Video Recording Feedback
Starting a Video Recording
Video recordings capture bugs in action, providing the most complete visual documentation of issues that are difficult to explain with screenshots alone.
Initiating Recording: To start a video recording, click the Sniffer browser extension icon and select “Record Screen” or the video camera icon. Sniffer prepares to capture your screen activity.
Screen Selection: Depending on your browser and system settings, you may be prompted to select what to record:
- Current Tab: Records only the browser tab you are working in. This is the most common option for reporting website bugs.
- Entire Screen: Records your full screen, including all windows and applications. Use this when the bug involves interactions outside the browser.
- Application Window: Records a specific application window. This is useful when the bug occurs in a web application that opens in its own window.
Permission Prompts: Your browser may ask for permission to record your screen. Click “Allow” or “Share” to grant Sniffer access. These permissions are required for screen capture functionality and are only active during recording.
Recording Indicator: Once recording begins, a visual indicator (typically a red dot or border) confirms that capture is in progress. This reminder helps you know when your actions are being recorded.
One-Click Recording: Sniffer is optimized for speed and ease of use. The one-click recording feature lets you start capturing immediately without navigating through multiple menus or settings.
Recording Controls
During a video recording, Sniffer provides controls to manage the capture process.
- Pause and Resume: If you need to perform actions that should not be included in the recording (such as entering sensitive information), use the pause button to temporarily stop recording. Click resume when ready to continue.
- Stop Recording: When you have captured the bug or completed the demonstration, click the stop button to end the recording. Sniffer processes the video and prepares it for review.
- Cancel Recording: If you started a recording by mistake or decide not to use it, click cancel to discard the recording without saving.
- Recording Timer: A timer displays the elapsed recording time, helping you keep track of how long your video is. Shorter, focused recordings are easier for developers to review.
- Minimize Controls: The recording controls can typically be minimized or moved to avoid obscuring the area you are trying to capture.
Audio Narration
Adding voice narration to your video recording provides context and explanations that visual capture alone cannot convey.
Enabling Audio: Before or during recording, enable the microphone option to include audio narration. Sniffer captures your voice along with the screen activity.
Narration Tips: As you record, speak clearly and describe what you are doing and what the viewer should notice:
- “I’m clicking the submit button now.”
- “Notice that the error message appears here.”
- “This dropdown should show three options, but only two appear.”
- “The page freezes at this point.”
When to Use Narration: Audio narration is especially valuable for complex bugs that require explanation, when demonstrating a multi-step process, or when the visual issue might not be immediately obvious to viewers.
Recording Without Audio: If you prefer not to include audio or are in an environment where speaking is not possible, you can record video without narration. The visual capture and automatic technical context often provide sufficient information.
Audio Privacy: Be mindful of background sounds when recording with audio enabled. Mute notifications and avoid recording in noisy environments if possible.
Video Length Limits
Sniffer may impose limits on video recording length to ensure optimal performance and manageable file sizes.
Maximum Duration: Check your project settings for the maximum allowed recording duration. Common limits range from 2 to 10 minutes, depending on your subscription plan.
Recommended Length: For most bug reports, shorter videos are more effective. Aim for recordings under 2 minutes when possible. Focus on demonstrating the specific issue rather than providing extensive background.
Long Recordings: If a bug requires a longer demonstration, consider breaking it into multiple shorter recordings, each focusing on a specific aspect of the issue.
Automatic Stop: If you reach the maximum recording duration, Sniffer automatically stops and saves the recording. A notification alerts you that the limit was reached.
File Size Considerations: Longer recordings produce larger files, which may take more time to upload and process. Keeping recordings concise improves the overall workflow speed.
Attaching Videos to Tasks
After recording, the video becomes part of your bug report and is saved to Sniffer’s board.
Automatic Attachment: When you stop a recording initiated from the bug report flow, the video is automatically attached to the task you are creating.
Review Before Saving: After stopping the recording, Sniffer may allow you to preview the video before saving. Use this opportunity to verify that the bug was captured correctly.
Trimming (If Available): Some versions of Sniffer allow you to trim the beginning or end of recordings to remove unnecessary footage before saving.
Adding Description: Along with the video, add a written description highlighting key moments or providing context that complements the visual capture.
AI-Generated Reproduction Steps: Sniffer’s AI capabilities can analyze your video recording and automatically generate step-by-step reproduction steps in plain English with timestamps. This transforms your video into a structured, actionable bug report without manual effort.
Video Processing: After saving, Sniffer processes the video to optimize it for playback and to extract technical data. Processing time varies based on video length and server load.
Viewing Videos on the Board: Once processed, the video appears in the task details on Sniffer’s board. Team members can play the video directly within Sniffer without downloading.
Video Seekbar Markers: Sniffer automatically adds visual markers to the video seekbar highlighting:
- Network Calls: Markers indicate moments when network requests failed, helping developers identify API or connectivity issues.
- Console Errors: Markers show when JavaScript errors appeared in the browser console, pinpointing moments when code failures occurred.
These automatic markers allow developers to jump directly to the moments when errors occurred rather than watching the entire video.
Timestamp Comments: After the video is saved, team members can add comments tied to specific timestamps. Click on a moment in the video, add your comment, and it becomes linked to that exact point in the recording.
Shareable Video Links: Generate links that open the video at a specific moment. When sharing with team members or clients, you can direct them to the exact timestamp where the issue occurs, eliminating the need to describe when to look.
Dedicated View Page: Videos, like all Sniffer captures, have a dedicated view page that displays the recording alongside all technical context. This page is designed to be both client-friendly and developer-friendly, presenting information appropriate for each audience.