milhouse 1.0.2 → 1.0.4

package/README.md

@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
-# Milhouse Van Houten
-
-![Milhouse](milhouse.png)
-
-Milhouse Van Houten is a chad pair programmer that provides a lightweight web UI for running Codex threads, starting with a quick planning phase and iterating through builds until the job is done. Inspired by a Ralph Wiggum-style autonomous loop, Milhouse focuses on simplicity, approachability, and making experimentation fun and easy to modify.
+# Milhouse Van Houten
+
+![Milhouse](milhouse.png)
+
+[milhouse on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/milhouse)
+
+Milhouse Van Houten is a chad pair programmer that provides a lightweight web UI for running Codex threads, starting with a quick planning phase and iterating through builds until the job is done. Inspired by a Ralph Wiggum-style autonomous loop, Milhouse focuses on simplicity, approachability, and making experimentation fun and easy to modify.
 
 This repository contains the **bare-bones** version of Milhouse. It represents the core foundation, with many new features, experiments, and feedback loops currently in the pipeline.
 
@@ -19,14 +21,32 @@ This repository contains the **bare-bones** version of Milhouse. It represents t
 * Node.js 18+
 * `CODEX_API_KEY` set in your environment **(optional if your Codex CLI is already authenticated)**
 
-## Install
-
+## Install
+
 ```bash
 npm install -g milhouse
 ```
-
-## Usage
-
+
+## Quick Start
+
+1. Authenticate Codex (either works):
+   - Set `CODEX_API_KEY`, or
+   - Use local Codex auth if your Codex CLI is already authenticated.
+
+   Example (PowerShell):
+
+   ```powershell
+   $env:CODEX_API_KEY="..."
+   ```
+
+2. Launch the UI:
+
+```bash
+milhouse ui
+```
+
+## Usage
+
 Start the Web UI:
 
 ```bash
@@ -40,14 +60,16 @@ This opens a local web panel at `http://127.0.0.1:4173` (falls back to a free po
 ```text
 milhouse ui [OPTIONS]
 
-Options:
-  --host <ip>           Server host (default: 127.0.0.1)
-  --port <n>, -p <n>    Server port (default: 4173)
-  --workdir <path>, -w  Working directory for Codex (default: current directory)
-  --state-dir <path>    State/logs directory (default: OS user data directory)
-  --no-open             Don't auto-open browser
-  --help, -h            Show help
-```
+Options:
+  --host <ip>           Server host (default: 127.0.0.1)
+  --port <n>, -p <n>    Server port (default: 4173)
+  --workdir <path>, -w  Working directory for Codex (default: current directory)
+  --state-dir <path>    State/logs directory (default: OS user data directory)
+  --no-open             Don't auto-open browser
+  --help, -h            Show help
+```
+
+Note: the UI's folder picker is best-effort. If it fails, you can always paste a path into the Workdir field.
 
 ### Examples
 

package/dist/ui/public/index.html

@@ -466,6 +466,7 @@
 
     let es;
     let running = false;
+    let streamConnected = false;
 
     function appendLog(line) {
       logsEl.textContent += line + "\n";
@@ -550,7 +551,11 @@
         );
       });
 
-      artifactsEl.innerHTML = parts.join("") || "<em>No artifacts yet.</em>";
+      if (parts.length === 0) {
+        artifactsEl.innerHTML = running ? "<em>Waiting for artifacts...</em>" : "<em>No artifacts yet.</em>";
+        return;
+      }
+      artifactsEl.innerHTML = parts.join("");
     }
 
     function escapeHtml(str) {
@@ -569,7 +574,20 @@
 
     function startStream() {
       if (es) es.close();
+      streamConnected = false;
+      appendLog("[ui] Connecting to live logs...");
       es = new EventSource("/api/events");
+      es.onopen = () => {
+        if (streamConnected) return;
+        streamConnected = true;
+        appendLog("[ui] Live logs connected.");
+      };
+      es.onerror = () => {
+        if (streamConnected) {
+          streamConnected = false;
+          appendLog("[ui] Live logs disconnected (will retry)...");
+        }
+      };
       es.onmessage = (ev) => {
         appendLog(ev.data);
         const threadMatch = ev.data.match(/thread:\s*([0-9a-zA-Z-]+)/);
@@ -594,6 +612,8 @@
         workdir: workdirEl.value.trim() || undefined,
       };
       setRunning(true);
+      setStatus("Starting...", "running");
+      appendLog("[ui] Starting run...");
       const res = await fetch("/api/start", {
         method: "POST",
         headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
@@ -607,6 +627,7 @@
         return;
       }
       setStatus("Running", "running");
+      appendLog("[ui] Run started. Waiting for first logs/artifacts...");
       fetchStatus();
       fetchSessions();
     };
@@ -631,10 +652,14 @@
       })
         .then((r) => r.text().then((t) => ({ ok: r.ok, text: t })))
         .then(({ ok, text }) => {
+          if (!text.trim()) return;
           try {
             const data = JSON.parse(text);
             if (data.path) workdirEl.value = data.path;
-            else if (data.error) appendLog("Browse error: " + data.error);
+            else if (data.error) {
+              if (String(data.error).toLowerCase().includes("cancel")) return;
+              appendLog("Browse error: " + data.error);
+            }
           } catch {
             if (!ok) appendLog("Browse error: " + text.slice(0, 200));
           }
@@ -643,13 +668,19 @@
     };
 
