dev-browser

# Dev Browser Skill

Browser automation that maintains page state across script executions. Write small, focused scripts to accomplish tasks incrementally. Once you've proven out part of a workflow and there is repeated work to be done, you can write a script to do the repeated work in a single execution.

## Choosing Your Approach

- **Local/source-available sites**: Read the source code first to write selectors directly
- **Unknown page layouts**: Use `getAISnapshot()` to discover elements and `selectSnapshotRef()` to interact with them
- **Visual feedback**: Take screenshots to see what the user sees

## Setup

> **Installation**: See [references/installation.md](references/installation.md) for detailed setup instructions including Windows support.

Two modes available. Ask the user if unclear which to use.

### Standalone Mode (Default)

Launches a new Chromium browser for fresh automation sessions.

```bash
./skills/dev-browser/server.sh &
```

Add `--headless` flag if user requests it. **Wait for the `Ready` message before running scripts.**

### Extension Mode

Connects to user's existing Chrome browser. Use this when:

- The user is already logged into sites and wants you to do things behind an authed experience that isn't local dev.
- The user asks you to use the extension

**Important**: The core flow is still the same. You create named pages inside of their browser.

**Start the relay server:**

```bash
cd skills/dev-browser && npm i && npm run start-extension &
```

Wait for `Waiting for extension to connect...` followed by `Extension connected` in the console. To know that a client has connected and the browser is ready to be controlled.
**Workflow:**

1. Scripts call `client.page("name")` just like the normal mode to create new pages / connect to existing ones.
2. Automation runs on the user's actual browser session

If the extension hasn't connected yet, tell the user to launch and activate it. Download link: https://github.com/SawyerHood/dev-browser/