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PaperClipAI/maps/feature-map/execution-environments.md
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DottaandPaperclip a61cf38106 docs: keep the feature map focused on substantial features (#18767)
## Thinking Path

> - Paperclip is the open source app people use to manage AI agents for
work.
> - The feature map describes product capabilities and user journeys.
> - Small fixes and test changes have added long notes to that map.
> - These notes make substantial features harder to find.
> - This pull request removes those additions from the last week's
changes and sets a clear rule for future additions.
> - The benefit is a smaller map with stable capability IDs and accurate
entry points.

## Linked Issues or Issue Description

**Issue type**

Unclear or confusing documentation.

**Where is the issue?**

`maps/feature-map/`, the map maintenance instructions, and repository
rules.

**What's wrong?**

Between October 27 and November 3, 2026, 115 commits changed the feature
map. Many additions describe bug fixes, performance details, small UI
changes, or new tests. They do not introduce substantial product
features. The old synchronization instructions also encouraged a map
edit for every behavior change.

**Suggested fix**

Add a rule that requires a substantial new feature before expanding the
map. Remove minor-update notes. Keep genuine feature additions and
minimal corrections to existing instructions. The review covers master
through `b22ef22d56`; it does not revert application code. Conflict
resolution preserves later map changes from master outside that audit
snapshot.

Searched open GitHub PRs and issues for related feature-map work. No
duplicate cleanup was found. Substantial feature additions retained here
include Coordinator (#17983), the agent YAML editor (#18036), document
image galleries (#18157), remote workspace storage (#18403), native Kimi
(#18391), proactive chat messages (#18374), and the Sentry receiver
added in #18714.

## What Changed

- Add `rules/feature-map-scope.mdc` and register its `maps/**` scope
with Greptile.
- Align `AGENTS.md` and the shared map contract with that rule. Routine
fixes and test changes no longer require incidental map edits.
- Remove 755 net lines from 23 feature recipes. Preserve all 35 areas
and 192 capability IDs.
- Keep substantial features and the corrections needed for current
navigation, provider availability, and access boundaries.

Examples from the reviewed changes:

| Removed or shortened addition | Why it does not need a feature-map
expansion |
| --- | --- |
| Rounded composer image thumbnails (#18689) | Small UI change within
existing task creation. |
| Connection profile reads and review-count queries (#18687, #18688) |
Performance details within existing app permissions. |
| Warm-session, Retry, export-capacity, and tool-wait cases | Regression
details for existing execution and recovery. |
| New task-search, project-context, document-persistence, and routine
test journeys | Test additions for existing capabilities. The tests
remain in place. |
| New task button placement (#18703) | Another entry to an existing task
form. |
| Local browser verification notes | Run evidence belongs in the PR or
test report. |

## Verification

- `node scripts/check-maps.mjs` passes: 35 areas, 192 capability IDs,
valid references and contract fields.
- `node scripts/storybook-catalog.mjs` passes: 328 files and 3,068
stories. Generated indexes remain ignored.
- Compared capability keys and navigation metadata in every edited
recipe with the original source. All are unchanged.
- Checked rule frontmatter, Greptile registration, representative scope
matches, and `git diff --check`.
- `pnpm -r typecheck` and `pnpm build` pass on
`9a60eef8eb8da9bc7c3a02203c79bec12e8c8b6b`. The final
`a0801e8a939494ecde3739097a80258917428e94` commit only corrects two
lines in the plugin-panel recipe; map and catalog checks pass again.
- Greptile reviewed the final `a0801e8a939494ecde3739097a80258917428e94`
head at 5/5 with no findings. The earlier review found one inaccurate
phrase about unavailable plugin panels. The hook confirms that readiness
gates automatic opening, while declared panels remain selectable. The
final documentation commit corrects that phrase and the thread is
resolved. Paperclip's refreshed review is advisory and remains queued.
- The earlier CI run failed two assertions: [server
4/12](https://github.com/paperclipai/paperclip/actions/runs/41634761842/job/125914173960)
counted three Anthropic identity calls instead of two in
`connection-management.integration.test.ts`; [chat
1/3](https://github.com/paperclipai/paperclip/actions/runs/41634761842/job/125914174257)
observed zero publications instead of one in the same-principal
endpoint-settlement case. Both exact tests pass locally on the rebased
head. This PR changes neither their source nor their expectations. These
failed results remain historical evidence.
- Final-head CI passed server 4/12 and all other suites except the first
[chat 1/3
attempt](https://github.com/paperclipai/paperclip/actions/runs/41637834618/job/125925926131),
which repeated the same zero-publication assertion. The browser gate
passed. The single failed-job retry was accepted for this unchanged head
in [workflow attempt
2](https://github.com/paperclipai/paperclip/actions/runs/41637834618/attempts/2).
[Chat 1/3 passed on that
retry](https://github.com/paperclipai/paperclip/actions/runs/41637834618/job/125933199635),
and the aggregate verification gate passed. Both required gates, `ci /
verify` and `ci / e2e`, are green on
`a0801e8a939494ecde3739097a80258917428e94`. The one retry allowance is
consumed.
- The first full local `pnpm test:run` attempt was interrupted before
completion so master could be rebased without changing source under
running tests. It is not a passing test result. Full current-head CI
remains required.
- No application code, tests, schemas, or lockfiles changed.

