Browsers

gform drives a Chromium-family browser through Playwright. Cookies for auth are saved only from that controlled window.

Related: commands/browsers · doctor · auth · install

Commands

gform browsers                 # help (short: br)
gform br list                  # same as browsers list
gform browsers list            # paths, ready/found/missing, ★ default
gform browsers check chrome    # headless launch smoke test (br chk)
gform browsers default chrome  # auth create + headed run prefer this (br def)
gform browsers default --pick
gform browsers default --clear
gform browsers setup           # setup catalog for this host (br set)
gform browsers setup chrome    # plan + confirm install (Linux/WSL .deb)
gform browsers setup playwright

Ids: chrome · brave · msedge · chromium · playwright (bundled).

Status	Meaning
ready	Likely launchable under Playwright
found	Path exists; WSL→Windows .exe usually cannot be CDP-controlled
missing	Not discovered

Readiness ≠ path discovery. A found Windows Chrome from WSL is not enough for auth create — install Linux Chrome via browsers setup chrome.

Setup

browsers setup prints a host-aware catalog. Pass an id to see the plan for that browser:

• WSL + Windows Chrome found: installs Linux Chrome via Google’s .deb + apt (Playwright cannot control /mnt/c/… .exe).
• Already ready: nothing to install — tip to browsers default.
• brave / msedge / chromium: guided notes (manual) for now.
• If status is already ready, setup is a no-op (tip only). Use --force to reinstall.
• Confirm with y/N (default N); non-TTY needs --yes. Use --print-only to skip running commands.
• No browsers add — discovery re-scans paths every time (list / setup / launch).

Auth create

gform auth create work --open chrome
gform auth create work                 # uses browsers default, else auto
gform auth create work --default-browser   # also open OS browser (reference only)

Notes

• Preference file: $GFORM_HOME/browsers/default.json
• Chrome on Ubuntu/WSL: official .deb → apt (not Snap). Chromium may be Snap separately.