agent-workspace-linux

Apps & Automation

Drive an isolated, hidden Linux desktop and browser from the shell via the `agent-workspace-linux` CLI, without touching or stealing focus from the real desktop. Use when you need to run GUI apps or a browser as an agent-owned side workspace (computer-use style) while the user keeps working.

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Source SKILL.md: https://github.com/colonelpanic8/dotfiles/blob/HEAD/dotfiles/agents/skills/agent-workspace-linux/SKILL.md

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Agent Workspace (hidden desktop) via `agent-workspace-linux`

agent-workspace-linux starts a hidden X11 desktop (Xvfb + openbox) that you drive over a CLI: launch apps, screenshot, click, type, scroll, manage windows, and drive a browser. It never touches the user's real Hyprland/Wayland session or steals focus.

Installed via Nix on desktop hosts (see nixos/packages/agent-workspace-linux/ and nixos/agent-workspace.nix), so the binary and all its runtime deps (Xvfb, openbox, xdotool, imagemagick, xclip, bubblewrap, chromium) are on PATH. No MCP server — this skill is the interface.

Every subcommand emits JSON on stdout. All operations take --id ID to address a specific workspace; omit it when you only run one.

Readiness

agent-workspace-linux doctor        # JSON readiness report; check .ready_for_x11_workspace

Lifecycle

# Start a workspace. --ack-hidden-workspace is REQUIRED (acknowledges it's hidden).
agent-workspace-linux workspace start --ack-hidden-workspace \
  --id work --purpose "what this workspace is for" [--width 1280] [--height 720]

agent-workspace-linux workspace list                 # all workspaces
agent-workspace-linux workspace status --id work     # status JSON (display, size, apps)
agent-workspace-linux workspace stop --id work        # stop one workspace
agent-workspace-linux workspace cleanup --id work     # remove leftover runtime state

The perceive → act loop

There is no inline image channel — screenshot to a PNG, then open it with your file reader (the Read tool renders PNGs), decide, then act. Repeat.

# Capture the whole workspace (or a single window)
agent-workspace-linux workspace screenshot --id work --output /tmp/aw.png
agent-workspace-linux workspace screenshot-window --id work --app firefox --output /tmp/aw.png

# One call for status + optional screenshot + recent events:
agent-workspace-linux workspace observe --id work --screenshot --output /tmp/aw.png --events

Read /tmp/aw.png, then act. Coordinates are display-global for click/type/etc., or window-relative for the *-window variants.

agent-workspace-linux workspace click --id work X Y           # --button N, --count N (double-click)
agent-workspace-linux workspace move-pointer --id work X Y
agent-workspace-linux workspace type --id work "text to type"
agent-workspace-linux workspace key --id work Return          # xdotool key syntax: ctrl+a, Tab, Escape...
agent-workspace-linux workspace scroll --id work X Y down     # up|down|left|right, --amount N
agent-workspace-linux workspace drag --id work FROMX FROMY TOX TOY

Window-scoped equivalents avoid guessing global coordinates — target by window and use window-local X Y:

agent-workspace-linux workspace click-window --id work --app firefox X Y
agent-workspace-linux workspace type-window  --id work --title "Save As" "filename.txt"

Launching apps

# Everything after -- is the command run inside the workspace.
agent-workspace-linux workspace launch --id work --wait-window -- firefox https://example.com
agent-workspace-linux workspace launch --id work -- xterm
agent-workspace-linux workspace apps --id work                # list apps (id/pid/name)
agent-workspace-linux workspace wait-window --id work --app firefox --timeout-ms 10000
agent-workspace-linux workspace kill-app --id work firefox

Windows

agent-workspace-linux workspace windows --id work                       # list; match --title/--class/--pid/--app
agent-workspace-linux workspace focus-window  --id work --app firefox
agent-workspace-linux workspace move-window   --id work WINDOW_ID X Y
agent-workspace-linux workspace resize-window --id work WINDOW_ID W H
agent-workspace-linux workspace raise-window  --id work WINDOW_ID

Browser helpers (Chrome/Chromium DevTools, no pixel-guessing)

When the app is a Chromium-based browser, these read/drive it structurally instead of by screenshot:

agent-workspace-linux workspace browser-navigate --id work --app chromium https://example.com
agent-workspace-linux workspace browser-snapshot --id work --app chromium --max-text-chars 4000
agent-workspace-linux workspace browser-search-results --id work --app chromium

Clipboard

The workspace has its own clipboard (via xclip), separate from the host.

agent-workspace-linux workspace clipboard-set --id work "text"
agent-workspace-linux workspace clipboard-get --id work
agent-workspace-linux workspace paste --id work "text"          # set + paste (default Ctrl+V)

Human viewer / intervention

The user can watch the hidden workspace live and take over briefly (pause / read-only / stop controls) from a terminal on the real desktop:

agent-workspace-linux viewer --id work --always-on-top

Permissions and profiles (optional)

By default the workspace runs in UI-owned mode with no enforced ceiling (network + app launch are open). To lock it down, pass a permissions file (network mode, mount allowlist, app allowlist) enforced for the workspace's lifetime:

agent-workspace-linux permissions template local --allow-host localhost:3000 \
  --mount "$HOME/project:/workspace/project:read_write" --app /run/current-system/sw/bin/firefox > /tmp/perm.json
agent-workspace-linux --permissions /tmp/perm.json workspace start --ack-hidden-workspace --id work

Reusable setups (mounts, apps to auto-launch) can be saved as profiles; see agent-workspace-linux profile --help and workspace open-profile.

Notes

Always stop (or cleanup) workspaces you started so Xvfb/openbox don't linger.
Use distinct --id values to run several workspaces at once.
The workspace desktop is X11 (Xvfb); the optional viewer window renders fine on a Wayland host.
Full command reference: agent-workspace-linux --help.