fix: disable Network buffering by default to fix SSE streaming

Fixes #22

CDP's Network.enable buffers response bodies by default, which breaks
SSE/streaming - data arrives at Chrome but ReadableStream never receives it.

Changes:
- Intercept Network.enable in relay, default maxTotalBufferSize: 0
- Agents can re-enable buffering via Network.disable + Network.enable
  with explicit buffer sizes when they need response.body()
- Added test and documentation for reading response bodies

playwriter/src/cdp-relay.ts

@@ -359,6 +359,23 @@ export async function startPlayWriterCDPRelayServer({ port = 19988, host = '127.
         })
       }
 
+      // Network.enable: Default to zero buffering to fix SSE streaming issues.
+      // CDP's Network domain buffers response bodies by default, which breaks ReadableStream
+      // for SSE/streaming responses. Setting maxTotalBufferSize: 0 disables this buffering.
+      // Agents can re-enable buffering by calling Network.disable then Network.enable with
+      // explicit buffer sizes if they need to read response bodies via Network.getResponseBody.
+      case 'Network.enable': {
+        const modifiedParams = {
+          maxTotalBufferSize: 0,
+          maxResourceBufferSize: 0,
+          ...params
+        }
+        return await sendToExtension({
+          method: 'forwardCDPCommand',
+          params: { sessionId, method, params: modifiedParams }
+        })
+      }
+
       case 'Runtime.enable': {
         if (!sessionId) {
           break

playwriter/src/mcp.test.ts

@@ -3668,6 +3668,56 @@ describe('Service Worker Target Tests', () => {
         await browser.close()
         await page.close()
     }, 60000)
+
+    it('should allow reading response bodies after re-enabling Network buffering', async () => {
+        // By default, the relay sets maxTotalBufferSize: 0 to fix SSE streaming.
+        // This test verifies that agents can re-enable buffering to read response bodies
+        // using Playwright's response.body() API after re-enabling Network buffering via CDP.
+
+        const browserContext = getBrowserContext()
+        const serviceWorker = await getExtensionServiceWorker(browserContext)
+
+        const page = await browserContext.newPage()
+        await page.goto('https://example.com/')
+        await page.bringToFront()
+
+        await serviceWorker.evaluate(async () => {
+            await globalThis.toggleExtensionForActiveTab()
+        })
+        await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 100))
+
+        const browser = await chromium.connectOverCDP(getCdpUrl({ port: TEST_PORT }))
+        const cdpPage = browser.contexts()[0].pages().find(p => p.url().includes('example.com'))
+        expect(cdpPage).toBeDefined()
+
+        // Get CDP session to re-enable buffering (must use getCDPSessionForPage, not newCDPSession)
+        const wsUrl = getCdpUrl({ port: TEST_PORT })
+        const cdpSession = await getCDPSessionForPage({ page: cdpPage!, wsUrl })
+
+        // Re-enable Network domain with buffering to allow response.body() to work
+        await cdpSession.send('Network.disable')
+        await cdpSession.send('Network.enable', {
+            maxTotalBufferSize: 10000000,
+            maxResourceBufferSize: 5000000
+        })
+
+        // Use Playwright's response API to capture and read response body
+        const [response] = await Promise.all([
+            cdpPage!.waitForResponse(resp => resp.url() === 'https://example.com/'),
+            cdpPage!.goto('https://example.com/')
+        ])
+
+        // Now response.body() should work because we re-enabled buffering
+        const body = await response.text()
+
+        expect(body).toBeDefined()
+        expect(body).toContain('Example Domain')
+        expect(body).toContain('</html>')
+
+        cdpSession.close()
+        await browser.close()
+        await page.close()
+    }, 60000)
 })
 
 describe('Auto-enable Tests', () => {

playwriter/src/prompt.md

@@ -356,6 +356,31 @@ console.log(data);
 
 Clean up listeners when done: `page.removeAllListeners('request'); page.removeAllListeners('response');`
 
+## reading response bodies
+
+By default, playwriter disables CDP response body buffering to ensure SSE streaming works properly. If you need to read response bodies (e.g., for HAR recording or inspecting API responses), re-enable buffering first:
+
+```js
+// Get CDP session and re-enable Network buffering
+const cdp = await getCDPSession({ page });
+await cdp.send('Network.disable');
+await cdp.send('Network.enable', {
+  maxTotalBufferSize: 10000000,   // 10MB total buffer
+  maxResourceBufferSize: 5000000  // 5MB per resource
+});
+
+// Now use Playwright's response API - it will work because buffering is enabled
+const [response] = await Promise.all([
+  page.waitForResponse(resp => resp.url().includes('/api/data')),
+  page.click('button.load-data')
+]);
+
+const body = await response.text();  // or response.json(), response.body()
+console.log(body);
+```
+
+**Note**: This may cause SSE/streaming responses to buffer. Only enable when you specifically need response bodies.
+
 ## capabilities
 
 Examples of what playwriter can do: