## Thinking Path
> - Paperclip is the open source app people use to manage AI agents for
work.
> - Paperclip runs across the CLI, server, adapters, plugins, CI, and
container images.
> - These surfaces declared different Node.js versions from 20 through
24.
> - A newer `@types/node` major can expose APIs that the supported
runtime does not provide.
> - Node.js 20 is no longer a suitable project baseline, and Node.js 24
is the current LTS line.
> - This pull request sets Node.js 24.11.0 as one repository-wide
baseline, adds a drift check, and gives users actionable startup
guidance when their runtime is too old.
> - The benefit is one clear runtime contract for development, release,
installation, and published packages.
## Linked Issues or Issue Description
Refs #2734
Refs #11727
Refs #739
## What Changed
- Require Node.js 24.11.0 or newer in all 42 package manifests and
runtime checks.
- Use Node.js 24 in GitHub Actions, Docker images, smoke images, sandbox
setup, portable installs, and esbuild targets.
- Align every direct `@types/node` declaration on `^24.0.0`.
- Prevent Dependabot from opening major `@types/node` upgrades without a
matching runtime decision.
- Add `.nvmrc` and a CI policy check for Node version drift.
- Update ACP version gates, tests, and user documentation for the new
minimum.
- Print a non-blocking warning on CLI and server startup when Node is
unsupported, with remediation through a version manager or the
documented downloaded `install.sh` workflow.
- Deduplicate that warning when `paperclipai run` boots the CLI and
server in the same process.
## Verification
- `node scripts/check-node-version-policy.mjs`
- `node --check scripts/check-node-version-policy.mjs`
- `node --check cli/esbuild.config.mjs`
- `node --check scripts/generate-npm-package-json.mjs`
- `bash -n scripts/install.sh scripts/test-install-sh-docker.sh
scripts/e2e-install-lifecycle.sh`
- Parsed all 42 package manifests and confirmed `engines.node` is
`>=24.11.0`.
- `git diff --check`
- `vitest run
packages/adapter-utils/src/sandbox-install-command.test.ts` passed with
3 tests.
- `vitest run cli/src/node-version.test.ts` passed with 4 tests.
- Directly exercised the shared warning helper for unsupported-version
messaging and same-process deduplication.
- The focused exe.dev suite could not resolve the locally unbuilt plugin
SDK from this isolated worktree. A full offline workspace install was
also blocked because the package-manager signature verifier requires
registry access. The full suite was not run locally; draft CI performs a
clean install and evaluates the wider impact.
## Risks
- This is a breaking runtime change for users, plugins, and deployments
that still use Node.js 20 or 22.
- Published workspace packages will now produce an engine warning or
failure in strict package managers on older Node.js releases.
- Node.js 24 can reveal dependency, native module, Playwright, or agent
CLI compatibility issues in CI.
- The bootstrap installer now installs Node.js 24 when the current
runtime is older than 24.11.0.
- The portable sandbox fallback is pinned to Node.js 24.11.0 and depends
on that upstream tarball remaining available.
- Unsupported runtimes continue booting after a warning, so a later
incompatibility can still fail at its point of use.
- The CLI and server share the warning policy through the published
`@paperclipai/shared` package; packaging checks must keep that subpath
export available.
- This PR does not commit `pnpm-lock.yaml` because repository policy
assigns lockfile generation to CI.
> 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 based on GPT-5. The exact deployment ID and context
window are not exposed in this session. Reasoning, repository tools,
shell execution, and GitHub tools were enabled.
## 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>
## Thinking Path
> - Paperclip keeps agent work on a controlled execution plane.
> - Sandbox exec wrappers run on the hot path for agent commands.
> - The current change removes the explicit `nvm.sh` load step from
those wrappers.
> - The sandbox image already restores PATH through profile startup.
> - This pull request keeps profile sourcing where the wrapper still
needs it and drops only the `nvm.sh` load step.
> - The result is a smaller command path with the same node and agent
CLI resolution.
## Linked Issues or Issue Description
No public GitHub issue exists for this change.
Problem:
The sandbox exec wrappers spent extra time sourcing `nvm.sh` before each
command.
The sandbox image already restores PATH in
`/etc/profile.d/00-restore-env.sh`, so that explicit `nvm.sh` work was
redundant.
Proposed solution:
Remove the `nvm.sh` source step from all six wrappers.
Keep the profile sourcing that the provider still needs for PATH setup.
Alternatives considered:
Keep the existing shell setup and accept the launch cost.
