

  2. Switch to Callbacks:

    Here's how to modify your script:

    var Browser = require('zombie');
var assertion = require('assert');

    var targetUrl = “https://google.com”;
    
var expectedPageTitle = “Google”;
    

    var testBrowser = new Browser();
    

    describe(‘homepage’, function() {
    
describe(‘title check’, function() {
    
it(‘should display the correct title’, function(done) {
    
testBrowser.visit(targetUrl, function(error) {
    
if (error) {
    
console.log('Error during execution: ', error);
    
return done(error);
    
}
    
assertion.equal(testBrowser.text(‘title’), expectedPageTitle);
    
done();
    
});
    
});
    
});
    
});

  3. Upgrade Zombie.js:

    Consider using Zombie.js version 4.0.7 for improved features and support.

3

The problem you’re encountering stems from the fact that the version of Node.js you’re using (v0.10.38) does not natively support Promises or the .catch() method on Promises. This feature was introduced in Node.js version 0.12. An outdated Zombie.js library could also contribute to such issues.

To address this problem, consider one of the following approaches:

  1. Upgrade to a Newer Node.js Version:
    If updating your development environment is an option, consider moving to a more recent version of Node.js, such as LTS (Long-Term Support) versions like 14.x or 16.x, where Promises are fully supported.

  2. Use a Callback-Based Approach:
    Modify your code to utilize a callback function, which is compatible with older Node.js versions.

    var Browser = require('zombie');
var assertion = require('assert');

var targetUrl = "https://google.com";
var expectedPageTitle = "Google";

var testBrowser = new Browser();

describe('homepage', function() {
    describe('title check', function() {
        it('should display the correct title', function(done) {
            testBrowser.visit(targetUrl, function(error) {
                if (error) {
                    console.error('Error during execution: ', error);
                    return done(error);
                }
                assertion.equal(testBrowser.text('title'), expectedPageTitle);
                done();
            });
        });
    });
});

  3. Upgrade to a More Recent Zombie.js Version:
    Since Zombie.js version 3.1.0 is quite outdated, upgrading to at least version 4.0.7 could yield improvements, as it might resolve compatibility issues with newer JavaScript features.

These steps should help you overcome the issues related to Promise handling in your test environment. Make sure that the whole environment is consolidated to ensure compatibility between versions of Node.js, Zombie, and other libraries like Jasmine.

4

Your issue is due to older Node.js version compatibility with Promises. You can solve it by switching to callbacks or updating your environment. Here's a callback-based approach:

var Browser = require('zombie');
var assertion = require('assert');

var targetUrl = "https://google.com";
var expectedPageTitle = "Google";

var testBrowser = new Browser();

describe('homepage', function() {
    describe('title check', function() {
        it('should display the correct title', function(done) {
            testBrowser.visit(targetUrl, function(error) {
                if (error) {
                    console.error('Error during execution: ', error);
                    return done(error);
                }
                assertion.equal(testBrowser.text('title'), expectedPageTitle);
                done();
            });
        });
    });
});

Alternatively, upgrade Node.js to a newer version (14.x or 16.x) where Promises are fully supported.

5

Hi, Hazel. The issue you're facing arises from the Node.js version (v0.10.38) you're using, which lacks native support for Promises, including the .catch() method. This functionality was introduced in Node.js v0.12. Moreover, an outdated version of Zombie.js might add to the problem.

Here are actionable steps to address the issue:

  1. Upgrade Node.js:

    If feasible, upgrade your environment to a modern Node.js version like 14.x or 16.x LTS, where Promises are natively supported. This will improve compatibility across various libraries, including Zombie.js.

  2. Use Callbacks:

    If upgrading isn’t an immediate option, modify your script to use callbacks. It’s compatible with your current Node.js version. Here’s how you can revise your test script:

    var Browser = require('zombie');
var assertion = require('assert');

    var targetUrl = “https://google.com”;
    
var expectedPageTitle = “Google”;
    

    var testBrowser = new Browser();
    

    describe(‘homepage’, function() {
    
describe(‘title check’, function() {
    
it(‘should display the correct title’, function(done) {
    
testBrowser.visit(targetUrl, function(error) {
    
if (error) {
    
console.log('Error during execution: ', error);
    
return done(error);
    
}
    
assertion.equal(testBrowser.text(‘title’), expectedPageTitle);
    
done();
    
});
    
});
    
});
    
});

  3. Update Zombie.js:

    Consider upgrading Zombie.js to version 4.0.7 or later. This could resolve compatibility issues with newer JavaScript features, enhancing overall performance.

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the Promise handling issues and improve your automated testing workflow.

6

In addition to the advice already provided about upgrading your Node.js version or switching to a callback-based approach, you can explore using a Promise polyfill for enhancing backward compatibility. This might save you from reworking the code significantly, especially if upgrading Node.js isn't feasible in the short term.

Here's how you could integrate a polyfill:

  1. Install a Polyfill:

    Consider using the 'es6-promise' polyfill. You can add it to your project via npm:

    npm install es6-promise --save
  2. Require and Use the Polyfill:

    Place this at the top of your file to ensure Promises are available:

    require('es6-promise').polyfill();

    Once you've polyfilled Promises, your original script using .catch() should start functioning as expected:

    var Browser = require('zombie');
var assertion = require('assert');

    var targetUrl = “https://google.com”;
    
var expectedPageTitle = “Google”;
    

    var testBrowser = new Browser();
    

    describe(‘homepage’, function() {
    
describe(‘title check’, function() {
    
it(‘should display the correct title’, function(done) {
    
testBrowser.visit(targetUrl).then(function() {
    
assertion.equal(testBrowser.text(‘title’), expectedPageTitle);
    
done();
    
}).catch(function(error) {
    
console.error('Error during execution: ', error);
    
done(error);
    
});
    
});
    
});
    
});

This approach allows you to maintain the code structure utilizing Promises without getting caught by syntax issues due to version discrepancies. Yet, ensure to eventually consider upgrading your development stack for long-term sustainability.