> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://argos-ci.com/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://argos-ci.com/docs/quickstart/storybook-quickstart/storybook-legacy-less-than-v8-quickstart.md).

# Legacy Storybook (\<v8) visual testing quickstart

Set up visual testing in a legacy Storybook (\<v8) with Storycap and the Argos CLI.

To add visual testing to a legacy Storybook (\<v8), capture every story with [Storycap](https://github.com/reg-viz/storycap), then upload the screenshots with `npm exec -- argos upload ./screenshots` in CI with the `ARGOS_TOKEN` environment variable set. Storycap crawls your Storybook and captures a screenshot of each story; Argos compares them with a [baseline build](/docs/learn/platform-fundamentals/baseline-build.md) picked from your Git history and reports the changes on your pull request.

### What Argos adds

* **Baselines from your Git history.** There are no reference images to commit or update.
* **Review on the pull request.** Visual changes become a pull request check that your team [approves or rejects](/docs/learn/review-workflow/review-a-build.md).

{% hint style="info" %}
On Storybook 9 or later, follow the [Storybook quickstart](/docs/quickstart/storybook-quickstart.md) instead. On Storybook 8, follow the [Storybook Test Runner quickstart](/docs/quickstart/storybook-quickstart/storybook-test-runner-quickstart.md).
{% endhint %}

### Prerequisites

* Node.js 22 or later
* [Storybook \<v8](https://storybook.js.org/docs/get-started/install) set up in your project
* [A project created in Argos](https://app.argos-ci.com/new)

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Install

Install the Argos CLI and Storycap:

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="npm" %}

```
npm i --save-dev @argos-ci/cli storycap
```

{% endtab %}

{% tab title="yarn" %}

```
yarn add --dev @argos-ci/cli storycap
```

{% endtab %}

{% tab title="pnpm" %}

```
pnpm add --save-dev @argos-ci/cli storycap
```

{% endtab %}

{% tab title="bun" %}

```
bun add --dev @argos-ci/cli storycap
```

{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Capture screenshots

There are two ways to capture screenshots of your Storybook.

If your Storybook is already running and accessible via a URL, point Storycap at it:

```bash
npm exec -- storycap <STORYBOOK-URL> --outDir ./screenshots
```

If it isn't deployed, build and serve it before capturing:

```bash
# Build Storybook
npm exec -- storybook build --output-dir ./storybook-static

# Screenshot Storybook with Storycap
npm exec -- storycap --serverCmd "npx http-server ./storybook-static --port 6006" http://127.0.0.1:6006/ --outDir ./screenshots
```

Read the [Storycap documentation](https://github.com/reg-viz/storycap) for advanced usage.

Screenshots are written to the `./screenshots` directory. Add `./screenshots` to your `.gitignore` file to avoid committing them.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Set up CI

Add a workflow that captures the screenshots and uploads them to Argos. If you use another CI provider, adapt the steps with [Run Argos in CI](/docs/learn/how-to-guides/ci-pipelines/run-argos-in-ci.md):

{% code title=".github/workflows/argos.yml" %}

```yaml
name: Argos

on:
  pull_request:
  push:
    branches:
      - main

jobs:
  argos:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
      - uses: actions/setup-node@v6
        with:
          node-version: 22
      - run: npm ci

      - name: Build Storybook
        run: npm exec -- storybook build --output-dir ./storybook-static

      - name: Capture screenshots with Storycap
        run: npm exec -- storycap --serverCmd "npx http-server ./storybook-static --port 6006" http://127.0.0.1:6006/ --outDir ./screenshots

      - name: Upload screenshots to Argos
        run: npm exec -- argos upload ./screenshots
        env:
          ARGOS_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.ARGOS_TOKEN }}
```

{% endcode %}

`ARGOS_TOKEN` is the project token from **Settings → Authentication → Project token**. On GitHub Actions, you can also use [OIDC or tokenless authentication](/docs/learn/integrations/github-actions-authentication.md) to avoid managing a secret.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

### You're all set

Push your changes and open a pull request — the Argos check appears on it once the build is uploaded. Review the visual changes, approve or reject them, and merge with confidence.

{% hint style="info" %}
Argos needs a baseline to compare against. Until a build runs on your default branch, pull request builds are marked as [orphan](/docs/learn/platform-fundamentals/baseline-build.md#orphan-builds). Merge this setup or run the workflow once on your default branch to establish the baseline.
{% endhint %}

### Frequently asked questions

<details>

<summary>How do I update the baseline after an intended change?</summary>

You don't update any file. Review the build in Argos and [approve the changes](/docs/learn/review-workflow/review-a-build.md): an approved build is eligible as a baseline. Once you merge, the build on your default branch, which Argos approves automatically by default, becomes the baseline for the pull requests that follow. See [Baseline build](/docs/learn/platform-fundamentals/baseline-build.md).

</details>

<details>

<summary>Why do screenshots differ between my machine and CI?</summary>

Fonts, text rendering, and browser versions depend on the operating system, so the same page renders slightly differently on macOS and on a Linux CI runner. The workflow above uploads screenshots only from CI, so Argos only compares screenshots captured on CI. Keep your CI on the same image and browser version from one run to the next. See [Browser glitches](/docs/learn/reliability-and-flakiness/flaky-tests/browser-glitches.md) and [Stabilize screenshots](/docs/learn/reliability-and-flakiness/flaky-tests.md).

</details>

### Next steps

* [Stabilize screenshots](/docs/learn/reliability-and-flakiness/flaky-tests.md) – Prevent flaky diffs before they reach your pull requests
* [CLI reference](/docs/reference/argos-command-line-interface-cli.md) – All upload options
* [Storybook legacy example](https://github.com/argos-ci/argos-javascript/tree/main/examples/storybook-legacy) – A complete working setup

***

Need help? [Join our Discord](https://argos-ci.com/discord), [open an issue on GitHub](https://github.com/argos-ci/argos/issues), or [send us an email](mailto:contact@argos-ci.com).


---

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