     newProjectBtn.onclick = () => {
-      fetch("/api/browse", { method: "POST", headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" } })
+      fetch("/api/browse", {
+        method: "POST",
+        headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
+        body: "{}"
+      })
         .then((r) => r.text().then((t) => ({ ok: r.ok, text: t })))
         .then(({ ok, text }) => {
+          if (!text.trim()) return;
           let base = "";
           try {
             const data = JSON.parse(text);
             if (!data.path && data.error) {
+              if (String(data.error).toLowerCase().includes("cancel")) return;
               appendLog("Browse error: " + data.error);
               return;
             }

package/dist/ui/server.js

@@ -45,7 +45,8 @@ function createServerContext(options) {
     const sessionsFile = path.join(stateBaseDir, "sessions.json");
     const loopRunner = resolveLoopRunner(runtimeRoot);
     const app = express();
-    app.use(express.json({ limit: "1mb" }));
+    const jsonParser = express.json({ limit: "1mb" });
+    app.get("/favicon.ico", (_req, res) => res.status(204).end());
     app.use(express.static(path.join(__dirname, "public")));
     const clients = [];
     let child = null;
@@ -102,6 +103,9 @@ function createServerContext(options) {
             status: "running",
         };
         saveSessions((sessions) => [...sessions, currentSession]);
+        broadcast(`[milhouse] Starting run…`);
+        broadcast(`[milhouse] workdir: ${workdir}`);
+        broadcast(`[milhouse] state dir: ${stateDir}`);
         const args = [
             ...loopRunner.args,
             "--goal",
@@ -148,6 +152,28 @@ function createServerContext(options) {
             child.kill();
         }
     }
+    function parseBrowseDefaultPath(req) {
+        const body = req.body;
+        if (!body)
+            return undefined;
+        if (typeof body === "string") {
+            const trimmed = body.trim();
+            if (!trimmed)
+                return undefined;
+            try {
+                const parsed = JSON.parse(trimmed);
+                return typeof parsed.defaultPath === "string" ? parsed.defaultPath : undefined;
+            }
+            catch {
+                return undefined;
+            }
+        }
+        if (typeof body === "object") {
+            const maybe = body;
+            return typeof maybe.defaultPath === "string" ? maybe.defaultPath : undefined;
+        }
+        return undefined;
+    }
     async function browseFolder(defaultPath) {
         return await new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
             const isWindows = process.platform === "win32";
@@ -156,9 +182,18 @@ function createServerContext(options) {
             if (isWindows) {
                 const initialDirectory = defaultPath?.trim() ? defaultPath.replace(/'/g, "''") : "";
                 const script = `
-Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Windows.Forms
-Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Drawing
-Add-Type -TypeDefinition @"
+$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
+[Console]::OutputEncoding = [System.Text.Encoding]::UTF8
+[Console]::InputEncoding = [System.Text.Encoding]::UTF8
+
+function Write-Err([string]$msg) {
+  try { [Console]::Error.WriteLine($msg) } catch {}
+}
+
+function Try-FolderBrowserDialog([string]$initial) {
+  Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Windows.Forms
+  Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Drawing
+  Add-Type -TypeDefinition @"
 using System;
 using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
 public static class User32 {
@@ -167,49 +202,83 @@ public static class User32 {
 }
 "@
 
