tab-agent 0.4.0 → 0.4.1

package/CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,5 +1,15 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## [0.4.1] - 2026-03-15
+
+### Fixed
+- `setup` now installs the native host into a stable user-library location instead of pointing Chrome at the repo checkout
+- Native host installation now copies the `ws` dependency from the packaged install, so fresh npm installs can launch reliably
+- Relay server now accepts the current Chrome native-host client identifier, fixing cases where Chrome was connected but commands could not see an active browser
+
+### Docs
+- README now treats `status` as part of the setup flow and documents the native-host recovery steps that go with the new install path
+
 ## [0.4.0] - 2026-03-14
 
 ### Added

package/README.md

@@ -73,12 +73,15 @@ npx tab-agent@latest setup
 # 3. Start relay
 npx tab-agent@latest start
 
-# 4. Activate & go
+# 4. Verify wiring
+npx tab-agent@latest status
+
+# 5. Activate & go
 # Click extension icon on any tab (turns green)
 # Ask Claude/Codex: "Search Amazon for mechanical keyboards and find the best rated"
 ```
 
-If you have an older cached `npx` install, keep using `@latest` for `setup` and `start` so the CLI/runtime matches the current extension release.
+If you have an older cached `npx` install, keep using `@latest` for `setup`, `start`, and `status` so the CLI/runtime matches the current extension release.
 
 <p align="center">
   <img src="assets/toggle-demo.gif" alt="Pin extension and toggle on/off" width="600">
@@ -172,7 +175,7 @@ cd tab-agent
 npx tab-agent@latest setup
 ```
 
-This auto-detects unpacked and installed Tab Agent extensions, installs the native host, and configures everything.
+This auto-detects unpacked and installed Tab Agent extensions, copies the native host into a stable per-user directory, and configures everything.
 
 ### 3. Start Relay
 
@@ -182,7 +185,19 @@ npx tab-agent@latest start
 
 Keep this running in a terminal while you use `tab-agent` commands.
 
-### 4. Activate Tabs
+### 4. Check Status
+
+```bash
+npx tab-agent@latest status
+```
+
+Confirm that all three pieces are healthy before you start driving the browser:
+
+- Native Host: Installed
+- Extension: Detected
+- Relay Server: Running
+
+### 5. Activate Tabs
 
 Click the Tab Agent icon on any tab you want to control. Green = active.
 
@@ -288,10 +303,16 @@ npx tab-agent tabs
 **Commands not working?**
 - Make sure relay is running: `npx tab-agent@latest start`
 - Click the extension icon — must show green "ON"
-- Run `npx tab-agent status` to check configuration
+- Run `npx tab-agent@latest status` to check configuration
+
+**Popup says "Native host has exited"?**
+- Make sure the relay is running: `npx tab-agent@latest start`
+- Reload the extension in `chrome://extensions`
+- Run `npx tab-agent@latest status` to confirm the native host path and relay status
+- If the extension ID changed, run `npx tab-agent@latest setup` again so Chrome is paired to the current extension
 
 **Fresh machine install still acting like an older release?**
-- Use `npx tab-agent@latest setup` and `npx tab-agent@latest start` to bypass stale cached `npx` installs
+- Use `npx tab-agent@latest setup`, `npx tab-agent@latest start`, and `npx tab-agent@latest status` to bypass stale cached `npx` installs
 - Make sure the unpacked extension and the CLI/runtime come from the same release family
 
 **No active tabs?**

package/cli/setup.js

@@ -73,22 +73,34 @@ function installNativeHost(extensionId) {
   const packageDir = path.dirname(__dirname);
 
   let manifestDir;
+  let hostDir;
   let wrapperName;
 
   if (platform === 'darwin') {
     manifestDir = path.join(home, 'Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/NativeMessagingHosts');
+    hostDir = path.join(home, 'Library/Application Support/TabAgent');
     wrapperName = 'native-host-wrapper.sh';
   } else if (platform === 'linux') {
     manifestDir = path.join(home, '.config/google-chrome/NativeMessagingHosts');
+    hostDir = path.join(home, '.config/tab-agent');
     wrapperName = 'native-host-wrapper.sh';
   } else if (platform === 'win32') {
     manifestDir = path.join(home, 'AppData/Local/Google/Chrome/User Data/NativeMessagingHosts');
+    hostDir = path.join(home, 'AppData/Local/TabAgent');
     wrapperName = 'native-host-wrapper.cmd';
   }
 
   fs.mkdirSync(manifestDir, { recursive: true });
+  fs.mkdirSync(hostDir, { recursive: true });
+
+  const relayDir = path.join(packageDir, 'relay');
+  const wrapperPath = path.join(hostDir, wrapperName);
+  const hostScriptPath = path.join(hostDir, 'native-host.js');
+
+  fs.copyFileSync(path.join(relayDir, 'native-host.js'), hostScriptPath);
+  fs.copyFileSync(path.join(relayDir, wrapperName), wrapperPath);
+  installHostDependency(packageDir, hostDir);
 
-  const wrapperPath = path.join(packageDir, 'relay', wrapperName);
   const manifest = {
     name: 'com.tabagent.relay',
     description: 'Tab Agent Native Messaging Host',
@@ -103,6 +115,7 @@ function installNativeHost(extensionId) {
   // Make wrapper executable (Unix only)
   if (platform !== 'win32') {
     fs.chmodSync(wrapperPath, '755');
+    fs.chmodSync(hostScriptPath, '755');
   }
 
