devdesk/README.md

# DevDesk

A persistent browser terminal for Claude Code, at **https://dev.lotusguild.org**.

- **Persistent sessions:** closing the tab, restarting the web service or upgrading the package never stops Claude.
- **Survives reboots:** after a reboot, every named session resumes its own conversation.
- **Styling:** uses the LotusGuild Terminal Design System ([web_template](https://code.lotusguild.org/LotusGuild/web_template)).
- **Packaging:** ships as a `.deb` from Gitea's apt registry.

```
Browser ─https─▶ NPM (wildcard cert, Authelia two_factor, injects ttyd credential)
        ─http─▶ ttyd :7681  [devdesk.service]   ── /ws?arg=<name> → `devdesk attach <name>` (tmux client)
                tmux server [devdesk-tmux.service] ── one session per project:
                   window "claude": devdesk-claude-run → claude --resume <recorded id>
                   window "shell"
```

## Why two units
The tmux server runs in its own unit, so every Claude process lives in **that** unit's cgroup.
- ttyd (`devdesk.service`) only starts tmux *clients* (`tmux -N` never starts a server). It can restart freely, and does so on package upgrades.
- `devdesk-tmux.service` is installed with `--no-stop-on-upgrade`, so apt never touches it.
- **Only `systemctl stop devdesk-tmux` (or removing the package) ends the sessions.**

## Sessions
- **Any name works.** Sessions don't have to be repo work:
  - A name matching a project folder (`tinker_tickets`, or `test-code` for `test code`) starts there.
  - Anything else (`pbs-upgrade`, `ceph-check`) starts in `$DEVDESK_DEFAULT_DIR`, which is `/root/code` by default.
  - `main` is the projects root.
- **Opening one:**
  - `https://dev.lotusguild.org/?arg=<name>` opens or creates that session.
  - With no `?arg=`, an fzf picker opens, listing running (●), dormant (○) and new (+) sessions.
  - The **Sessions** panel's form takes any name plus an optional project folder.
- **Rename / end:** the ✎ and × buttons on each session in the panel. Renaming keeps the session, its running Claude and its recorded conversation. Ending stops Claude; the conversation stays in Claude's history.
- **Windows:** each session has a `claude` window (0) and a `shell` window (1).
- **Conversation tracking:** a Claude `SessionStart` hook records each session's conversation ID in `/var/lib/devdesk/registry.json`. After a reboot the session resumes *that* conversation, even when other Claude instances, such as code-server, use the same directory.
- **Claude Context panel:** a Claude `statusLine` command (`devdesk-statusline`) snapshots each session's model, context-window use, cost and edits to `/var/lib/devdesk/context/<session>.json`. The panel shows the current session's numbers, and Claude's own footer shows a one-line summary. Sessions started before 0.2.0 need Claude restarted (`/exit`, then ⏎ in the menu) before they report.
- **SSH:** `devdesk attach <name>`, `devdesk new <name> [project]`, `devdesk rename <old> <new>`, `devdesk end <name>`, `devdesk ls`, `devdesk pick`.

## Keys
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Shift+Enter | Newline in Claude's prompt (sends Ctrl+J) |
| Esc | Interrupt Claude |
| Ctrl-b 0 / 1 | Claude window / shell window |
| Ctrl-b s | Switch session (the URL follows) |
| Ctrl-b d | Detach (the session keeps running) |
| Shift+drag | Native browser selection (plain drag goes to tmux copy-mode, which copies via OSC 52) |
| Ctrl+Shift+C / V | Copy selection / paste |

Use the **Full** button for fullscreen. In Chromium it also captures Ctrl+W/Ctrl+T, which browsers otherwise keep for themselves.

## Configuration
- **Put your changes in `/etc/devdesk/env.local`.** It's read after the packaged `env` and never shipped, so `apt upgrade` never asks about it. Example: `DEVDESK_REMOTE_CONTROL=1`.
- `/etc/devdesk/env` holds the packaged defaults; don't edit it. Its keys:
  - port, bind address, projects root and `DEVDESK_DEFAULT_DIR`
  - `DEVDESK_GITEA_URL` / `DEVDESK_GITEA_ALIASES` for the Repo/CI panel. Public repos need no token; for private ones put a `read:repository` token in `/etc/devdesk/gitea-token`
  - `CLAUDE_BIN` and `CLAUDE_ARGS`
  - `DEVDESK_REMOTE_CONTROL=1`, which also starts each session with Claude Remote Control so it can be continued from the Claude app
- `/etc/devdesk/secret.env` is generated on install. It holds the ttyd credential that NPM must inject; see [docs/DEPLOY.md](docs/DEPLOY.md).
- `/etc/devdesk/tmux.local.conf` is optional and is sourced after the packaged `tmux.conf`.

## Build
Needs Node ≥ 18, `debhelper`, `bats`, `tmux`, `jq`, `shellcheck`:

```bash
make            # dist/index.html (single inlined page) + build/ttyd (pinned, sha256-verified)
make lint test
dpkg-buildpackage -us -uc -b && lintian ../devdesk_*_amd64.deb
apt install ../devdesk_*_amd64.deb
```

CI (`.gitea/workflows/build-deb.yml`):
- Every push lints, tests, builds and smoke-tests the package and uploads it as an artifact.
- A `v*` tag also publishes to `https://code.lotusguild.org/api/packages/LotusGuild/debian` and creates a release.

## Roadmap
- **v1.1:** `devdesk-api` sidecar for the Repo/CI panel, Matrix notifications when you're away, and auto-deploy.
- **v2:** Ops Alerts (Grafana) with "Ask Claude" prompts, and file drop.