-$topForm = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Form
-$topForm.TopMost = $true
-$topForm.ShowInTaskbar = $false
-$topForm.FormBorderStyle = 'FixedToolWindow'
-$topForm.StartPosition = 'Manual'
-$topForm.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Point(-32000, -32000)
-$topForm.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(1, 1)
-$topForm.Opacity = 0
-$topForm.Show()
-$topForm.Activate()
-$topForm.BringToFront()
-$topForm.Focus()
-[User32]::SetForegroundWindow($topForm.Handle) | Out-Null
-[System.Windows.Forms.Application]::DoEvents()
+  $topForm = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Form
+  $topForm.TopMost = $true
+  $topForm.ShowInTaskbar = $false
+  $topForm.FormBorderStyle = 'FixedToolWindow'
+  $topForm.StartPosition = 'Manual'
+  $topForm.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Point(-32000, -32000)
+  $topForm.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(1, 1)
+  $topForm.Opacity = 0
+  $topForm.Show()
+  $topForm.Activate()
+  $topForm.BringToFront()
+  $topForm.Focus()
+  [User32]::SetForegroundWindow($topForm.Handle) | Out-Null
+  [System.Windows.Forms.Application]::DoEvents()
+
+  $dlg = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.FolderBrowserDialog
+  $dlg.Description = 'Select project folder'
+  if ($initial) { $dlg.SelectedPath = $initial }
 
-$dlg = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.OpenFileDialog
-$dlg.Title = 'Select project folder'
-$dlg.ValidateNames = $false
-$dlg.CheckFileExists = $false
-$dlg.CheckPathExists = $true
-$dlg.FileName = 'Select Folder'
-${initialDirectory ? `$dlg.InitialDirectory = '${initialDirectory}'` : ""}
+  $result = $dlg.ShowDialog($topForm)
+  $topForm.Close()
 
