better make file to run dev mode

Author: torrmal

CLAUDE.md

@@ -92,7 +92,11 @@ cp dev.env.example dev.env
 | `make use` | check out those refs across all submodules |
 | `make dev` / `make dev-web` | run the **local submodule source** (`--reload`) — follows the checked-out branch |
 | `make server` | (re)install the **Electron desktop server** from `API_REF`/`AGENT_REF` |
+| `make server-local` | install Electron desktop server **from local uncommitted source** (no push needed) |
 | `make app` | run the Electron desktop app (auto-update disabled so it can't revert your branch) |
+| `make app-local` | run the Electron desktop app **against local uncommitted source** (runs `server-local` first) |
+| `make pack-local` | build macOS `.app` from local uncommitted source, iCloud-safe (no DMG, `/tmp` build) |
+| `make watch` | live reload — Electron app + Python `--reload` (alias for `make dev`) |
 | `make baseline` | snap every submodule back to the superproject's pinned commits |
 | `make pin` | record the submodules' current commits as the superproject pins (a deliberate commit) |
 
@@ -104,6 +108,15 @@ cp dev.env.example dev.env
 > migration applied by one must exist in the other (else the app crashes on startup
 > with `Can't locate revision …`). `make flush` resets when they drift.
 
+> **Developing with uncommitted changes in the Electron app**: `make dev`/`dev-web`
+> already pick up uncommitted source changes on-the-fly. For the Electron desktop path,
+> `make app-local` installs cowork-server directly from `backend/core_api/` (no commit
+> needed) and then launches the app. `COWORK_SERVER_DISABLE_AUTOUPDATE=1` is set
+> automatically so the installer won't re-download from git. To also develop `core_agent`
+> without committing: update `[tool.uv.sources] anton-agent` in
+> `backend/core_api/pyproject.toml` to `{ path = "../../core_agent" }`, then re-run
+> `make app-local`. (Restore the git source before pushing.)
+
 **4. Bumping pins is deliberate.** Because submodules are ignored, the *only* way a
 pin changes is `make pin` (after a submodule PR merges and you push the submodule).
 Pushing from inside the submodule first still applies — `make pin` just records the

Makefile

@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ export ANTON_REF := $(AGENT_REF)
 # Only inject a non-default anton override (uv rejects a redundant --with).
 _ANTON_WITH := $(if $(filter-out main,$(AGENT_REF)),--with "anton-agent @ git+https://github.com/mindsdb/anton.git@$(AGENT_REF)",)
 
-.PHONY: help setup dev dev-web build dist-mac dist-win docker-build docker-up docker-down flush use pin baseline server app refs
+.PHONY: help setup dev dev-web build dist-mac dist-win docker-build docker-up docker-down flush use pin baseline server server-local app app-local pack-local watch refs
 
 .DEFAULT_GOAL := help
 
@@ -149,5 +149,38 @@ server: ## (re)install the Electron desktop server from the configured API_REF/A
 		--force --reinstall --python '>=3.12,<3.14'
 	@echo "✓ desktop server installed from core_api@$(API_REF)."
 