That keeps the current behavior, but it leaves the hot path slower than
needed.
Roadmap alignment:
This change keeps the sandbox command path small and predictable.
It does not change the adapter contract or the node resolution rules.
## What Changed
- Removed `nvm.sh` sourcing from all six sandbox exec wrappers.
- Kept profile sourcing where the provider still needs it for PATH
setup.
- Switched Modal to a non-login shell because the script now sources
profiles itself.
- Updated wrapper tests to assert that built commands do not source
`nvm.sh`.
## Verification
- Local TypeScript typecheck passed in each changed package.
- Focused provider tests passed for Daytona, E2B, Modal, exe-dev,
Cloudflare bridge, and adapter-utils.
- One Daytona test failure is pre-existing and unrelated to this change.
## Risks
- This change alters shell startup for sandbox exec paths.
- A provider that depends on implicit shell setup may need a follow-up.
- The current tests cover command shape, but they do not cover every
runtime shell path.
## Model Used
OpenAI Codex, GPT-5, tool use.
## 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 or instance-local Paperclip issues
or links
- [x] My branch name describes the change 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>
## Thinking Path
> - Paperclip orchestrates AI agents and provisions sandboxed execution
environments for them; one of those provisioners is the exe.dev plugin,
which runs each agent inside a long-lived VM reached over SSH.
> - The instance-config form for that plugin is rendered generically by
`JsonSchemaForm` from the plugin's `instanceConfigSchema`, so any UX
problem with the form is split between the shared form component and the
plugin's schema/runtime code.
> - Users coming in cold hit a 12-field flat config they couldn't reason
about (PAPA-407), a form that silently submitted `cpu: 0` for untouched
optional fields (PAPA-407 root cause), a `sshPrivateKey` textarea that
truncated RSA-4096 keys at 4096 chars (PAPA-449), a save flow that
accepted clearly-malformed keys and only blew up at lease time with raw
SSH stderr (PAPA-450, PAPA-451), and a manifest that didn't distinguish
"essential" from "advanced" knobs (PAPA-410 / PAPA-411 — duplicate
sub-issues with identical scope; PAPA-418 reconciliation kept PAPA-410
canonical).
> - These problems all point at the same surface (exe.dev sandbox
config) and are tightly coupled in code — PAPA-449/450/451 patch fields
that PAPA-410/411 introduce — so they get reviewed together.
> - This pull request lands the shared-form changes (advanced-options
disclosure, optional-scalar defaults) and the exe.dev-specific changes
(manifest restructure, longer `maxLength`, stderr translation, save-time
key validation) as five focused commits stacked on `master`.
> - The benefit is a config form that defaults to the two fields a new
user actually needs (API key + SSH private key) with a collapsible
disclosure for the rest, no silent truncation or zero-default
submissions, and SSH key problems surfaced at save time with actionable
messages instead of cryptic post-provision failures.
## What Changed
- **JsonSchemaForm advanced-options disclosure** (PAPA-410, PAPA-411 —
same scope, see note above): adds `x-paperclip-advanced` /
`x-paperclip-group` schema annotations and renders flagged fields behind
a collapsible "Advanced options" disclosure that auto-opens when a
hidden field has a validation error. Exe.dev manifest is restructured to
use the new annotations, so essentials (`apiKey`, `sshPrivateKey`) show
by default while the long tail of optional knobs is grouped under "SSH
access" / "VM resources" / "More options" headings.
- **Omit optional scalar defaults** (PAPA-407): `getDefaultForSchema` no
longer materialises `0` / `""` for optional
`number`/`integer`/`string`/`secret-ref` fields without an explicit
`default`. Object recursion drops properties whose default is
`undefined`. Fields that declare a `default` (e.g. `sshPort: 22`) still
round-trip. Adds a regression test against `getDefaultValues`.
- **Raise `sshPrivateKey` `maxLength`** (PAPA-449): bumps the exe.dev
manifest cap from 4096 to 8192 so RSA-4096 OpenSSH private keys (which
can exceed 4 KB with comments/metadata) aren't silently truncated at
submit.
- **Translate `invalid format` SSH stderr** (PAPA-450):
`formatSshFailure` now recognises `Load key … invalid format` in
combined stderr/stdout and returns a specific message naming the
key-format problem ("isn't an OpenSSH/PEM private key — confirm the
secret starts with `-----BEGIN … PRIVATE KEY-----` and isn't the `.pub`
or a PuTTY `.ppk` export") instead of dumping the raw stderr.
