fix(browser): bootstrap managed attach profile setup

docs/browser-automation.md

@@ -129,6 +129,10 @@ chrome.exe --remote-debugging-port=9222 --user-data-dir="%USERPROFILE%\\.ccs\\br
 Using a dedicated CCS browser data dir is recommended. It avoids profile-locking issues and keeps
 automation state separate from your daily browser profile.
 
+When Claude Browser Attach uses the recommended managed path (`~/.ccs/browser/chrome-user-data`),
+CCS now creates that directory automatically the first time it needs it. After that bootstrap step,
+the remaining requirement is a running Chrome session started with `--remote-debugging-port`.
+
 ## Troubleshooting
 
 ### Browser status says Claude Browser Attach is disabled
@@ -144,6 +148,9 @@ The configured Chrome user-data directory does not exist yet.
 2. Start Chrome in attach mode with `--remote-debugging-port`
 3. Rerun `ccs browser doctor`
 
+If you are using the CCS-managed default path, this usually means the path could not be created
+automatically and now needs manual attention.
+
 ### Browser status says no running browser session was found
 
 CCS could not find usable DevTools attach metadata for the configured user-data directory.
@@ -152,6 +159,9 @@ CCS could not find usable DevTools attach metadata for the configured user-data
 2. Make sure it is using the same `user_data_dir` configured in CCS
 3. Rerun `ccs browser doctor`
 
+For the CCS-managed default path, this is the normal first-run state after CCS bootstraps the
+directory for you.
+
 ### Browser status says the DevTools endpoint is unreachable
 
 CCS found attach metadata, but the endpoint did not answer successfully.

src/ccs.ts

@@ -1067,7 +1067,7 @@ async function main(): Promise<void> {
           : undefined;
       const browserRuntimeEnv = browserAttachRuntime?.runtimeEnv;
       if (browserAttachRuntime?.warning) {
-        console.error(warn(browserAttachRuntime.warning));
+        process.stderr.write(`${warn(browserAttachRuntime.warning)}\n`);
       }
       if (resolvedTarget === 'claude') {
         ensureWebSearchMcpOrThrow();
@@ -1477,7 +1477,7 @@ async function main(): Promise<void> {
           : undefined;
       const browserRuntimeEnv = browserAttachRuntime?.runtimeEnv;
       if (browserAttachRuntime?.warning) {
-        console.error(warn(browserAttachRuntime.warning));
+        process.stderr.write(`${warn(browserAttachRuntime.warning)}\n`);
       }
 
       if (resolvedTarget === 'claude') {

src/cliproxy/executor/index.ts

@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ export async function execClaudeWithCLIProxy(
     : undefined;
   const browserRuntimeEnv = browserAttachRuntime?.runtimeEnv;
   if (browserAttachRuntime?.warning) {
-    console.error(warn(browserAttachRuntime.warning));
+    process.stderr.write(`${warn(browserAttachRuntime.warning)}\n`);
   }
   if (browserRuntimeEnv) {
     ensureBrowserMcpOrThrow();

src/utils/browser/browser-settings.ts

@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
+import * as fs from 'fs';
 import * as path from 'path';
 import type { BrowserConfig } from '../../config/unified-config-types';
 import { getCcsDir } from '../config-manager';
 import { expandPath } from '../helpers';
+import { getNodePlatformKey } from './platform';
 import { type BrowserRuntimeEnv, resolveBrowserRuntimeEnv } from './chrome-reuse';
 
 export type BrowserOverrideSource = 'CCS_BROWSER_USER_DATA_DIR' | 'CCS_BROWSER_PROFILE_DIR';
@@ -24,10 +26,141 @@ export interface BrowserAttachRuntimeResolution {
   warning?: string;
 }
 
