git:20260711.1ecdca5 to git:20260822.d775897

---

name: daytona-dev

description: Daytona development environment overview. Use when the user asks about Daytona setup, Daytona toolbox, dev environment, noVNC, CDP, server sandbox, secrets volume, Electron sandbox, standalone Chrome, validation, or artifacts volume.

---

# Skill: Daytona Dev Environment

Launch the iPolloWork Electron app in a Daytona cloud sandbox. The real desktop

app runs on Daytona's XFCE/noVNC desktop stack and is accessible through your

browser.

## Prerequisites

- Daytona CLI installed: `brew install daytonaio/cli/daytona` or download from [GitHub releases](https://github.com/daytonaio/daytona/releases)

- Logged in: `daytona login`

- Using the right Daytona organization for your workspace: `daytona organization use "<org-name>"`

## Quick Start

### 1. Create and start the sandbox

```bash

bash .devcontainer/test-on-daytona.sh [branch-or-commit]

```

The helper uses the VNC snapshot, starts noVNC/Vite/Electron, and prints the

URLs. If the snapshot is missing, create it with

`bash .devcontainer/create-daytona-ipollowork-snapshot.sh`.

Use the Daytona setup as four reusable pieces. Prefer the focused skills when a

request names one piece directly:

- `test-on-daytona.sh` for the real Electron/noVNC/CDP sandbox.

- `test-server-on-daytona.sh` for the cloud Den server sandbox.

- `daytona-electron-den` for Electron connected to a Daytona Den server.

- `daytona-chrome-cdp` for standalone Chrome in the sandbox, separate from Electron.

- `ipollowork-eval-secrets:/daytona-secrets` for provider keys and eval-only secrets.

- `ipollowork-eval-artifacts:/daytona-artifacts` for screenshots, validation notes, and recordings.

Focused skills:

- `daytona-cloud-server` for cloud server and Den flows.

- `daytona-electron-den` for two-sandbox Electron + Den validation.

- `daytona-chrome-cdp` for normal Chrome browser automation in Daytona.

- `daytona-secrets-volume` for adding or verifying secrets.

- `daytona-electron-test` for real Electron UI validation.

- `daytona-recording-artifacts` for screenshots, recordings, and PR evidence.

Or SSH in after the helper prints the sandbox name:

```bash

daytona ssh <sandbox>

cd /workspace

```

### 2. Get the noVNC URL

```bash

daytona preview-url ipollowork-dev -p 6080

```

Open that URL in your browser. You'll see the real Electron iPolloWork app.

### 4. Get other URLs

```bash

# Den Web dashboard (if Den stack is running)

daytona preview-url ipollowork-dev -p 3005

# CDP debugging endpoint

daytona preview-url ipollowork-dev -p 9825

```

## What's Running

| Service | Port | Description |

|---------|------|-------------|

| **noVNC** | 6080 | See and interact with the Electron app in your browser |

| **Vite HMR** | 5173 | Hot module replacement for the React UI |

| **CDP** | 9825 | Chrome DevTools Protocol — for automation |

| **Den Web** | 3005 | Admin dashboard (only if MySQL is available) |

| **Den API** | 8788 | Control plane (only if MySQL is available) |

## Running with Den (full stack)

The devcontainer's `docker-compose.yml` includes MySQL. If you're using Daytona's raw sandbox mode (no Docker Compose), the Den stack won't start because there's no MySQL. Two options:

### Option A: Daytona sandbox + production Den

Just point the app to the production Den:

1. Open the app via noVNC

2. Sign in normally (uses production `app.ipolloworklabs.com`)

3. All cloud features work

### Option B: Daytona sandbox + local Den

If you need a local Den (for testing customization, restrictions, etc.):

1. Use the `docker-compose.yml` approach (requires Docker-in-Docker)

2. Or run Den on your local machine and tunnel to the sandbox

## Common Commands

```bash

# List running sandboxes

daytona list

# SSH into sandbox

daytona ssh ipollowork-dev

# Check logs

daytona exec ipollowork-dev 'tail -50 /tmp/electron.log'

daytona exec ipollowork-dev 'tail -50 /tmp/vite.log'

daytona exec ipollowork-dev 'tail -50 /tmp/start-vnc.log'

# Inspect Electron CDP targets

daytona exec ipollowork-dev 'curl -s http://127.0.0.1:9825/json/list'

# Capture a persistent screenshot artifact

daytona exec ipollowork-dev 'bash .devcontainer/capture-daytona-screenshot.sh'

# Restart just the Electron app

daytona exec ipollowork-dev 'bash -lc "pkill -f electron || true; pkill -f electron-dev || true"'

daytona exec ipollowork-dev 'bash -lc "cd /workspace && bash /opt/ipollowork-daytona/start-daytona-electron.sh --detach"'

# Stop the sandbox (preserves state)

daytona stop ipollowork-dev

# Start it again

daytona start ipollowork-dev

# Delete (destroys everything)

daytona delete ipollowork-dev

```

## Updating the Code

Inside the sandbox, the repo is at `/workspace`. To pull latest:

```bash

daytona ssh ipollowork-dev

cd /workspace

git pull origin dev

pnpm install

# Then restart Vite/Electron

```

## Troubleshooting

**Electron shows blank window:**

Vite might not be running. Check `tail /tmp/vite.log`. Restart with:

```bash

cd /workspace/apps/app && IPOLLOWORK_DEV_MODE=1 nohup npx vite --host 0.0.0.0 --port 5173 > /tmp/vite.log 2>&1 &

```

**noVNC shows black screen:**

Xvfb/XFCE may have crashed. Restart the desktop stack:

```bash

bash /opt/ipollowork-daytona/start-daytona-vnc.sh

```

**"no space left on device" when creating sandbox:**

Use `--disk 10`. The default Daytona disk can be 3 GB, which is not enough for

iPolloWork dependencies and sidecar prep. Also don't use `--context .` — it

uploads the entire repo (with worktrees, node_modules). Use individual

`--context` flags for just the files needed.

**Electron can't connect to localhost:5173:**

Vite must listen on `0.0.0.0`, not just `localhost`. The start script handles this, but if running manually use `npx vite --host 0.0.0.0`.