Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions and answers about using Loopi.

General Questions

What is Loopi?

Loopi is a free, open-source visual browser automation platform. It lets you create browser automations using a drag-and-drop interface without writing code.

Is Loopi really free?

Yes! Loopi is 100% free and open source under the MIT license.

What platforms does Loopi support?

Loopi runs on:

Windows (10 and later)
macOS (11 Big Sur and later)
Linux (Ubuntu 20.04+, Fedora 35+, or equivalent)

Do I need to know programming?

No. Loopi is designed for visual automation without coding. However, basic understanding of web pages (HTML, CSS selectors) helps create more reliable automations.

Installation & Setup

How do I install Loopi?

See the Installation Guide for detailed instructions. Quick start:

git clone https://github.com/Dyan-Dev/loopi.git
cd loopi
pnpm install
pnpm start

Which Node.js version do I need?

Node.js 18 or later is recommended. Check your version:

node --version

Can I install Loopi without Git?

Yes, download the source as a ZIP file from GitHub, extract it, and run pnpm install in the extracted folder.

The app won't start. What should I do?

Ensure all dependencies are installed: pnpm install
Check Node.js version is >= 18
Delete node_modules and reinstall: rm -rf node_modules && pnpm install
Check console for error messages

Using Loopi

How do I pick a reliable selector?

Use the Pick Element tool in step configuration:

Click "Pick Element" button
Browser opens with element picker
Hover and click the element you want
Loopi generates a CSS selector

Prefer selectors with:

IDs: #login-button
Stable classes: .submit-btn
Name attributes: input[name="email"]

Avoid:

Position-based: div:nth-child(3)
Auto-generated classes: .css-abc123

How do I use variables?

Create a variable:

{
  "type": "setVariable",
  "variableName": "userName",
  "value": "John"
}

Or extract from page:

{
  "type": "extract",
  "selector": ".username",
  "storeKey": "userName"
}

Use in other steps:

Hello {{userName}}!
https://example.com/user/{{userName}}

Where are screenshots saved?

Screenshots are saved to:

Specified path if you provide savePath
Current directory if no path is specified
Filename format: screenshot_timestamp.png (if no path given)

How do I handle dynamic content?

Use Wait steps to give content time to load:

{
  "type": "wait",
  "value": "2"  // Wait 2 seconds
}

Or use Extract with Logic to wait for specific conditions.

Why does my automation fail on some websites?

Common reasons:

Dynamic loading: Add wait steps
Anti-bot protection: Some sites block automation
Iframe content: Elements in iframes need special handling
JavaScript rendering: Wait for JS to complete

Yes, but be careful:

Don't commit credentials to Git
Use environment variables or credential vault
Check site's Terms of Service
Consider using API tokens instead

How do I debug failed automations?

Use Debug/Step Mode: Run one step at a time
Add screenshots: Capture state at each step
Check console: Open DevTools for errors
Simplify: Remove steps until you find the issue
Test selectors: Verify in browser DevTools

Advanced Usage

Can I loop through multiple items?

Not yet built-in, but planned for future releases. Current workaround:

Use variables to track iteration
Manually increment counters
Check community for custom solutions

How do I scrape data from multiple pages?

Use variables for page numbers:

{
  "type": "navigate",
  "value": "https://example.com/page/{{pageNumber}}"
}

Then increment pageNumber and repeat. Full pagination support coming soon.

Can I integrate with external APIs?

Yes! Use the API Call step:

{
  "type": "apiCall",
  "method": "POST",
  "url": "https://api.example.com/data",
  "headers": {"Authorization": "Bearer {{token}}"},
  "body": "{\"data\": \"{{extractedValue}}\"}",
  "storeKey": "apiResponse"
}