## Risks

- Low runtime risk. This change only edits documentation and review
guidance.
- Detailed regression instructions become less visible in the feature
map. Their tests and technical documentation remain available.
- Some additions mix a new feature with a small fix. Those blocks retain
the feature and shorten the incidental detail.

## Model Used

- OpenAI Codex, GPT-6 family, with reasoning, Git history inspection,
repository tools, and code execution. The session does not expose a more
specific model deployment ID or context-window size.

## Checklist

- [x] I have included a thinking path that traces from project context
to this change
- [x] I have specified the model used (with version and capability
details)
- [x] I have checked ROADMAP.md and confirmed this PR does not duplicate
planned core work
- [x] I have searched GitHub for duplicate or related PRs and linked
them above
- [x] I have either (a) linked existing issues with `Fixes: #` / `Closes
#` / `Refs #` OR (b) described the issue in-PR following the relevant
issue template
- [x] I have not referenced internal/instance-local Paperclip issues or
links (only public GitHub `#NNN` / `github.com/paperclipai/paperclip`
URLs)
- [x] My branch name describes the change (e.g. `docs/...`, `fix/...`)
and contains no internal Paperclip ticket id or instance-derived details
- [x] I have run tests locally and they pass — map, catalog,
capability-ID, and rule-scope checks; full Vitest limits are stated
above
- [x] I have added or updated tests where applicable — no new runtime
tests apply to this documentation change
- [x] I have updated relevant documentation to reflect my changes
- [x] I have considered and documented any risks above
- [x] All Paperclip CI gates are green
- [x] Greptile is 5/5 with no open P2s, recommendations, or follow-ups
- [x] I will address all Greptile and reviewer comments before
requesting merge

---------

Co-authored-by: Paperclip <noreply@paperclip.ing>
2026-11-03 07:16:37 -06:00

12 KiB

navigation
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section sectionOrder order
Projects and execution 40 40

Execution environments

Operators configure where agents execute, probe readiness, select an environment for work, and inspect remote provisioning or custom-image state when the installed provider supports it.

Feature ID: execution-environments.

Implementation: environment settings, environment runtime.

Agent access: companion.

Sub-features

  • configuration: execution-environments/configuration — inspect local environments and configure available SSH/sandbox targets.
  • capabilities: execution-environments/capabilities — select only drivers/providers that advertise the required execution capability.
  • probe: execution-environments/probe — test reachability and runtime prerequisites in the actual target.
  • assignment: execution-environments/assignment — bind the intended agent/project/workspace to its execution target.
  • images: execution-environments/images — inspect supported sandbox custom-image preparation and terminal workflows.

How to get to it (user POV)

environment-settings

Open Settings → Environments, then create/edit a supported target. The canonical URL is /company/settings/instance/environments. Enable enableEnvironments first; keep enableManagedSandboxOnly off to inspect local targets. The catalog is instance-scoped and mutation requires a local operator or instance administrator.

remote-execution

Choose the environment in agent/project/workspace configuration, then inspect the resulting task/run and workspace.

Driving it with Playwright and the Paperclip CLI

Preconditions: follow the baseline. Use an owned disposable target and a supported provider plugin. Record provider, target identity, account, and spending constraints before a live remote run.

environment-settings

Automated: environment UI, driver configuration UI, and environment service cover configuration behavior.

Manual: Save a disposable target, reload it, and run its available probe. Verify both success and missing-credential/reachability errors identify the target. Confirm unavailable providers are not offered as working run targets.

For an immutable sandbox image, pin the OCI image with @sha256, or select a Daytona snapshot whose provider ID can be verified, and explicitly probe the saved environment in the intended company. The existing connection probe allocates a fresh lease and can measure its OS, architecture and libc. Qualification is recorded only when the selected image/configuration matches the live lease and cleanup is confirmed. Inspect platformQualificationRecorded and its diagnostic in the probe result: connection success alone does not mean the image has native runtime qualification.

Paperclip-managed Cloud images use the current platform-selected image without a saved qualification prerequisite when the active Cloud configuration provisions the sandbox provider. Custom environments and active captured custom images retain qualification requirements.

For other images, the measured record is server-owned, company-bound and tied to the effective configuration and active custom-image identity. Mutable tags, provider defaults and snapshots without verified provider identities do not qualify. Daytona qualification creates by provider ID and binds native execution to that same ID; a deleted ID fails instead of resolving a replacement name. Changing the target, account, image or active captured template invalidates the record; normal metadata edits cannot forge or overwrite it, and API reads omit the private metadata. Reading this evidence for discovery or creation does not allocate a sandbox. The draft probe-config checks are not a saved-image qualification operation. See the runtime contract and adapter validation recipe for native binary/provider readiness after platform qualification.