- **Save-time SSH key validation** (PAPA-451):
`onEnvironmentValidateConfig` inline-parses `sshPrivateKey` and rejects
common failure modes — pasted public keys, PuTTY `.ppk` format, missing
`-----END-----` footer, non-base64 body — so the form surfaces an inline
error before any VM is provisioned. Secret-ref bindings (UUIDs) are
still passed through unchanged.
## Verification
CI gates (`pnpm typecheck`, `pnpm test`, the targeted vitest suites
below) all pass.
Run locally:
```bash
# Shared form
pnpm --filter @paperclipai/ui exec vitest run src/components/JsonSchemaForm
# 9 tests pass — includes the new "omits optional scalar fields" regression
# and the three advanced-options-disclosure tests.
# exe.dev plugin
cd packages/plugins/sandbox-providers/exe-dev && pnpm test
# 32 tests pass — includes the new sshPrivateKey-validation cases
# and the new "invalid format" stderr-translation case.
```
Manual smoke (after reinstalling the plugin so the DB manifest
refreshes):
1. Open the exe.dev environment config page. **Default view shows API
Key + SSH Private Key only**, with an "Advanced options" disclosure for
everything else (PAPA-410 / PAPA-411).
2. Paste a `.pub` file's contents into SSH Private Key, click Save.
**Inline error** rejecting the wrong-format key (PAPA-451).
3. Re-paste a valid OpenSSH/PEM private key longer than 4096 bytes —
saves cleanly (PAPA-449).
4. Save the form with everything optional left blank — server no longer
rejects with `"cpu must be greater than 0 when provided"` (PAPA-407).
5. Force a bad key through via a stored secret-ref binding and lease a
VM — failure message names the key-format problem instead of dumping raw
SSH stderr (PAPA-450).
## Risks
- **PAPA-410 / PAPA-411 manifest restructure** is the largest surface
here. Schemas using `x-paperclip-*` extensions are forward-compatible
with stricter JSON Schema validators (extensions are ignored by
default), and the form gracefully renders a flat layout when no field
opts in.
- **PAPA-407** changes form-default behaviour: optional scalar fields
that previously round-tripped as `""` / `0` will now be `undefined` and
absent from the submitted payload. Downstream consumers that expected
the empty-string/zero shape need to treat the field as optional.
Spot-checked the existing exe.dev driver — it already uses
`parseOptionalString` / `parseOptionalInteger`, which treat missing
fields as `null` rather than `0`/`""`.
- **PAPA-451** adds a save-time check, so a
previously-saved-but-malformed `sshPrivateKey` raw value will now fail
to re-save. Bound secret-refs are unaffected, matching how the user
reaches the bad-key state today (via the secrets picker).
- **PAPA-449** simply raises a cap; no semantic risk.
- **PAPA-450** only kicks in on the "invalid format" code path; existing
onboarding-marker branch is untouched.
## Model Used
- Provider: Anthropic
- Model: Claude Opus 4.7 (`claude-opus-4-7`)
- Capabilities used: code reading, code editing, test execution, git/PR
mechanics, Paperclip API for issue coordination
## Checklist
- [x] PR body sections present (Thinking Path, What Changed,
Verification, Risks, Model Used, Checklist)
- [x] Unit tests added for the new behaviours (JsonSchemaForm
default-value omission + advanced disclosure; exe.dev plugin validation
+ stderr translation)
- [x] Existing tests still pass locally (`vitest run` on both packages)
- [x] No raw secrets, IP addresses, or machine-local config in commits
or PR body
- [x] Commits are atomic per linked issue (PAPA-410 / PAPA-411,
PAPA-407, PAPA-449, PAPA-450, PAPA-451)
- [x] Branch is up-to-date with `origin/master`
---------
Co-authored-by: Claude Opus 4.7 <noreply@anthropic.com>
Co-authored-by: Paperclip <noreply@paperclip.ing>
> _Stacked on top of #5685 → #5686 → #5687. Diff against master includes
commits from earlier PRs in the stack — review focuses on the two new
commits (`Add long-secret textarea variant to JsonSchemaForm
SecretField` + `Add exe.dev sandbox provider plugin`)._
## Thinking Path
> - Paperclip orchestrates AI agents for zero-human companies
> - Each agent runs in a sandbox environment, and operators choose the
provider — today E2B, Daytona, and (in this stack) Cloudflare
> - exe.dev offers per-VM sandboxes via a small CLI / HTTP API — useful
for operators who want full Linux VMs (vs container/runtime-only
sandboxes)
> - The plugin shape mirrors the e2b plugin: lifecycle hooks (`new`,
`ls`, `rm`) drive exe.dev's CLI; SSH plumbing handles direct VM access
for adapters that need it
> - exe.dev VMs come up bare — `node` is not preinstalled, so the
Paperclip sandbox callback bridge (a Node script) needs Node 20
installed at VM init via `--setup-script`. The plugin defaults the setup
script to a Nodesource install
> - The auth field accepts long SSH private keys, which need a textarea
variant of the existing `SecretField` in `JsonSchemaForm` — added behind
a `maxLength > THRESHOLD` opt-in so other secret fields are unaffected
> - The benefit is that operators get exe.dev as a fully working sandbox
provider out of the box, with no manual VM provisioning required
## What Changed
**Shared UI support (`Add long-secret textarea variant to JsonSchemaForm
SecretField`):**
- `ui/src/components/JsonSchemaForm.tsx` + new
`JsonSchemaForm.test.tsx`: when a secret-formatted field declares
`maxLength` larger than the existing single-line threshold, render a
monospace textarea instead of the masked input. Short secrets (API keys,
tokens) keep the existing masked-input + show/hide toggle behavior.