-$result = $dlg.ShowDialog($topForm)
-if ($result -eq [System.Windows.Forms.DialogResult]::OK) {
-  Write-Output (Split-Path -Parent $dlg.FileName)
+  if ($result -eq [System.Windows.Forms.DialogResult]::OK -and $dlg.SelectedPath) {
+    return $dlg.SelectedPath
+  }
+  return $null
+}
+
+function Try-ShellBrowseForFolder([string]$initial) {
+  $shell = New-Object -ComObject Shell.Application
+  $root = 0
+  if ($initial) { $root = $initial }
+  $folder = $shell.BrowseForFolder(0, 'Select project folder', 0, $root)
+  if ($folder -and $folder.Self -and $folder.Self.Path) {
+    return $folder.Self.Path
+  }
+  return $null
+}
+
+try {
+  $initial = ${initialDirectory ? `'${initialDirectory}'` : "''"}
+  $path = $null
+  try { $path = Try-FolderBrowserDialog $initial } catch {}
+  if (-not $path) {
+    try { $path = Try-ShellBrowseForFolder $initial } catch {}
+  }
+  if ($path) { Write-Output $path }
+  exit 0
+} catch {
+  Write-Err ($_.Exception.Message)
+  exit 1
 }
-$topForm.Close()
 `;
                 const encoded = Buffer.from(script, "utf16le").toString("base64");
-                const ps = spawn("powershell", ["-NoProfile", "-STA", "-EncodedCommand", encoded]);
+                const ps = spawn("powershell.exe", ["-NoProfile", "-STA", "-EncodedCommand", encoded]);
                 let out = "";
+                let errOut = "";
                 ps.stdout.on("data", (d) => (out += d.toString()));
-                ps.stderr.on("data", (d) => broadcast(`[browse stderr] ${d.toString().trim()}`));
+                ps.stderr.on("data", (d) => {
+                    const line = d.toString().trim();
+                    if (line)
+                        broadcast(`[browse stderr] ${line}`);
+                    errOut += `${line}\n`;
+                });
                 ps.on("error", (err) => reject(err));
                 ps.on("exit", (code) => {
                     const trimmed = out.trim();
-                    if (code === 0 && trimmed) {
-                        resolve(trimmed);
-                    }
-                    else {
-                        reject(new Error("Folder selection cancelled or failed"));
-                    }
+                    if (code === 0)
+                        return resolve(trimmed || null);
+                    const errTrimmed = errOut.trim();
+                    if (!trimmed && !errTrimmed)
+                        return resolve(null);
+                    if (!trimmed && errTrimmed.toLowerCase().includes("cancel"))
+                        return resolve(null);
+                    if (trimmed && fs.existsSync(trimmed))
+                        return resolve(trimmed);
+                    reject(new Error(errTrimmed || "Folder selection cancelled or failed"));
                 });
                 return;
             }
@@ -219,17 +288,23 @@ $topForm.Close()
                     'set p to POSIX path of (choose folder with prompt "Select project folder")',
                 ]);
                 let out = "";
+                let errOut = "";
                 osa.stdout.on("data", (d) => (out += d.toString()));
-                osa.stderr.on("data", (d) => broadcast(`[browse stderr] ${d.toString().trim()}`));
+                osa.stderr.on("data", (d) => {
+                    const line = d.toString().trim();
+                    if (line)
+                        broadcast(`[browse stderr] ${line}`);
+                    errOut += `${line}\n`;
+                });
                 osa.on("error", (err) => reject(err));
                 osa.on("exit", (code) => {
                     const trimmed = out.trim();
-                    if (code === 0 && trimmed) {
-                        resolve(trimmed);
-                    }
-                    else {
-                        reject(new Error("Folder selection cancelled or failed"));
-                    }
+                    if (code === 0)
+                        return resolve(trimmed || null);
+                    const errTrimmed = errOut.trim();
+                    if (!trimmed && errTrimmed.toLowerCase().includes("canceled"))
+                        return resolve(null);
+                    reject(new Error(errTrimmed || "Folder selection cancelled or failed"));
                 });
                 return;
             }
@@ -237,8 +312,14 @@ $topForm.Close()
                 const run = (command, args, onMissing) => {
                     const proc = spawn(command, args);
                     let out = "";
+                    let errOut = "";
                     proc.stdout.on("data", (d) => (out += d.toString()));
-                    proc.stderr.on("data", (d) => broadcast(`[browse stderr] ${d.toString().trim()}`));
+                    proc.stderr.on("data", (d) => {
+                        const line = d.toString().trim();
+                        if (line)
+                            broadcast(`[browse stderr] ${line}`);
+                        errOut += `${line}\n`;
+                    });
                     proc.on("error", (err) => {
                         if (err.code === "ENOENT")
                             onMissing();
@@ -247,10 +328,13 @@ $topForm.Close()
                     });
                     proc.on("exit", (code) => {
                         const trimmed = out.trim();
-                        if (code === 0 && trimmed)
-                            resolve(trimmed);
-                        else
-                            reject(new Error("Folder selection cancelled or failed"));
+                        if (code === 0)
+                            return resolve(trimmed || null);
+                        const errTrimmed = errOut.trim();
+                        if (!trimmed && (code === 1 || code == null) && (!errTrimmed || errTrimmed.toLowerCase().includes("canceled"))) {
+                            return resolve(null);
+                        }
+                        reject(new Error(errTrimmed || "Folder selection cancelled or failed"));
                     });
                 };
                 run("zenity", [
@@ -266,11 +350,16 @@ $topForm.Close()
     }
     async function handleBrowse(req, res) {
         try {
-            const path = await browseFolder(req.body?.defaultPath);
+            const path = await browseFolder(parseBrowseDefaultPath(req));
+            if (!path)
+                return res.status(204).end();
             res.json({ path });
         }
         catch (err) {
-            res.status(400).json({ error: err.message });
+            const message = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
+            if (message.toLowerCase().includes("cancel"))
+                return res.status(204).end();
+            res.status(400).json({ error: message });
         }
     }
     app.get("/api/events", (req, res) => {
@@ -307,7 +396,8 @@ $topForm.Close()
         }
         res.json({ sessions });
     });
-    app.post("/api/start", (req, res) => {
+    app.post("/api/browse", express.text({ type: "*/*", limit: "64kb" }), handleBrowse);
+    app.post("/api/start", jsonParser, (req, res) => {
         const { goal, maxIterations = 0, workdir = defaultWorkdir, createIfMissing = true } = req.body || {};
         if (!goal || typeof goal !== "string") {
             return res.status(400).json({ error: "goal is required" });
@@ -320,6 +410,16 @@ $topForm.Close()
             res.status(400).json({ error: err.message });
         }
     });
+    app.use((err, req, res, next) => {
+        if (req.method === "POST" && req.path === "/api/browse") {
+            const status = typeof err?.status === "number" ? err.status : undefined;
+            const type = typeof err?.type === "string" ? err.type : undefined;
+            if (status === 400 && type === "entity.parse.failed") {
+                return res.status(204).end();
+            }
+        }
+        next(err);
+    });
     app.post("/api/stop", (_req, res) => {
         stopSession();
         res.json({ ok: true });
@@ -329,8 +429,6 @@ $topForm.Close()
             return res.json({});
         res.json(readArtifacts(currentSession.stateDir));
     });
-    app.post("/api/browse", handleBrowse);
-    app.get("/api/browse", handleBrowse);
     return { app, stop: stopSession };
 }
 function listenOnce(app, host, port) {

package/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "milhouse",
-  "version": "1.0.2",
+  "version": "1.0.4",
   "description": "Milhouse Van Houten - Local CLI + web UI for running autonomous Codex AI agent loops",
   "bin": {
     "milhouse": "dist/src/cli.js"