Run a scheduled screenshot as a short-lived Docker job: keep a Playwright script and lockfile in your repository, use a Playwright container image that matches the installed package version, save screenshots to a known directory, and let a scheduler start the container. On GitHub Actions, upload that directory as a workflow artifact; on a self-managed host, mount it to durable storage. The steps below cover both approaches, version pinning, timing limits, troubleshooting, and security.
How the scheduled job fits together
The Playwright Docker image includes browser binaries and operating-system browser dependencies, but it does not include your project’s Playwright package. Install the package from the lockfile during the job, and align its release with the image tag so Playwright can find the browser executables. Keep the script, package manifest, and lockfile in your repository.
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- Write a script that opens the target URL and saves the screenshot in a known output directory.
- Run it in a short-lived container using the matching Playwright image and package versions.
- Schedule the container through GitHub Actions or a host scheduler.
- Persist the output by uploading it as an artifact or mounting a durable storage location.
Create the capture script
This Node.js example uses Playwright’s browser API, not the Playwright Test runner. It reads the target URL from an environment variable, creates the output directory, waits for network idle, and captures the full page. Save it as screenshot.mjs:
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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();
}Use a stable filename if each run should replace the previous capture. If you need a history, add a UTC timestamp to the filename and configure retention or storage accordingly. Playwright’s screenshot API also supports format, quality, and clipped regions; choose those options when the output needs them.
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A compact package.json can expose a consistent job command. Replace the explanatory version marker with an exact Playwright version and commit the generated lockfile:
{
"scripts": {
"screenshot": "node screenshot.mjs"
},
"dependencies": {
"playwright": "<exact-version-matching-the-image>"
}
}The version marker above is not a valid version to install: set an exact release in your project and use the corresponding release in the image tag. Then npm ci installs from the lockfile reproducibly.
Schedule it with GitHub Actions
Create .github/workflows/screenshot.yml. This sample runs daily at 17:23 UTC and can also be started manually. Replace the example target URL and image version. Action major versions, Node version, image tag, and artifact retention are example values; verify they remain supported for your repository and project.
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on:
schedule:
- cron: '23 17 * * *'
workflow_dispatch:
jobs:
capture:
runs-on: ubuntu-latest
container:
# Use the same Playwright release as 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 matching image tag must be a real release tag, not the illustrative marker in the YAML. If npm ci needs a different Node release, select one compatible with the project and lockfile. Playwright’s CI guide documents container jobs, browser dependencies, and artifact workflows: Playwright CI documentation.
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Choose the schedule with realistic expectations
GitHub scheduled workflows use five-field POSIX cron. UTC is the default, and current GitHub documentation also permits IANA time zones. The minimum documented interval is five minutes, but a scheduled start is not an exact-time guarantee: high load can delay runs, and some queued runs can be dropped. A minute away from the top of the hour can reduce exposure to the documented high-load period. Scheduled workflows run from the latest commit on the default branch, so the workflow file must be present there. Consult GitHub’s schedule event documentation for current behavior.
Retrieve generated screenshots
The upload step stores screenshots/ as a workflow artifact for later retrieval. Artifacts are generated output; dependency caches are for reusable inputs such as packages. Screenshots inside a container or job workspace do not become a durable archive unless you explicitly upload or store them. See GitHub’s artifact documentation for artifact controls and retention.
Run the same job on a self-managed Docker host
On Linux with Docker installed, cron, a systemd timer, or an existing orchestrator can start the same container at your chosen interval. There is no universally correct host scheduler: choose according to your logging, alerting, and persistence setup. Keep the schedule outside the image, pass the URL through environment configuration or a secrets store, mount a writable output directory, and send logs to the host’s logging system.
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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'The bind mount makes the host’s screenshots/ directory available after the container exits. The --init option helps avoid PID 1 process-handling problems; --ipc=host provides Chromium with more shared memory and helps prevent memory-related crashes. Playwright discusses these container settings in its Docker documentation.
Keep captures reproducible
- Pin the Playwright package, Docker image, and runtime versions rather than using a floating tag.
- Compare screenshots only when operating system, browser release, settings, hardware, power source, and headless mode are alike. Differences in these conditions can change rendered pixels.
- For CI suites, Playwright recommends one worker when stability and reproducibility matter. A single capture script may not use test workers, but keep concurrency controlled if the job grows into a suite.
- Playwright generally does not recommend browser caching in CI: restoring a cache can take as long as downloading browser binaries, and Linux operating-system dependencies cannot be cached.
These recommendations and rendering caveats are covered in the Playwright CI documentation and visual comparison documentation.
Secure the target and container
Playwright describes its Docker image as intended for testing and development, and does not recommend using it to visit untrusted websites. The image runs as root by default, which disables Chromium’s sandbox. For scraping or crawling scenarios, Playwright’s Docker guidance recommends a separate user and a seccomp profile. Treat arbitrary target URLs as a security boundary: do not expose secrets unnecessarily, isolate credentials, and apply container hardening appropriate to your threat model.
Troubleshoot common failures
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check or change |
|---|---|---|
| Playwright cannot find a browser executable or browser launch fails | The installed package release and image release do not match, or the project’s package was never installed. | Confirm that the package and image use the same release, and run npm ci in the job. Set DEBUG=pw:browser to enable browser launch diagnostics. |
| Chromium crashes or reports insufficient shared memory | The container does not have adequate shared memory. | Try the documented --ipc=host setting for a container you control, then inspect host memory and container limits. |
| The workflow finishes but no image is available | The capture failed before writing, the output path differs from the artifact path, or files were left only inside a removed container. | Check the job logs, verify OUTPUT_DIR and the upload or mount path agree, and confirm the script writes the expected filename. |
| The screenshot is blank or captures the wrong state | The page may not have reached the state the script expects, or the page’s rendering depends on timing or external resources. | Inspect the page in the same environment, review navigation errors and timeouts, and consider waiting for a specific selector or a deliberate delay rather than relying only on network idle. |
| A scheduled run starts late or does not appear | GitHub schedule starts can be delayed during high load, and queued runs may be dropped. | Check workflow run history and use manual workflow_dispatch for an immediate run. Do not treat cron as a precise-time trigger. |
npm ci fails |
The lockfile may not match package.json, or the selected Node runtime may be incompatible with the project. |
Regenerate and commit the lockfile with the intended dependencies, then choose a compatible Node version. |
DIY Docker versus a hosted schedule
The choice is mainly about operational control and where output should live; the capture script can remain the same.
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| Decision | GitHub Actions | Self-managed container |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduler | Workflow cron with UTC default and documented IANA timezone support. | Host scheduler or orchestrator, selected for the host environment. |
| Output | Upload workflow artifacts for retrieval after the run. | Mount a host directory or configure durable storage. |
| Timing | Convenient, but starts may be delayed or dropped at high load. | Depends on host availability and operational setup. |
| Operations | Configure workflow, dependencies, and artifact retention. | Maintain the Docker host, scheduler, logs, alerts, and storage. |
| Control | Less host maintenance. | More control over the host environment, with corresponding maintenance. |
Or skip the browser setup
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a cron schedule more frequent than once a day in GitHub Actions?
Yes. GitHub’s documented minimum interval for scheduled workflows is five minutes, though actual starts are not guaranteed at the scheduled minute.
Do I need the Playwright Test runner for one scheduled screenshot?
No. A script using Playwright’s browser API is enough for a single capture; use the test runner if you need a test suite or its reporting features.
Quick Recap
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