Localhost Testing in Rihario: Official Documentation
Rihario does not and will not directly test localhost URLs. This is a fundamental limitation of cloud-based browser execution, not a product limitation. To test applications running on localhost, users must expose their local app using a secure third-party tunneling service.
Why Localhost Cannot Be Tested
When you type localhost (or 127.0.0.1) into a browser, it resolves to the machine running that browser.
- Your app is running on Your Laptop.
- Rihario's AI agent is running on a Remote Cloud Worker.
If our Cloud Worker tries to visit localhost, it looks for a server running inside its own isolated container—and finds nothing. This is true for all cloud testing platforms (BrowserStack, Sauce Labs, LambdaTest, etc.).
How to Test Localhost Applications (Correct Method)
To test a local app, you must create a "Tunnel." A tunnel creates a secure bridge from your local machine to the public internet, giving you a temporary public URL that Rihario can access.
- Your App runs on
localhost:3000 - Tunnel Service assigns a URL like
https://fancy-cat-99.ngrok.io - You give that URL to Rihario
- Rihario visits the URL, traffic travels through the tunnel to your laptop
- Results stream back normally
Supported Tunneling Services
Rihario works with any service that provides a publicly accessible HTTPS URL. We recommend the following providers:
1. ngrok (Recommended for Quick Setup)
ngrok is the industry standard for localhost tunneling. It requires a small CLI installation but is extremely reliable and easy to use.
- Official Site: https://ngrok.com
- Documentation: https://ngrok.com/docs
2. Cloudflare Tunnel (Recommended for Security)
For improved security and stable URLs without paid plans, Cloudflare Tunnel (formerly Argo Tunnel) is an excellent choice. It works via the cloudflared daemon.
- Official Site: https://www.cloudflare.com/products/tunnel/
- Documentation: Cloudflare Tunnel Docs
3. LocalTunnel (Lightweight / Open Source)
A simple, open-source Node.js package. It is less reliable than ngrok or Cloudflare but requires zero registration. Not recommended for sensitive apps.
- GitHub Repository: https://github.com/localtunnel/localtunnel
What Works When Using a Tunnel
There is no functional downgrade when using a tunnel. Rihario treats the tunnel URL exactly the same as a production URL.
- ✔ Visual Testing
- ✔ Login & Signup Flows
- ✔ Form Submissions
- ✔ Navigation & Crawling
- ✔ Accessibility Audits
- ✔ Rage Bait Testing
- ✔ Live Streaming
- ✔ Video Artifacts
Security Considerations
- Tunnels make your app public: Anyone with the URL can access your localhost app while the tunnel is running.
- Use Test Credentials: Never use real production admin credentials on a tunneled database unless necessary.
- Shut Down: Always terminate the tunnel process (Ctrl+C) when testing is complete.
- Rihario Role: Rihario does not manage, proxy, or control these tunnels. We simply visit the URL you provide.
Rihario will not support direct localhost testing. Localhost testing is fully supported through secure third-party tunneling services and aligns with industry standards for cloud-based browser execution.