test(nvda-smoke): dismiss PickerHost 'Windows Security' dialog that steals foreground

Author: jon-bell

tests/e2e/a11y-nvda-smoke.ts

@@ -12,8 +12,22 @@
 // Run:  npx tsx tests/e2e/a11y-nvda-smoke.ts
 import { chromium } from "@playwright/test";
 import { nvda, WindowsKeyCodes, WindowsModifiers } from "@guidepup/guidepup";
+import { execSync } from "node:child_process";
 import { mkdirSync, writeFileSync } from "node:fs";
 
+// A transient "Windows Security" credential dialog (hosted by PickerHost.exe)
+// can seize the foreground on the CI desktop; NVDA then reads only it. It's a
+// throwaway UI host — kill it so focus can return to the browser.
+function dismissSecurityDialog() {
+  for (const im of ["PickerHost.exe", "CredentialUIBroker.exe", "consent.exe"]) {
+    try {
+      execSync(`taskkill /im ${im} /f`, { stdio: "ignore" });
+    } catch {
+      /* not running — fine */
+    }
+  }
+}
+
 const PAGE =
   "data:text/html," +
   encodeURIComponent(
@@ -42,6 +56,11 @@ async function focusBrowser(pageTitle: string): Promise<{ ok: boolean; seen: str
     const title = clean(await nvda.lastSpokenPhrase());
     seen.push(title);
     if (want.length && (title.startsWith(want) || title.includes("chrom"))) return { ok: true, seen };
+    if (title.includes("security") || title.includes("credential")) {
+      dismissSecurityDialog(); // kill the picker dialog, then re-read (don't Alt+Esc away)
+      await sleep(700);
+      continue;
+    }
     await nvda.perform(SWITCH, { capture: false });
     await sleep(700);
   }
@@ -60,6 +79,8 @@ async function main() {
     await page.goto(PAGE);
     await sleep(1000);
 
+    dismissSecurityDialog(); // clear any credential dialog holding the foreground
+    await sleep(500);
     const focused = await focusBrowser("NVDA smoke");
     console.log("focusBrowser ok=" + focused.ok + " titles seen: " + JSON.stringify(focused.seen));
     await nvda.clearSpokenPhraseLog();