+export interface ManagedBrowserAttachBootstrap {
+  usesManagedDefaultDir: boolean;
+  createdProfileDir: boolean;
+}
+
+export interface ManagedBrowserAttachNotReadyMessage {
+  state: 'path_missing' | 'browser_not_running' | 'endpoint_unreachable';
+  title: string;
+  detail: string;
+  nextStep: string;
+  warning: string;
+}
+
+function isManagedDefaultBrowserAttach(config: EffectiveClaudeBrowserAttachConfig): boolean {
+  return (
+    config.source === 'config' &&
+    path.resolve(config.userDataDir) === path.resolve(getRecommendedBrowserUserDataDir())
+  );
+}
+
+function buildCurrentPlatformLaunchCommand(userDataDir: string, devtoolsPort: number): string {
+  const quotedPath = JSON.stringify(userDataDir);
+  switch (getNodePlatformKey()) {
+    case 'darwin':
+      return `open -na "Google Chrome" --args --remote-debugging-port=${devtoolsPort} --user-data-dir=${quotedPath}`;
+    case 'win32':
+      return `chrome.exe --remote-debugging-port=${devtoolsPort} --user-data-dir=${quotedPath}`;
+    default:
+      return `google-chrome --remote-debugging-port=${devtoolsPort} --user-data-dir=${quotedPath}`;
+  }
+}
+
 export function resolveBrowserUserDataDir(value?: string): string | undefined {
   return value?.trim() ? expandPath(value) : undefined;
 }
 
+export function ensureManagedBrowserUserDataDir(
+  config: EffectiveClaudeBrowserAttachConfig
+): ManagedBrowserAttachBootstrap {
+  if (!isManagedDefaultBrowserAttach(config)) {
+    return {
+      usesManagedDefaultDir: false,
+      createdProfileDir: false,
+    };
+  }
+
+  try {
+    fs.statSync(config.userDataDir);
+    return {
+      usesManagedDefaultDir: true,
+      createdProfileDir: false,
+    };
+  } catch (error) {
+    const code = (error as NodeJS.ErrnoException).code;
+    if (code && code !== 'ENOENT') {
+      return {
+        usesManagedDefaultDir: true,
+        createdProfileDir: false,
+      };
+    }
+  }
+
+  try {
+    fs.mkdirSync(config.userDataDir, { recursive: true, mode: 0o700 });
+    return {
+      usesManagedDefaultDir: true,
+      createdProfileDir: true,
+    };
+  } catch {
+    return {
+      usesManagedDefaultDir: true,
+      createdProfileDir: false,
+    };
+  }
+}
+
+export function describeManagedBrowserAttachNotReady(
+  config: EffectiveClaudeBrowserAttachConfig,
+  errorMessage: string,
+  options: {
+    createdProfileDir?: boolean;
+    launchCommand?: string;
+  } = {}
+): ManagedBrowserAttachNotReadyMessage | undefined {
+  if (!isManagedDefaultBrowserAttach(config)) {
+    return undefined;
+  }
+
+  const launchCommand =
+    options.launchCommand ??
+    buildCurrentPlatformLaunchCommand(config.userDataDir, config.devtoolsPort);
+  const continueWithoutTools =
+    'CCS will continue without browser tools until the attach session is ready.';
+
+  if (errorMessage.includes('Chrome reuse metadata')) {
+    const summary = options.createdProfileDir
+      ? `CCS created the managed browser profile at ${config.userDataDir}, but no running attach-mode Chrome session is using it yet`
+      : `No running attach-mode Chrome session is using the managed browser profile at ${config.userDataDir}`;
+    const nextStep = `Start Chrome with remote debugging and the managed user-data dir. Example: ${launchCommand}`;
+    return {
+      state: 'browser_not_running',
+      title: 'Claude Browser Attach is waiting for a managed Chrome session.',
+      detail: `${summary}. Diagnostic: ${errorMessage}`,
+      nextStep,
+      warning: `${summary}. ${nextStep} ${continueWithoutTools}`,
+    };
+  }
+
+  if (errorMessage.includes('Chrome DevTools endpoint')) {
+    const summary = `CCS could not reach the attach-mode DevTools endpoint for the managed browser profile at ${config.userDataDir}`;
+    const nextStep = `Restart Chrome in attach mode and retry. Example: ${launchCommand}`;
+    return {
+      state: 'endpoint_unreachable',
+      title: 'Claude Browser Attach could not reach the managed Chrome session.',
+      detail: `${summary}. Diagnostic: ${errorMessage}`,
+      nextStep,
+      warning: `${summary}. ${nextStep} ${continueWithoutTools}`,
+    };
+  }
+
+  if (errorMessage.includes('Chrome profile directory is invalid')) {
+    const summary = `CCS could not initialize the managed browser profile at ${config.userDataDir}`;
+    const nextStep = `Confirm the path is writable or reset it to the CCS-managed default, then launch Chrome in attach mode. Example: ${launchCommand}`;
+    return {
+      state: 'path_missing',
+      title: 'Claude Browser Attach could not initialize the managed profile.',
+      detail: `${summary}. Diagnostic: ${errorMessage}`,
+      nextStep,
+      warning: `${summary}. ${nextStep} ${continueWithoutTools}`,
+    };
+  }
+
+  return undefined;
+}
+
 export function getBrowserAttachOverride(env: NodeJS.ProcessEnv = process.env): {
   userDataDir?: string;
   devtoolsPort?: number;
@@ -94,6 +227,17 @@ export async function resolveOptionalBrowserAttachRuntime(
     return {};
   }
 
