Debugging Cypress Test Failure In Kibana Security Solutions

Hey guys! Let's dive into a recent test failure within the Kibana security solutions, specifically the Cypress tests. The error message points towards a problem with the alerts page histogram and its legend interactions. We'll break down the error, what it means, and how we can approach debugging this kind of issue. Understanding these failures is key to maintaining a robust and reliable security platform.

The Failing Test: Details and Context

Alright, so the failing test is related to the KPI visualizations on the Alerts page. More precisely, it checks whether the histogram legend hover actions correctly add a filter to the KQL (Kibana Query Language) bar. The test is part of the Security Solution Cypress suite, targeting the alerts_charts.cy.ts file. This tells us that the test is designed to validate the functionality of the charts and their interaction with the user interface, specifically within the alerts investigation flow. The test ensures that when you hover over elements in the histogram legend, the correct filters are applied to the data being displayed, a crucial aspect for analysts investigating security incidents. The specific failure mentions a Timed out retrying after 150000ms, indicating that the test was unable to find an expected element: [data-test-subj="alerts-histogram-panel"] .echLegendItem__action. This strongly suggests that the Cypress test was unable to locate or interact with the legend items in the histogram within the allocated time. This could be due to several reasons, such as UI changes, slow loading of elements, or incorrect selectors. We need to go deeper into the issue and try to resolve it.

Deep Dive into the Error Message and Troubleshooting

Let's break down the error message and the implications, shall we? AssertionError: Timed out retrying after 150000ms: Expected to find element: [data-test-subj="alerts-histogram-panel"] .echLegendItem__action, but never found it.

This is a classic Cypress timeout error. It means the test tried, repeatedly, for 150 seconds (150000ms) to find a specific element on the page, but it never succeeded. The element it was looking for is defined by the CSS selector [data-test-subj="alerts-histogram-panel"] .echLegendItem__action. Here is the main issue: Cypress is unable to locate the action element related to the legend item within the alerts histogram. There are several possible causes for this: The element might not be rendered at all, or it might be loading slowly. The selector used in the test might be incorrect due to UI changes. There might be an issue with the test environment itself, leading to the elements not being rendered correctly.

To troubleshoot, start by inspecting the relevant part of the application in the browser's developer tools. Look at the HTML structure of the alerts page, focusing on the histogram and its legend. Make sure the element with the selector [data-test-subj="alerts-histogram-panel"] .echLegendItem__action exists and is rendered correctly. Check for any JavaScript errors that might be preventing the element from rendering. Review the Cypress test code to ensure the selector is correct and that the test is waiting for the element to be visible before interacting with it. Consider adding cy.wait() commands or other waiting strategies to give the element more time to load. Check the network requests to confirm all the necessary data is being loaded. Also, ensure that the test environment (e.g., the Kibana instance) is set up correctly and that there are no conflicts or errors. The first failure occurred on the kibana-on-merge - main build, which means there might be an issue that has to do with the merge process and the changes that were made at that time.

Potential Causes and Solutions

Okay, so what could be the root causes, and how do we fix them? This is where it gets interesting.

1. UI Changes: The most common culprit is a change in the user interface. If the HTML structure of the alerts page has been updated, the Cypress test's selectors may no longer be valid. The solution is to update the selectors in the Cypress test to match the new HTML. Use the browser's developer tools to inspect the elements and identify the correct selectors. Make sure the updated selectors are robust and not likely to break with future UI changes (e.g., use data attributes rather than relying on CSS classes).
2. Slow Loading: Sometimes, the element you're looking for might take a while to load, maybe because of network requests or data processing. You can solve this by increasing the timeout in the Cypress test using cy.wait() command to wait for the element to appear. Use cy.get() to find the element, and then use .should("be.visible") or other assertions to ensure it's loaded before continuing. Ensure the test waits for all necessary data to be loaded before interacting with the elements. Check for network requests that might be causing delays.
3. Incorrect Selectors: The Cypress test may be using incorrect or outdated selectors. Ensure the selectors accurately target the desired elements in the UI. Use the browser's developer tools to verify the selectors. Double-check for typos and make sure the selectors are specific enough to avoid matching unintended elements. Make sure the selectors are well-defined and can handle dynamic content. The best practice is to include more specific and robust selectors.
4. Environment Issues: The test environment (e.g., the Kibana instance) might not be set up correctly, or there might be conflicts or errors. Verify that the test environment is consistent with the production environment. Check for any errors or warnings in the browser's console or server logs. Ensure the test data is available and correctly loaded. Check for any dependencies or configurations that might be missing or incorrect.
5. Test Logic Errors: There might be an issue with the test logic itself. This includes incorrect assumptions about the UI, faulty interactions, or missing steps. Review the Cypress test code for any logical errors or missing steps. Ensure the test flow accurately reflects the user interaction and the expected outcome. Check for any conditional statements or loops that might be causing unexpected behavior. Debug the test code using cy.pause() or cy.debug() commands to identify the exact point of failure.

