bug(browser): Playwright Chromium browser fails to launch after service starts #4060

Playwright service starts successfully and listens on port 9001, but fails to initialize Chromium browser during pre-initialization.

Symptoms

• Service running: ✓
• Port 9001 listening: ✓
• Browser launch: ✗ FAILS
• Error: 'Failed to launch browser'

Timeline

1. Service starts successfully (express module loaded)
2. Port 9001 bound successfully
3. Browser pre-initialization triggered
4. Chromium launch fails with generic error

Logs

2026-04-08T21:20:25.831Z [ERROR] Failed to launch browser: {"name":"Error"}
2026-04-08T21:20:25.831Z [ERROR] Failed to pre-initialize browser: {"name":"Error"}

Investigation Needed

• Check if Chromium is installed on host
• Check DISPLAY variable (currently :1)
• Check VNC/X11 availability
• Review playwright error details (error object is empty)

Environment

• Node.js v20.20.2
• Playwright 1.54.2
• HEADLESS_MODE=False
• DISPLAY=:1
• Host: WSL2 Linux

Related

• This is separate from fix(infrastructure): Playwright service port hardcoded to 3000 conflicts with Grafana #4052 (port conflict - now resolved)
• Service infrastructure is correct, browser initialization is the issue