+  const bootstrap = ensureManagedBrowserUserDataDir(config);
+  if (bootstrap.createdProfileDir) {
+    return {
+      warning: describeManagedBrowserAttachNotReady(
+        config,
+        `Chrome reuse metadata not found: ${path.join(config.userDataDir, 'DevToolsActivePort')}`,
+        { createdProfileDir: true }
+      )?.warning,
+    };
+  }
+
   try {
     return {
       runtimeEnv: await resolveBrowserRuntimeEnv({
@@ -103,13 +247,12 @@ export async function resolveOptionalBrowserAttachRuntime(
     };
   } catch (error) {
     const message = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error);
-    const usesManagedDefaultDir =
+    const managedDefaultMessage = describeManagedBrowserAttachNotReady(config, message, {
-      config.source === 'config' &&
+      createdProfileDir: bootstrap.createdProfileDir,
-      path.resolve(config.userDataDir) === path.resolve(getRecommendedBrowserUserDataDir());
+    });
-
+    if (managedDefaultMessage) {
-    if (usesManagedDefaultDir && message.includes('Chrome profile directory is invalid')) {
       return {
-        warning: `Claude Browser Attach is enabled, but the managed browser profile does not exist yet (${config.userDataDir}). Launching without browser tools. Run \`ccs browser doctor\` to finish setup.`,
+        warning: managedDefaultMessage.warning,
       };
     }
 

src/utils/browser/browser-status.ts

@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
+import * as path from 'path';
 import { getBrowserConfig } from '../../config/unified-config-loader';
 import { getCodexBinaryInfo } from '../../targets/codex-detector';
 import { type BrowserRuntimeEnv, resolveBrowserRuntimeEnv } from './chrome-reuse';
 import { getBrowserMcpServerName, getBrowserMcpServerPath } from './mcp-installer';
 import { getNodePlatformKey } from './platform';
 import {
+  describeManagedBrowserAttachNotReady,
+  ensureManagedBrowserUserDataDir,
   getEffectiveClaudeBrowserAttachConfig,
   getRecommendedBrowserUserDataDir,
 } from './browser-settings';
@@ -61,6 +64,7 @@ async function buildClaudeBrowserStatus(
 ): Promise<ClaudeBrowserStatus> {
   const effective = getEffectiveClaudeBrowserAttachConfig(browserConfig);
   const launchCommands = buildLaunchCommands(effective.userDataDir, effective.devtoolsPort);
+  const managedBootstrap = ensureManagedBrowserUserDataDir(effective);
   const base: Omit<ClaudeBrowserStatus, 'state' | 'title' | 'detail' | 'nextStep'> = {
     enabled: effective.enabled,
     source: effective.source,
@@ -85,6 +89,26 @@ async function buildClaudeBrowserStatus(
     };
   }
 
