[BUG] @playwright/test@next build from 1.19.0-alpha-feb-2-2022 onwards is bad

Context:

• Playwright Version: [1.19.0-alpha-feb-2-2022]
• Operating System: [Mac]
• Node.js version: [v17.2.0]
• Browser: [e.g. All]
• Extra: [Feb-1-2022 builds works correctly]

Code Snippet

playwright-config.js

pw_global_setup_demo.js

const fs = require('fs');
const path = require('path');

const delay_time = ms => new Promise(res => setTimeout(res, ms));

module.exports = async () => {
    const opSys = process.platform;
    console.log(opSys);
    process.env.JSONPath = path.resolve('./common/data_config_json/test.json');
    console.log(process.env.JSONPath);
};

pw_sample.js

const { test, expect } = require('@playwright/test');
const fs = require("fs");
const path = require('path');

console.log('PRINT ENV VARIABLE FROM GLOBAL SETUP ' + process.env.JSONPath);
let JSONPath_Working =  JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync('/Users/ravuri/Documents/pw-automation-bitbucket/kb-automation-playwright/common/data_config_json/test.json'));
console.log(JSONPath_Working);

let JSONPath_NotWorking =  JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(process.env.JSONPath));
console.log(JSONPath_NotWorking);

test.describe.serial('suite', () => {

    test('basic test1', async ({ page,browser },testInfo) => {
        await page.goto('https://playwright.dev/');
        const title = page.locator('.navbar__inner .navbar__title');
        await expect(title).toHaveText('Playwright');

    });

});

Describe the bug It appears something got changed in 1.19.0-alpha-feb-2-2022 build onwards. Environment variables set in global setup are no longer resolved in spec file. In the output you can see the value of file path set by environment variable is undefined.

Log output - 1.19.0-alpha-feb-2-2022 - Failed Test Case

{ test_json: 'playwright' }

Running 0 test using 0 worker

TypeError: The "path" argument must be of type string or an instance of Buffer or URL. Received undefined

    at Object.openSync (node:fs:577:10)
    at Object.readFileSync (node:fs:453:35)
    at Object.<anonymous> (/Users/ravuri/Documents/pw-automation-bitbucket/kb-automation-playwright/test/demo/pw_sample.js:10:42)
    at Module._compile (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:1097:14)
    at Object.Module._extensions..js (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:1149:10)
    at Module.load (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:975:32)
    at Function.Module._load (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:822:12)
    at Module.require (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:999:19)
    at require (node:internal/modules/cjs/helpers:102:18)
    at Loader._requireOrImport (/Users/ravuri/Documents/pw-automation-bitbucket/kb-automation-playwright/node_modules/@playwright/test/lib/loader.js:269:14)
    at Loader.loadTestFile (/Users/ravuri/Documents/pw-automation-bitbucket/kb-automation-playwright/node_modules/@playwright/test/lib/loader.js:139:18)
    at Runner._runFiles (/Users/ravuri/Documents/pw-automation-bitbucket/kb-automation-playwright/node_modules/@playwright/test/lib/runner.js:275:44)
    at Runner._run (/Users/ravuri/Documents/pw-automation-bitbucket/kb-automation-playwright/node_modules/@playwright/test/lib/runner.js:208:23)
    at TimeoutRunner.run (/Users/ravuri/Documents/pw-automation-bitbucket/kb-automation-playwright/node_modules/playwright-core/lib/utils/async.js:38:14)
    at raceAgainstTimeout (/Users/ravuri/Documents/pw-automation-bitbucket/kb-automation-playwright/node_modules/playwright-core/lib/utils/async.js:85:15)

=================
 no tests found.
=================

Log output - 1.19.0-alpha-feb-2-2022 - if i comment out the environment variable in spec file to read the JSON file

PRINT ENV VARIABLE FROM GLOBAL SETUP undefined
{ test_json: 'playwright' }

Running 1 test using 1 worker

darwin
/Users/ravuri/Documents/pw-automation-bitbucket/kb-automation-playwright/common/data_config_json/test.json
PRINT ENV VARIABLE FROM GLOBAL SETUP /Users/ravuri/Documents/pw-automation-bitbucket/kb-automation-playwright/common/data_config_json/test.json
{ test_json: 'playwright' }
  ✓  [demo1] › test/demo/pw_sample.js:15:5 › suite › basic test1 (3s)

Logout - 1.19.0-alpha-feb-1-2022

darwin
/Users/ravuri/Documents/pw-automation-bitbucket/kb-automation-playwright/common/data_config_json/test.json
PRINT ENV VARIABLE FROM GLOBAL SETUP /Users/ravuri/Documents/pw-automation-bitbucket/kb-automation-playwright/common/data_config_json/test.json
{ test_json: 'playwright' }

Running 1 test using 1 worker

PRINT ENV VARIABLE FROM GLOBAL SETUP /Users/ravuri/Documents/pw-automation-bitbucket/kb-automation-playwright/common/data_config_json/test.json
{ test_json: 'playwright' }
  ✓  [demo1] › test/demo/pw_sample.js:15:5 › suite › basic test1 (3s)

[vsravuri]

@yury-s I’ll correct the repro steps. Trying to simplify the steps.

[dgozman]

For the record, here is a description of the changes made in v1.19 and possible solutions. Thank you for reporting the issue!