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description: Testing Guide: New Workflow Buttons: Step-by-step tutorial with examples, best practices, and common patterns. Learn by doing with hands-on examples.
---

Date: 2026-01-01 Changes: Added 4 new workflow buttons to Dashboard

The VSCode extension has been compiled with the latest changes. You can now test the new features!

Location: VSCode Sidebar → Empathy Explorer → Dashboard → Workflows section

New Buttons Added:

1. 🔍 Review File (code-review) - File-level code review
2. 📄 Generate Docs (doc-gen) - Documentation generation
3. 🚀 Release Prep (release-prep) - Pre-release preparation
4. 🔐 Secure Release (secure-release) - Security release pipeline

The Dashboard now shows these workflow buttons in a 2-column grid:

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Workflows (Beta)                              │
├──────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ [🔍 Review File]    [⭐ Run Analysis]        │ ← NEW!
│ [📚 Manage Docs]    [🐛 Predict Bugs]        │
│ [🔒 Security]       [⚡ Performance]          │
│ [🧪 Generate Tests] [🏗️ Refactor]           │
│ [📦 Dependencies]   [🩺 Health Check]        │
│ [🔍 Review PR]      [📄 Gen Docs]            │ ← NEW!
│ [🚀 Release Prep]   [🔐 Sec Release]         │ ← NEW!
└──────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Purpose: Verify the code review feature is now discoverable from UI

Steps:

1. Open VSCode with a Python/TypeScript project
2. Open Empathy Explorer sidebar
3. Click on "Dashboard" tab
4. Scroll to "Workflows (Beta)" section
5. Click 🔍 Review File button

Expected Behavior:

• File picker opens
• Select a file (e.g., src/auth.py)
• Workflow executes
• CodeReviewPanel opens in sidebar
• Findings appear with clickable file:line references

Success Criteria:

• ✅ Button appears first in workflows section
• ✅ File picker shows on click
• ✅ Review runs successfully
• ✅ Results appear in CodeReviewPanel
• ✅ Clicking finding navigates to file:line

Steps:

1. Click 📄 Generate Docs button
2. Folder picker should open
3. Select a folder (e.g., ./src)
4. Workflow executes

Expected Behavior:

• Folder picker opens (not file picker)
• Can select project root or specific folder
• Documentation generation workflow runs
• Report opens in new editor tab OR terminal

Success Criteria:

• ✅ Folder picker appears
• ✅ Workflow executes without errors
• ✅ Output is readable

Steps:

1. Click 🚀 Release Prep button
2. Folder picker opens
3. Select project root (.)
4. Workflow executes

Expected Behavior:

• Folder picker opens
• "Use Entire Project" button available
• Release preparation checklist runs
• Report shows pre-release validation results

Success Criteria:

• ✅ Folder picker with project root option
• ✅ Workflow runs on entire project
• ✅ Checklist items displayed

Steps:

1. Click 🔐 Secure Release button
2. Select project root
3. Multi-stage security pipeline runs

Expected Behavior:

• Folder picker opens
• Security pipeline executes (may take 1-2 min)
• Each stage shows progress
• Final report shows security validation

Success Criteria:

• ✅ Pipeline runs all security checks
• ✅ Results clearly formatted
• ✅ Blocking issues highlighted

Test these to ensure no regressions:

1. ⭐ Run Analysis (pro-review)
2. 📚 Manage Docs (doc-orchestrator)
3. 🐛 Predict Bugs (bug-predict)
4. 🔒 Security Audit (security-audit)
5. ⚡ Perf Audit (perf-audit)
6. 🧪 Generate Tests (test-gen)
7. 🏗️ Refactor Plan (refactor-plan)
8. 📦 Check Deps (dependency-check)
9. 🩺 Health Check (health-check)
10. 🔍 Review PR (pr-review)

Quick Regression Test:

• Click 2-3 existing buttons randomly
• Verify they still open pickers and run workflows
• No JavaScript errors in DevTools console

1. Reload VSCode Window:

   • Command Palette: "Developer: Reload Window"
   • Or restart VSCode entirely

2. Check Extension is Activated:

   • Look for "Empathy Explorer" in sidebar
   • Check Output panel for extension logs

3. Verify Compilation:

   cd vscode-extension
   npm run compile

1. Check Python Environment:

   python -m empathy_os.cli workflow list

   Should show all available workflows including new ones

2. Check Workflow Registration:

   python -m empathy_os.cli workflow run doc-gen --help
   python -m empathy_os.cli workflow run release-prep --help
   python -m empathy_os.cli workflow run secure-release --help

3. Check VSCode DevTools:

   • Command Palette: "Developer: Toggle Developer Tools"
   • Look for errors in Console tab

Issue: "Workflow not found"

• Cause: Workflow not registered in backend
• Fix: Check src/empathy_os/workflows/__init__.py includes the workflow

Issue: "No input provided"

• Cause: Workflow config missing or incorrect
• Fix: Check workflowConfig in EmpathyDashboardPanel.ts

Issue: Button does nothing when clicked

• Cause: JavaScript not compiled or cached
• Fix: Run npm run compile and reload window

Use this to track your testing:

## Test Results - [Your Name] - [Date]

### Code Review Button
- [ ] Button appears in Dashboard
- [ ] File picker opens
- [ ] Workflow runs successfully
- [ ] Results appear in CodeReviewPanel
- [ ] Findings are clickable
- **Notes:**

### Generate Docs Button
- [ ] Button appears in Dashboard
- [ ] Folder picker opens
- [ ] Workflow runs successfully
- [ ] Output is readable
- **Notes:**

### Release Prep Button
- [ ] Button appears in Dashboard
- [ ] Folder picker opens
- [ ] Workflow runs successfully
- [ ] Checklist displayed
- **Notes:**

### Secure Release Button
- [ ] Button appears in Dashboard
- [ ] Folder picker opens
- [ ] Security pipeline runs
- [ ] Results are clear
- **Notes:**

### Regression Tests
- [ ] Existing buttons still work
- [ ] No console errors
- [ ] No visual layout issues
- **Notes:**

### Overall Assessment
- **Pass/Fail:**
- **Blocker Issues:**
- **Minor Issues:**
- **Suggestions:**

• All 14 workflow buttons visible
• Icons render correctly (no broken emoji)
• 2-column grid layout maintained
• Buttons have consistent styling
• Hover states work

• All buttons clickable
• Pickers open correctly (file vs folder)
• "Use Entire Project" button appears for folder workflows
• Workflows execute without crashing
• Results display properly

• CodeReviewPanel opens for code-review
• Reports open in editor for other workflows
• Notifications appear on completion
• Workflow history records runs
• Cost tracking updates

Quick Start:

1. Reload VSCode window
2. Open Empathy Explorer sidebar
3. Click Dashboard
4. Try clicking 🔍 Review File button
5. Select a file and verify results appear

Report Issues: If you find any bugs or unexpected behavior, note:

• Which button was clicked
• Error message (if any)
• Console errors (DevTools)
• Expected vs actual behavior

Good luck testing! 🎉