+  if (managedBootstrap.createdProfileDir) {
+    const managedDefaultMessage = describeManagedBrowserAttachNotReady(
+      effective,
+      `Chrome reuse metadata not found: ${path.join(effective.userDataDir, 'DevToolsActivePort')}`,
+      {
+        createdProfileDir: true,
+        launchCommand: launchCommands[getNodePlatformKey()],
+      }
+    );
+    if (managedDefaultMessage) {
+      return {
+        ...base,
+        state: managedDefaultMessage.state,
+        title: managedDefaultMessage.title,
+        detail: managedDefaultMessage.detail,
+        nextStep: managedDefaultMessage.nextStep,
+      };
+    }
+  }
+
   try {
     const runtimeEnv = await resolveBrowserRuntimeEnv({
       profileDir: effective.userDataDir,
@@ -102,6 +126,20 @@ async function buildClaudeBrowserStatus(
     };
   } catch (error) {
     const message = (error as Error).message;
+    const managedDefaultMessage = describeManagedBrowserAttachNotReady(effective, message, {
+      createdProfileDir: managedBootstrap.createdProfileDir,
+      launchCommand: launchCommands[getNodePlatformKey()],
+    });
+    if (managedDefaultMessage) {
+      return {
+        ...base,
+        state: managedDefaultMessage.state,
+        title: managedDefaultMessage.title,
+        detail: managedDefaultMessage.detail,
+        nextStep: managedDefaultMessage.nextStep,
+      };
+    }
+
     if (message.includes('Chrome profile directory is invalid')) {
       return {
         ...base,

tests/unit/targets/default-profile-browser-launch.test.ts

@@ -81,6 +81,18 @@ function runCcs(args: string[], env: NodeJS.ProcessEnv): RunResult {
   };
 }
 
+function reserveClosedPort(): number {
+  const server = Bun.serve({
+    port: 0,
+    fetch() {
+      return new Response('ok');
+    },
+  });
+  const { port } = server;
+  server.stop(true);
+  return port;
+}
+
 describe('default profile browser launch', () => {
   let tmpHome = '';
   let fakeClaudePath = '';
@@ -259,7 +271,7 @@ server.listen(0, '127.0.0.1', () => {
           claude: {
             enabled: true,
             user_data_dir: '',
-            devtools_port: 9222,
+            devtools_port: 43123,
           },
           codex: {
             enabled: true,
@@ -272,8 +284,10 @@ server.listen(0, '127.0.0.1', () => {
       });
 
       expect(result.status).toBe(0);
-      expect(result.stderr).toContain('Launching without browser tools');
+      expect(result.stderr).toContain('CCS created the managed browser profile');
-      expect(result.stderr).toContain('ccs browser doctor');
+      expect(result.stderr).toContain('Start Chrome with remote debugging');
+      expect(result.stderr).toContain('continue without browser tools');
+      expect(fs.existsSync(path.join(tmpHome, '.ccs', 'browser', 'chrome-user-data'))).toBe(true);
 
       const launchedArgs = fs.readFileSync(claudeArgsLogPath, 'utf8');
       expect(launchedArgs).not.toContain(BROWSER_PROMPT_SNIPPET);
@@ -291,6 +305,47 @@ server.listen(0, '127.0.0.1', () => {
     }
   });
 
+  it('skips managed browser attach when the managed profile exists but no browser session is running', () => {
+    if (process.platform === 'win32') return;
+
+    const originalCcsHome = process.env.CCS_HOME;
+    process.env.CCS_HOME = tmpHome;
+
+    try {
+      const unreachablePort = reserveClosedPort();
+      const managedProfileDir = path.join(tmpHome, '.ccs', 'browser', 'chrome-user-data');
+      fs.mkdirSync(managedProfileDir, { recursive: true });
+
+      mutateUnifiedConfig((config) => {
+        config.browser = {
+          claude: {
+            enabled: true,
+            user_data_dir: '',
+            devtools_port: unreachablePort,
+          },
+          codex: {
+            enabled: true,
+          },
+        };
+      });
+
+      const result = runCcs(['default', 'smoke'], {
+        ...baseEnv,
+      });
+
+      expect(result.status).toBe(0);
+
+      const launchedArgs = fs.readFileSync(claudeArgsLogPath, 'utf8');
+      expect(launchedArgs).not.toContain(BROWSER_PROMPT_SNIPPET);
+    } finally {
+      if (originalCcsHome !== undefined) {
+        process.env.CCS_HOME = originalCcsHome;
+      } else {
+        delete process.env.CCS_HOME;
+      }
+    }
+  });
+
   it('uses config-backed browser attach settings when env overrides are absent', async () => {
     if (process.platform === 'win32') return;
 

tests/unit/targets/settings-profile-browser-launch.test.ts

@@ -28,6 +28,18 @@ function runCcs(args: string[], env: NodeJS.ProcessEnv): RunResult {
   };
 }
 