   // Windows: also set registry key
@@ -113,6 +126,34 @@ function installNativeHost(extensionId) {
   }
 }
 
+function installHostDependency(packageDir, hostDir) {
+  const wsSourceDir = findWsSourceDir(packageDir);
+  const nodeModulesDir = path.join(hostDir, 'node_modules');
+  const wsTargetDir = path.join(nodeModulesDir, 'ws');
+
+  fs.mkdirSync(nodeModulesDir, { recursive: true });
+  fs.rmSync(wsTargetDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  fs.cpSync(wsSourceDir, wsTargetDir, { recursive: true });
+}
+
+function findWsSourceDir(packageDir) {
+  const candidates = [
+    path.join(packageDir, 'node_modules', 'ws'),
+    path.join(packageDir, 'relay', 'node_modules', 'ws')
+  ];
+
+  for (const candidate of candidates) {
+    if (fs.existsSync(path.join(candidate, 'package.json'))) {
+      return candidate;
+    }
+  }
+
+  const resolved = require.resolve('ws/package.json', {
+    paths: [packageDir, path.join(packageDir, 'relay')]
+  });
+  return path.dirname(resolved);
+}
+
 function installSkills() {
   const home = os.homedir();
   const packageDir = path.dirname(__dirname);

package/extension/manifest.json

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "manifest_version": 3,
   "name": "Tab Agent",
-  "version": "0.4.0",
+  "version": "0.4.1",
   "description": "Secure browser control for Claude, Codex, ChatGPT, and other AI tools",
   "permissions": [
     "activeTab",

package/extension/manifest.safari.json

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "manifest_version": 3,
   "name": "Tab Agent",
-  "version": "0.4.0",
+  "version": "0.4.1",
   "description": "Secure browser control for Claude, Codex, ChatGPT, and other AI tools",
   "permissions": [
     "activeTab",

package/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "tab-agent",
-  "version": "0.4.0",
+  "version": "0.4.1",
   "description": "Give LLMs full control of your browser - secure, click-to-activate automation for Claude, ChatGPT, Codex, and any AI",
   "bin": {
     "tab-agent": "./bin/tab-agent.js"

package/relay/install-native-host.sh

@@ -3,18 +3,19 @@ set -e
 
 SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")" && pwd)"
 HOST_NAME="com.tabagent.relay"
-HOST_DIR="$HOME/Library/Application Support/TabAgent"
-WRAPPER_PATH="$HOST_DIR/native-host-wrapper.sh"
 
 if [[ "$OSTYPE" == "darwin"* ]]; then
   MANIFEST_DIR="$HOME/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/NativeMessagingHosts"
+  HOST_DIR="$HOME/Library/Application Support/TabAgent"
 elif [[ "$OSTYPE" == "linux-gnu"* ]]; then
   MANIFEST_DIR="$HOME/.config/google-chrome/NativeMessagingHosts"
+  HOST_DIR="$HOME/.config/tab-agent"
 else
   echo "Unsupported OS: $OSTYPE"
   exit 1
 fi
 
+WRAPPER_PATH="$HOST_DIR/native-host-wrapper.sh"
 mkdir -p "$MANIFEST_DIR"
 
 if [ -z "$1" ]; then
@@ -26,8 +27,13 @@ fi
 
 EXTENSION_ID="$1"
 
-if [ ! -d "$SCRIPT_DIR/node_modules/ws" ]; then
-  echo "Dependencies missing: run 'npm install' in $SCRIPT_DIR first."
+WS_SOURCE_DIR=""
+if [ -d "$SCRIPT_DIR/../node_modules/ws" ]; then
+  WS_SOURCE_DIR="$SCRIPT_DIR/../node_modules/ws"
+elif [ -d "$SCRIPT_DIR/node_modules/ws" ]; then
+  WS_SOURCE_DIR="$SCRIPT_DIR/node_modules/ws"
+else
+  echo "Dependencies missing: run 'npm install' in the package root first."
   exit 1
 fi
 
@@ -35,7 +41,8 @@ mkdir -p "$HOST_DIR"
 rm -rf "$HOST_DIR/node_modules"
 cp "$SCRIPT_DIR/native-host.js" "$HOST_DIR/native-host.js"
 cp "$SCRIPT_DIR/native-host-wrapper.sh" "$HOST_DIR/native-host-wrapper.sh"
-cp -R "$SCRIPT_DIR/node_modules" "$HOST_DIR/node_modules"
+mkdir -p "$HOST_DIR/node_modules"
+cp -R "$WS_SOURCE_DIR" "$HOST_DIR/node_modules/ws"
 
 cat > "$MANIFEST_DIR/$HOST_NAME.json" << EOF
 {

package/relay/server.js

@@ -91,8 +91,8 @@ function failPendingRequests(reason, browser) {
 
 wss.on('connection', (ws, req) => {
   const clientType = req.headers['x-client-type'];
-  // 'extension' means chrome for backwards compatibility, 'safari' means safari
-  const isExtension = clientType === 'extension' || clientType === 'safari';
+  // 'extension' is the legacy chrome client name, 'chrome' is the current one.
+  const isExtension = clientType === 'extension' || clientType === 'chrome' || clientType === 'safari';
   const browser = clientType === 'safari' ? 'safari' : 'chrome';
 
   if (isExtension) {