## Thinking Path
> - Paperclip is the open source app people use to manage AI agents for
work.
> - The development runner starts the local API, UI, and embedded
PostgreSQL services.
> - Developers need separate data roots when they run more than one
local checkout.
> - The runner forwarded `--data-dir` to a child process that did not
use it.
> - The migration check and server therefore continued to use the
default Paperclip home.
> - This pull request applies the data root before worktree setup and
migration checks.
> - The benefit is an isolated database and state root for each
requested development run.
## Linked Issues or Issue Description
Refs #7466
## What Changed
- Parse and consume `--data-dir`, `--data-dir=<path>`, and `-d` in the
development runner.
- Set isolated default home, config, and context paths before worktree
setup and migration checks.
- Keep explicit config and context paths unchanged.
- Include the normalized data root in the local service identity.
- Let `dev:list` and `dev:stop` select the matching isolated service
registry.
- Keep explicit option environments independent of ambient process
instance values.
- Add regression tests and development documentation.
## Verification
- `PAPERCLIP_INSTANCE_ID=ambient-test-instance pnpm exec vitest run
server/src/__tests__/dev-runner-options.test.ts` passes with 8 tests.
- `pnpm --filter @paperclipai/server typecheck` passes.
- `pnpm --filter @paperclipai/adapter-utils build` passes.
- `pnpm -r typecheck` passes.
- `pnpm build` passes.
- `pnpm dev:list --data-dir ./tmp/dev-service-review-fixture` selects
the isolated registry.
- A live run of `pnpm dev --data-dir ./tmp/data-dir-pr-smoke` became
healthy on port 3101 while another checkout used port 3100.
- The live run used `./tmp/data-dir-pr-smoke/instances/default/db` on a
separate PostgreSQL port.
- The latest-head Linux CI matrix passes, including build, typecheck,
canary, all general and serialized test shards, and all e2e shards.
- `pnpm test:run` was attempted on macOS. Current `master` has unrelated
workspace path failures because `/tmp` resolves to `/private/tmp`. The
focused regression suite passes, and the full Linux matrix is green.
## Risks
- Risk is low. The change only affects development runs that pass
`--data-dir` and matching service-management commands.
- Explicit `PAPERCLIP_CONFIG` and `PAPERCLIP_CONTEXT` values still take
priority.
> For core feature work, check [`ROADMAP.md`](ROADMAP.md) first and
discuss it in `#dev` before opening the PR. Feature PRs that overlap
with planned core work may need to be redirected — check the roadmap
first. See `CONTRIBUTING.md`.
## Model Used
- OpenAI Codex with `gpt-5.6-sol` produced this change. The run used
tool-enabled reasoning and code execution. The runtime did not expose
its context window size.
## Checklist
- [x] I have included a thinking path that traces from project context
to this change
- [x] I have specified the model used (with version and capability
details)
- [x] I have checked ROADMAP.md and confirmed this PR does not duplicate
planned core work
- [x] I have searched GitHub for duplicate or related PRs and linked
them above
- [x] I have either (a) linked existing issues with `Fixes: #` / `Closes
#` / `Refs #` OR (b) described the issue in-PR following the relevant
issue template
- [x] I have not referenced internal/instance-local Paperclip issues or
links (only public GitHub `#NNN` / `github.com/paperclipai/paperclip`
URLs)
- [x] My branch name describes the change (e.g. `docs/...`, `fix/...`)
and contains no internal Paperclip ticket id or instance-derived details
- [x] I have run tests locally and they pass
- [x] I have added or updated tests where applicable
- [x] I have updated relevant documentation to reflect my changes
- [x] I have considered and documented any risks above
- [x] All Paperclip CI gates are green
- [x] Greptile is 5/5 with no open P2s, recommendations, or follow-ups
- [x] I will address all Greptile and reviewer comments before
requesting merge
---------
Co-authored-by: Paperclip <noreply@paperclip.ing>
Dotta