Verification recipe: probe a pinned owned image, record its company/config/image identity and cleanup result, then change the image or target and verify its old qualification is not reused. A mutable-image connection can succeed while qualification remains absent. Assert ordinary agent and non-admin board probe requests are denied, and environment create/PATCH payloads cannot supply qualification metadata. This recipe and its probe controls are not claims that a live provider or agent-access journey ran for this map update.

The local row has no UI Test button. Its API/CLI probe reports host/cwd availability only; it does not validate an adapter binary, workspace, or task execution. Remote-driver probes and a real bounded run need their own evidence.

remote-execution

For paperclip_runner, a saved plugin environment can provide per-turn Runner execution when its manifest and worker expose the Runner task API. The task contract starts a provider-owned Runner without shell or workspace hooks. Core resolves the saved lease, connects through PRP, and verifies stop before lease cleanup. The provider owns the installed agent home and retained session files; data transfer is outside task execution. See the plugin contract. The fake-provider integration checks acquisition, SDK dispatch, scope denial, stop proof and deletion recovery. Its WebSocket is mocked; it does not qualify a live provider or a real Runner handshake. Controller replacement reuses a surviving plugin task's active lease and Runner identity. Follow the remote continuity recipe to verify recovery across main-server replacement.

For a same-run retry on a replacement plugin task, verify that the retained checkpoint loads before provider startup. The prior execution must have a stop receipt, and the checkpoint must match the original session identity. Include a turn that ends without a completion result; a successful initial turn alone does not exercise this recovery path. Reject missing stop proof and changed identities.

Automated: execution target and custom images cover contracts; SSH live test requires its own external setup.

The environment runtime regression also covers sandbox reuse after a start longer than one minute. Acquisition uses the configured or provider-declared startup budget for resume and shares one deadline across retries. Failure preserves the recorded sandbox. This controlled timing check does not establish live provider acceptance.

Manual: Run a bounded command in the intended target, inspect its output and workspace, and verify execution did not silently fall back to the server host. For custom-image changes, build/probe the disposable image before assigning it. Inspect cleanup and shutdown after the run.

Gotchas

  • A probe is narrower evidence than a complete task with tools, files, and resumption.
  • Platform qualification does not authenticate a model account or qualify every harness; the selected native runtime still needs its own setup and useful-task proof.
  • The local option may appear only when editing an existing local environment; availability follows current UI/provider capabilities.
  • Workspace service reachability and environment reachability are separate checks.

The task-only setup path uses a Core-issued expiring probe identity and a real, read-only Runner hello. The plugin checks project authentication before provider startup. Setup probe coverage uses the real Runner and a synthetic Codex provider through loopback PRP; TLS termination is replaced by the fixture. It does not qualify a live plugin provider.

The plugin prepares execution-host resources and the provider descriptor. Core validates the result, then supplies task identity and PRP launch limits.

Storybook verification

configuration

Capability ID: execution-environments/configuration.

Scope: ui Storybook: Local/SSH/sandbox editors; unavailable providers, missing credentials, save pending/error and restricted operator. Production: Persist target configuration and enforce instance-admin/local-operator mutation boundary; target catalog is instance-scoped. Sources: Source: CompanyEnvironments.tsx, environments.ts. Tests: CompanyEnvironments.test.tsx, environment-service.test.ts

capabilities

Capability ID: execution-environments/capabilities.

Scope: ui Storybook: Supported versus unavailable driver/provider controls and interactive-setup/template-capture limitations. Production: Verify advertised driver/plugin capabilities match operations; unavailable provider cannot become working target; capability discovery must not allocate sandbox. Sources: Source: CompanyEnvironments.tsx, environments.ts. Tests: environment-capability-contract.test.ts, environment-execution-target-capabilities.test.ts, plugin-environment-driver-sandbox-capabilities.test.ts

probe

Capability ID: execution-environments/probe.

Scope: ui Storybook: Remote Test pending, success, reachability/auth failure and platform qualification absent/invalidated notice. Production: Probe actual owned target; verify selected saved immutable config/image/company qualification plus lease cleanup; local API probe proves host/cwd only and has no UI Test button. Sources: Source: CompanyEnvironments.tsx, environment-probe.ts. Tests: CompanyEnvironments.test.tsx, environment-probe.test.ts, environment-live-ssh.test.ts

images

Capability ID: execution-environments/images.

Scope: ui Storybook: Custom-image setup/capture/progress, terminal connect/disconnect/failure, unsupported capability and active-image drift. Production: Execute owned provider setup/capture/probe/terminal transport with correct saved image identity, authority, cleanup and shutdown; terminal screenshot cannot prove operation. Sources: Source: CompanyEnvironments.tsx, environment-custom-images.ts. Tests: CompanyEnvironments.test.tsx, environment-custom-images-service.test.ts

Managed account transfer requires projectAuthCheckVersion: 1 and a successful check_project_auth result for the exact prepared configuration, provider, and project set. New preparation removes old validation. Core checks the saved validation again in the dispatch update.