+server-local: ## install Electron desktop server from LOCAL uncommitted source (no push needed)
+	UV_PYTHON_PREFERENCE=only-managed uv tool install \
+		"$(CURDIR)/$(API)" \
+		--force --reinstall --python '>=3.12,<3.14'
+	@echo "✓ desktop server installed from local source: $(CURDIR)/$(API)"
+	@echo "  anton resolved from core_api/pyproject.toml [tool.uv.sources]"
+	@echo "  To also use local core_agent, set:"
+	@echo "    [tool.uv.sources] anton-agent = { path = \"../../core_agent\" }"
+	@echo "  in backend/core_api/pyproject.toml, then re-run server-local."
+
 app: $(_NPM_STAMP)  ## run the Electron desktop app against the configured branch (no auto-update)
 	cd $(FRONTEND) && COWORK_SERVER_DISABLE_AUTOUPDATE=1 npm run dev
+
+app-local: $(_NPM_STAMP)  ## run the Electron desktop app using LOCAL source (implies server-local)
+	$(MAKE) server-local
+	cd $(FRONTEND) && COWORK_SERVER_DISABLE_AUTOUPDATE=1 \
+		COWORK_SERVER_PACKAGE="$(CURDIR)/$(API)" npm run dev
+
+pack-local: $(_NPM_STAMP)  ## build macOS .app from LOCAL uncommitted source, iCloud-safe (no DMG)
+	$(MAKE) server-local
+	cd $(FRONTEND) && PATH="/opt/homebrew/opt/node@20/bin:$$PATH" \
+		npm run build && \
+		npx electron-builder --mac --arm64 --dir \
+		--config.directories.output=/tmp/minds-build
+	rm -rf $(FRONTEND)/release/mac-arm64
+	cp -R /tmp/minds-build/mac-arm64 $(FRONTEND)/release/
+	@echo "✓ Built: $(FRONTEND)/release/mac-arm64/MindsHub Cowork.app"
+	@echo "  Launch: COWORK_SERVER_DISABLE_AUTOUPDATE=1 '$(CURDIR)/$(FRONTEND)/release/mac-arm64/MindsHub Cowork.app/Contents/MacOS/MindsHub Cowork' &"
+
+watch: $(_NPM_STAMP) $(_API_STAMP) $(_AGENT_STAMP)  ## live reload — Electron app + Python hot-reload (alias for dev)
+	@trap 'kill 0' SIGINT SIGTERM EXIT; \
+	uv run --directory $(API) uvicorn cowork.server:app --reload \
+		--reload-dir $(CURDIR)/$(API)/cowork \
+		--reload-dir $(CURDIR)/$(AGENT)/anton & \
+	npm --prefix $(FRONTEND) run dev

README.md

@@ -70,11 +70,12 @@ make setup
 
 | Mode | Command |
 |---|---|
-| Desktop app (Electron) with hot reload | `make dev` |
+| Desktop app (Electron) with hot reload | `make dev` or `make watch` |
 | Web app in browser with hot reload | `make dev-web` |
 | Production build | `make build` |
 | Package for macOS | `make dist-mac` |
 | Package for Windows | `make dist-win` |
+| Build macOS `.app` from local uncommitted source | `make pack-local` |
 | Wipe all local installs + data (fresh start) | `make flush` |
 
 > **Reset to a clean slate:** `make flush` uninstalls the local runtime (the `cowork-server` uv tool and the `backend/*/.venv`s) **and** deletes app state in `~/.anton` (provider keys) and `~/.cowork` (database, hermes, projects). Use it to test the from-scratch install flow or recover from a broken install. ⚠️ This deletes your conversations and saved keys. It prompts for confirmation; pass `FORCE=1` to skip it. The next `make setup` or app launch reinstalls everything.
@@ -93,8 +94,11 @@ cp dev.env.example dev.env      # then set REF=feat/my-thing (or per-module API_
 | Command | What it does |
 |---|---|
 | `make use` | check out your `dev.env` refs across all submodules |
-| `make dev` / `make dev-web` | run the local module source on those branches (hot reload) |
-| `make server` + `make app` | run the desktop app against your branch's server |
+| `make dev` / `make watch` | run the Electron app with live reload against local source |
+| `make dev-web` | run the web SPA with live reload against local source |
+| `make server` + `make app` | (re)install the desktop server from the configured branch, then launch |
+| `make server-local` + `make app-local` | install the desktop server from **local uncommitted source**, then launch |
+| `make pack-local` | build the macOS `.app` from local uncommitted source (no push needed) |
 | `make refs` | show which refs the next run will use |
 | `make baseline` | reset submodules to the pinned commits |
 | `make pin` | record the current submodule commits as the superproject's pins (one deliberate commit) |