packages/desktop-shell/README.md
This package is an isolated Tauri 2 shell around the existing Web Shell. It does not contain a second UI.
npm run build:runtime prepares runtime/qwen-code/ with:
qwen CLI,lib/web-shell/.The Tauri app starts qwen serve on an ephemeral loopback port with a per-launch bearer token, waits for /health, and then opens that same daemon-served Web Shell in the native window.
Use Control → Local Control… to temporarily share that live daemon with a phone on the same Wi-Fi. The app displays a QR code, keeps the computer awake while sharing is enabled, and closes the LAN gateway when the control window closes or the user turns it off.
From this directory:
npm install --workspaces=false
npm run build:runtime --workspaces=false
npm run dev --workspaces=false
The first two steps are one-time setup. After that, npm run dev is all you need.
build:runtime bundles the current platform's Node.js, the qwen CLI, and the built Web Shell into runtime/qwen-code/. Re-run it only when you change the CLI or Web Shell source.
Use QWEN_DESKTOP_WORKSPACE=/absolute/path to override the initial workspace. The app otherwise restores its saved primary workspace or creates ~/Documents/Qwen on first launch. QWEN_DEFAULT_WORKSPACE_DIR=/absolute/path relocates that first-launch default, matching the Electron shell. Add and switch project workspaces from the Web Shell after startup.
The daemon log is written to ~/Library/Logs/com.alibaba.qwen-code/desktop-runtime.log on macOS. Tail it to see qwen serve output:
tail -f ~/Library/Logs/com.alibaba.qwen-code/desktop-runtime.log
The desktop state (saved workspace, window position) is stored in ~/Library/Application Support/com.alibaba.qwen-code/desktop-state.json.
Open the Web Shell's DevTools from the running window with Cmd+Option+I (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift+I (Windows/Linux). This lets you inspect network requests, console output, and the React component tree.
| Variable | Purpose |
|---|---|
QWEN_DESKTOP_WORKSPACE | Override the initial workspace path |
QWEN_DEFAULT_WORKSPACE_DIR | Relocate the first-launch default workspace directory |
QWEN_DESKTOP_SKIP_BUILD | Set to 1 to skip the CLI/Web Shell rebuild during build:runtime |
QWEN_CODE_ROOT | Point to a local qwen-code checkout for the runtime bundle |
cargo test --manifest-path src-tauri/Cargo.toml
The Desktop Release workflow builds signed updater artifacts when dry_run is disabled. Published releases require the Tauri updater private key. macOS releases also require Apple signing and notarization credentials.
The first stable Tauri release may set electron_bridge=true to publish the macOS ZIPs and latest-mac.yml consumed by Electron 0.0.5. Leave the input disabled for later releases; the fixed desktop-latest release retains the bridge assets while desktop-latest.json advances independently.
The macOS workflow accepts either the Tauri-era APPLE_* certificate and notarization secrets or the existing MAC_CSC_* and APPLE_NOTARY_* secrets. TAURI_SIGNING_PRIVATE_KEY must match the public key in src-tauri/tauri.conf.json.