Step-by-Step Debugging Guide

Alright, here is a practical approach:

1. Reproduce the issue locally: The first thing is to try and run the failing test locally. This will help you to reproduce the error and makes debugging easier. Make sure you have the same versions of Kibana, Cypress, and any other relevant dependencies.
2. Inspect the UI: Once the test fails, use the browser's developer tools to inspect the HTML of the alerts page. Verify that the element [data-test-subj="alerts-histogram-panel"] .echLegendItem__action exists and is visible. Check the network requests to see if all the data is loading correctly.
3. Check the Cypress test code: Examine the Cypress test code to make sure the selector is correct. Also, confirm the test waits for the element to be visible before interacting with it. Look for any logical errors in the test flow.
4. Add cy.wait(): Try adding cy.wait() commands to give the elements more time to load. You can also use .should("be.visible") assertions to ensure the element is loaded before continuing.
5. Use cy.debug() or cy.pause(): Use cy.debug() or cy.pause() commands to step through the test code and identify the exact point of failure.
6. Update Selectors: If you found out the selectors are wrong, you need to update them. Make sure the updated selectors are robust and not likely to break with future UI changes.
7. Test Environment: Double-check that the test environment is configured correctly and consistent with the production environment. Ensure there are no dependencies or configurations missing.

Prevention and Best Practices

Preventing these issues in the future is all about adopting good practices and proactive monitoring. Here are some of the things you can do:

• Robust Selectors: Use robust selectors (e.g., data attributes) to target elements in Cypress tests. This makes the tests less susceptible to UI changes.
• Regular Testing: Run tests frequently. Run tests frequently and automatically as part of the CI/CD pipeline. This helps to catch any issues early in the development cycle.
• Code Reviews: Always do code reviews to make sure the Cypress tests are written correctly. Code reviews can help identify potential issues before they cause failures.
• Monitor Test Results: Keep an eye on test results and investigate any failures immediately. Quick investigations can help find out the root cause and avoid any future issues.
• UI Changes Awareness: When UI changes are made, update the Cypress tests promptly. This will make sure the tests accurately reflect the user interface.
• Documentation: Maintain clear documentation on the Cypress tests, including their purpose, scope, and any dependencies.

By following these steps, you will be able to not only solve this specific test failure but also strengthen your overall testing strategy.

Conclusion: Keeping Kibana Security Solutions Strong

In conclusion, addressing Cypress test failures in Kibana's security solutions is crucial for maintaining the quality and reliability of the platform. By understanding the error messages, systematically debugging the code, and adopting best practices for testing and UI development, we can ensure that Kibana's security features function correctly and provide valuable insights to security analysts. This case highlights the importance of thorough testing, continuous integration, and rapid response to test failures in a dynamic software development environment. Regularly reviewing and updating your tests, along with a focus on clear and maintainable code, are keys to success.

For more in-depth information about Cypress testing and Kibana security solutions, I suggest checking out the Cypress documentation and Elastic's official documentation on Kibana. These resources offer a wealth of information, from the basics of writing Cypress tests to advanced debugging techniques and best practices.

External Links:

• Cypress Documentation: https://docs.cypress.io/
• Elastic's Kibana Documentation: https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/kibana/current/index.html

These links will provide valuable insights into both the testing framework and the specific functionality being tested. Happy debugging, and keep up the great work, everyone!