feat(cli): open projects in the running desktop app

[t3dotgg]

Opening a project from a terminal required finding the directory again in the desktop app.

npx t3 app [path] now opens the current directory or a given path in a running local desktop app. It adds or reuses the project, focuses the window, and follows the normal New Thread flow.

The command reports an error over SSH, when the app is not running, or when the desktop environment cannot use the path. It does not launch the app, open a browser, start a server, or change state when no app is available.

Verified with 43 tests in 7 files, type checks for all five affected packages, and targeted lint and format checks. The local socket was tested. Native Electron window focus was not tested.

Implemented by GPT-5.6 Sol using Codex in T3 Code.

Note

Add t3 app CLI command to open projects in running desktop app

• Adds a local control socket (startDesktopAppControlServer) in the desktop main process that accepts JSON-lines requests, focuses the window, and queues requests until the renderer is ready
• Adds the t3 app CLI subcommand that connects to the control socket, sends an activation request with a workspace path and platform, and reports structured errors for SSH, unsupported platforms, or unreachable apps
• Adds a renderer-side DesktopAppActivationCoordinator component and handleDesktopAppActivationRequest logic to find or create a project, wait for availability, and open a new thread
• Defines shared activation contracts in packages/contracts/src/desktopAppActivation.ts and a cross-platform address resolver in packages/shared/src/desktopAppControl.ts
• Risk: useNewThreadHandler in useHandleNewThread.ts now reads projects lazily via readProjects() instead of subscribing; callers that relied on reactive project state in the hook closure may behave differently

^{Macroscope summarized 9562278.}

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[github-actions]

Thread transfer impact

✅ Thread transfer remains within every enforced ceiling.

Provider	Metric	Main baseline	This PR	Impact	PR ceiling
Codex	Total thread wire	13.3 KiB	13.3 KiB	−86 B (−0.6%)	15.1 KiB	✅
Codex	Thread snapshot wire	6.9 KiB	6.9 KiB	−6 B (−0.1%)	7.3 KiB	✅
Codex	Live turn WebSocket wire	6.4 KiB	6.4 KiB	−80 B (−1.2%)	7.8 KiB	✅
Codex	Live turn WebSocket decoded	55.6 KiB	55.5 KiB	−88 B (−0.2%)	66.4 KiB	✅
Codex	Live turn messages	11	9	−2 (−18.2%)	21	✅
Claude	Total thread wire	13.3 KiB	13.3 KiB	−4 B (−0.0%)	15.1 KiB	✅
Claude	Thread snapshot wire	6.9 KiB	6.9 KiB	−1 B (−0.0%)	7.3 KiB	✅
Claude	Live turn WebSocket wire	6.4 KiB	6.4 KiB	−3 B (−0.0%)	7.8 KiB	✅
Claude	Live turn WebSocket decoded	56.4 KiB	56.4 KiB	0 B (0.0%)	66.4 KiB	✅
Claude	Live turn messages	10	10	0 (0.0%)	21	✅

Baseline: e4f7b14 · PR result: 9562278 · Source CI: success

Scenario and decoded snapshot size

10 historical turns, 5 command tools per turn, 878.9 KiB retained MCP result per historical turn, and a 1.05 MiB retained result in the measured turn.

• Codex decoded thread snapshot: 109.4 KiB
• Claude decoded thread snapshot: 110.1 KiB

Updated in place by a trusted workflow. PR artifacts are strictly validated and never executed.

[macroscopeapp]

Effect service conventions review of the new DesktopAppActivation service and the t3 app CLI command. Three findings, all in apps/desktop/src/app/DesktopAppActivation.ts and apps/server/src/cli/app.ts. The contracts schemas, the broker, and the renderer coordinator follow the conventions (namespace subpath imports, inline Context.Service interface, structured Schema.TaggedErrorClass with address + cause, Effect.acquireRelease for socket ownership).

^{Posted via Macroscope — Effect Service Conventions}

[cursor]

Cursor Bugbot has reviewed your changes using high effort and found 3 potential issues.

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[macroscopeapp]

Approvability

Verdict: Not approved

Macroscope's review found this PR not approvable — This introduces a substantial end-to-end capability across the CLI, desktop process, renderer, shared protocol, and project/thread state, including a new local IPC control surface and state-mutating workflow. The breadth of integration and runtime side effects merits human review despite the accompanying tests and backward-compatible interfaces.

Notes:

• No code objects were reviewed. Approvability was decided on eligibility alone.

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[macroscopeapp]

One finding on the new t3 app CLI error modeling. The earlier comments on DesktopAppActivation.make/HostProcessUserId and the discarded socket cause are resolved.

^{Posted via Macroscope — Effect Service Conventions}