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Update Component Screenshots

OfficialFree

Automate screenshot baseline updates from CI.

by microsoft188.6k stars on microsoft/vscode
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Updated Aug 10, 2026
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Free · Opens the source repo

What Update Component Screenshots does

The Update Component Screenshots skill streamlines the process of managing screenshot baselines in your development workflow. Traditionally, screenshot baselines were stored in the repository, but this skill leverages an external screenshot service to handle baselines more efficiently. When the CI workflow runs, it automatically uploads screenshots to the service, which then performs diffing to detect any changes. This automation reduces the need for manual updates, allowing developers to focus on code changes rather than maintaining visual assets.

When the GitHub Action responsible for checking component screenshots identifies differences, it posts a comment on the pull request with visual comparisons of the before and after states. This immediate feedback loop enables developers to assess changes quickly. Once the changes are merged into the main branch, the new screenshots become the updated baselines without any further manual intervention. This skill is particularly beneficial for teams that rely heavily on visual regression testing as part of their CI/CD pipeline.

One of the significant changes with this skill is the removal of baseline images from the repository, which simplifies repository management and eliminates the need for Git LFS for screenshot storage. Instead, the external service manages images keyed by commit SHA, ensuring that the latest screenshots are always available for review and comparison. This approach not only enhances performance but also aligns with modern development practices that prioritize automation and efficiency.

The Update Component Screenshots skill is ideal for developers working on UI components who want to ensure visual consistency across their applications without the overhead of manual baseline management. By integrating this skill into your CI workflow, you can maintain high-quality visual standards while minimizing the time spent on routine tasks.

When to use it

Use this skill when you want to automatically update component screenshot baselines after CI runs or when differences are detected.

When not to use it

This skill may not be suitable for projects that do not utilize CI workflows or for teams that prefer manual control over screenshot baselines.

What you can build with it

Integrating with CI/CD Pipeline

Use this skill to automatically update screenshot baselines during your continuous integration process, ensuring visual consistency.

Reviewing Visual Changes in PRs

Leverage the skill to quickly assess visual changes in pull requests through automated comments with before/after comparisons.

Simplifying Repository Management

By removing baseline images from the repository, this skill helps keep your codebase clean and focused on actual code changes.

How to install Update Component Screenshots

View source

1. Install with the skills CLI

npx skills add microsoft/vscode/update-screenshots --agent claude-code

2. Or install it manually

Download the skill folder and drop it into ~/.claude/skills/ for all projects, or .claude/skills/ to scope it to one repo. Restart Claude Code so it picks up the new skill.

Anthropic's agentic coding CLI, and the reference implementation of Agent Skills. Drop a skill folder into ~/.claude/skills and Claude Code loads it automatically whenever a task matches the skill's description. Claude Code docs

Inside SKILL.md

Written by microsoft

Update Component Screenshots from CI

Screenshot baselines are no longer stored in the repository. They are managed by an external screenshot service (hediet-screenshots.azurewebsites.net). The CI workflow uploads screenshots to this service and diffs them automatically.

When the Checking Component Screenshots GitHub Action detects changes, it posts a PR comment with before/after comparisons. No manual baseline updates are needed — the screenshots on the main branch commit become the new baselines automatically after merge.

What Changed

  • Baseline images were removed from test/componentFixtures/.screenshots/baseline/.
  • Git LFS is no longer used for screenshot storage.
  • The screenshot service stores images keyed by commit SHA and handles diffing.

If Screenshots Need Investigation

  1. Check the PR comment posted by the CI workflow for visual diffs.
  2. Download the screenshots artifact from the CI run for the raw captured images:
gh run download <run-id> --name screenshots --dir .tmp/screenshots
  1. Compare locally if needed. The artifact contains the full set of captured screenshots.

Frequently asked questions about Update Component Screenshots

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