+function reserveClosedPort(): number {
+  const server = Bun.serve({
+    port: 0,
+    fetch() {
+      return new Response('ok');
+    },
+  });
+  const { port } = server;
+  server.stop(true);
+  return port;
+}
+
 describe('settings profile browser launch', () => {
   let tmpHome = '';
   let ccsDir = '';
@@ -210,7 +222,7 @@ server.listen(0, '127.0.0.1', () => {
           claude: {
             enabled: true,
             user_data_dir: '',
-            devtools_port: 9222,
+            devtools_port: 43123,
           },
           codex: {
             enabled: true,
@@ -223,8 +235,10 @@ server.listen(0, '127.0.0.1', () => {
       });
 
       expect(result.status).toBe(0);
-      expect(result.stderr).toContain('Launching without browser tools');
+      expect(result.stderr).toContain('CCS created the managed browser profile');
-      expect(result.stderr).toContain('ccs browser doctor');
+      expect(result.stderr).toContain('Start Chrome with remote debugging');
+      expect(result.stderr).toContain('continue without browser tools');
+      expect(fs.existsSync(path.join(tmpHome, '.ccs', 'browser', 'chrome-user-data'))).toBe(true);
 
       const launchedArgs = fs.readFileSync(claudeArgsLogPath, 'utf8');
       expect(launchedArgs).not.toContain(BROWSER_PROMPT_SNIPPET);
@@ -242,6 +256,48 @@ server.listen(0, '127.0.0.1', () => {
     }
   });
 
+  it('skips managed browser attach for settings-profile launches when no managed browser session is running', () => {
+    if (process.platform === 'win32') return;
+
+    const originalCcsHome = process.env.CCS_HOME;
+    process.env.CCS_HOME = tmpHome;
+
+    try {
+      const unreachablePort = reserveClosedPort();
+      fs.mkdirSync(path.join(tmpHome, '.ccs', 'browser', 'chrome-user-data'), {
+        recursive: true,
+      });
+
+      mutateUnifiedConfig((config) => {
+        config.browser = {
+          claude: {
+            enabled: true,
+            user_data_dir: '',
+            devtools_port: unreachablePort,
+          },
+          codex: {
+            enabled: true,
+          },
+        };
+      });
+
+      const result = runCcs(['glm', 'smoke'], {
+        ...baseEnv,
+      });
+
+      expect(result.status).toBe(0);
+
+      const launchedArgs = fs.readFileSync(claudeArgsLogPath, 'utf8');
+      expect(launchedArgs).not.toContain(BROWSER_PROMPT_SNIPPET);
+    } finally {
+      if (originalCcsHome !== undefined) {
+        process.env.CCS_HOME = originalCcsHome;
+      } else {
+        delete process.env.CCS_HOME;
+      }
+    }
+  });
+
   it('uses config-backed browser attach settings for settings-profile launches', async () => {
     if (process.platform === 'win32') return;
 

tests/unit/utils/browser/browser-status.test.ts

@@ -1,10 +1,13 @@
 import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, spyOn } from 'bun:test';
-import { mkdtempSync, rmSync } from 'node:fs';
+import { existsSync, mkdirSync, mkdtempSync, rmSync } from 'node:fs';
 import { tmpdir } from 'node:os';
 import { join } from 'node:path';
 import { mutateUnifiedConfig } from '../../../../src/config/unified-config-loader';
 import * as chromeReuse from '../../../../src/utils/browser/chrome-reuse';
-import { getBrowserStatus } from '../../../../src/utils/browser/browser-status';
+import {
+  getBrowserStatus,
+} from '../../../../src/utils/browser/browser-status';
+import { resolveOptionalBrowserAttachRuntime } from '../../../../src/utils/browser/browser-settings';
 import * as codexDetector from '../../../../src/targets/codex-detector';
 
 describe('browser status', () => {
@@ -86,6 +89,48 @@ describe('browser status', () => {
     }
   });
 