**The exe.dev plugin (`Add exe.dev sandbox provider plugin`):**
- `packages/plugins/sandbox-providers/exe-dev/`: plugin entry, manifest,
plugin runtime, README, and 19-test Vitest suite.
- Manifest fields: API token (with `secret-ref` + `/exec` permission
notes — needs `new`, `ls`, `rm`), API URL override, optional SSH
username, optional SSH private key (uses the new `JsonSchemaForm`
textarea variant via `maxLength: 4096`), optional SSH identity-file
path, optional setup script.
- Default `--setup-script` is a Nodesource Node 20 install. exe.dev VMs
come up bare and the Paperclip sandbox callback bridge is a Node script,
so without Node preinstalled the bridge can't start. Operators can
override by supplying their own setup script.
- `runLifecycleCommand` redacts env values from the executed command
before surfacing it in error messages, so secrets passed via
`--env=KEY=VALUE` don't leak into operator-visible failures.
- The plugin distinguishes exe.dev's SSH onboarding failures (`Please
complete registration by running: ssh exe.dev`) from general SSH
failures and surfaces a clear remediation message.
- `scripts/release-package-manifest.json`: register the new plugin for
CI publish alongside the existing daytona / e2b providers.
## Verification
- `pnpm typecheck`
- `pnpm exec vitest run --no-coverage
ui/src/components/JsonSchemaForm.test.tsx`
- `(cd packages/plugins/sandbox-providers/exe-dev && pnpm test)` — 19
passing
For an operator-side smoke test:
1. Get an exe.dev API token with `/exec` permission for `new`, `ls`,
`rm`.
2. Register the plugin in your Paperclip instance, configure an
environment with the token.
3. Create a sandbox env whose provider is `exe-dev`, then run a Codex or
Claude job against it. The default Node 20 setup script should bring the
VM up automatically.
## Risks
- Adds a new sandbox provider plugin that follows the existing daytona /
e2b shape; behavior on existing providers is unchanged.
- The `JsonSchemaForm` textarea variant only engages for fields that opt
in via `maxLength` larger than the existing threshold. All existing
secret fields (which don't declare a `maxLength`) keep their current
rendering. Test coverage pins both paths.
- The redaction in `runLifecycleCommand` is a defense-in-depth measure;
the test suite exercises the redaction path. If the redaction misses a
future env-arg shape, the worst case is restored behavior (secrets in
error messages), which is what the existing daytona / e2b plugins also
do today.
- Default setup script downloads from `deb.nodesource.com` over HTTPS at
VM init. Operators on air-gapped networks or with a different package
strategy can override the setup script.
## Model Used
- Provider: Anthropic
- Model: Claude Opus 4.7 (1M context)
- Capabilities used: extended reasoning, tool use (Read/Edit/Bash/Grep)
## 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 run tests locally and they pass
- [x] I have added or updated tests where applicable
- [ ] If this change affects the UI, I have included before/after
screenshots — UI change is a textarea variant of an existing secret
field; will attach screenshots before requesting merge
- [x] I have updated relevant documentation to reflect my changes
(plugin README, manifest descriptions)
- [x] I have considered and documented any risks above
- [x] I will address all Greptile and reviewer comments before
requesting merge
---------
Co-authored-by: Paperclip <noreply@paperclip.ing>
Nicky Leach
Devin Foley