+  it('bootstraps the managed default browser profile dir before reporting attach readiness', async () => {
+    mutateUnifiedConfig((config) => {
+      config.browser = {
+        claude: {
+          enabled: true,
+          user_data_dir: '',
+          devtools_port: 9222,
+        },
+        codex: {
+          enabled: true,
+        },
+      };
+    });
+
+    const runtimeSpy = spyOn(chromeReuse, 'resolveBrowserRuntimeEnv').mockRejectedValue(
+      new Error(
+        `Chrome reuse metadata not found: ${join(tempHome, '.ccs', 'browser', 'chrome-user-data', 'DevToolsActivePort')}`
+      )
+    );
+    const codexSpy = spyOn(codexDetector, 'getCodexBinaryInfo').mockReturnValue({
+      path: '/usr/local/bin/codex',
+      needsShell: false,
+      version: 'codex-cli 0.120.0',
+      features: ['config-overrides'],
+    });
+
+    try {
+      const status = await getBrowserStatus();
+
+      expect(status.claude.state).toBe('browser_not_running');
+      expect(status.claude.title).toBe(
+        'Claude Browser Attach is waiting for a managed Chrome session.'
+      );
+      expect(status.claude.detail).toContain('CCS created the managed browser profile');
+      expect(status.claude.nextStep).toContain('--remote-debugging-port=9222');
+      expect(existsSync(join(tempHome, '.ccs', 'browser', 'chrome-user-data'))).toBe(true);
+    } finally {
+      runtimeSpy.mockRestore();
+      codexSpy.mockRestore();
+    }
+  });
+
   it('prefers CCS_BROWSER_USER_DATA_DIR over config when an env override is present', async () => {
     mutateUnifiedConfig((config) => {
       config.browser = {
@@ -169,6 +214,26 @@ describe('browser status', () => {
     }
   });
 
+  it('returns a managed attach warning when the configured DevTools port is unreachable', async () => {
+    const managedDir = join(tempHome, '.ccs', 'browser', 'chrome-user-data');
+    mkdirSync(managedDir, { recursive: true });
+
+    const runtime = await resolveOptionalBrowserAttachRuntime({
+      enabled: true,
+      source: 'config',
+      overrideActive: false,
+      userDataDir: managedDir,
+      devtoolsPort: 43123,
+      hasExplicitDevtoolsPort: true,
+    });
+
+    expect(runtime.runtimeEnv).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(runtime.warning).toContain(
+      'could not reach the attach-mode DevTools endpoint for the managed browser profile'
+    );
+    expect(runtime.warning).toContain('continue without browser tools');
+  });
+
   it('preserves legacy metadata-based port discovery when only CCS_BROWSER_PROFILE_DIR is set', async () => {
     process.env.CCS_BROWSER_PROFILE_DIR = '/legacy-browser';
 

tests/unit/web-server/browser-routes.test.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { afterAll, afterEach, beforeAll, beforeEach, describe, expect, it } from 'bun:test';
 import express from 'express';
-import { mkdtempSync, rmSync } from 'node:fs';
+import { existsSync, mkdtempSync, rmSync } from 'node:fs';
 import type { Server } from 'node:http';
 import { tmpdir } from 'node:os';
 import { join } from 'node:path';
@@ -184,6 +184,9 @@ describe('browser routes', () => {
       userDataDir: join(tempHome, '.ccs', 'browser', 'chrome-user-data'),
       devtoolsPort: 9333,
     });
+    expect(payload.browser.status.claude.state).toBe('browser_not_running');
+    expect(payload.browser.status.claude.detail).toContain('CCS created the managed browser profile');
+    expect(existsSync(join(tempHome, '.ccs', 'browser', 'chrome-user-data'))).toBe(true);
 
     const config = loadOrCreateUnifiedConfig();
     expect(config.browser).toMatchObject({