| name | network-studio |
| description | Install or update a macOS local-network monitor workspace and SwiftBar plugin. Use when Codex needs a repo-native path for LAN presence, device logging, local dashboards, or compact macOS network safety surfaces on networks the user owns or administers. |
Network Studio
Use this skill when the user wants the portable Network Studio workspace, not the native wifi-watchtower app. If the request is specifically about apps/wifi-watchtower, use $wifi-watchtower instead.
Default product shape: a portable local-network watcher installed into a user-chosen folder with an optional SwiftBar wrapper, a dashboard opener, and a continuous scan loop.
Quick Start
- Choose the lane first:
- portable workspace install
- SwiftBar plugin wiring
- support-only guidance
- Run
bash scripts/run_network_studio.sh doctor to check prerequisites and the bundled template.
- Install or refresh the workspace with
bash scripts/run_network_studio.sh install "<workspace-path>".
- If the user wants a menu bar item and uses SwiftBar, add
--swiftbar-plugins-dir ~/SwiftBarPlugins to the install command.
- Use
bash scripts/run_network_studio.sh inspect to review the template and installed layout.
- After install, run
bash scripts/run_network_studio.sh open to trigger a fresh scan and open the dashboard.
- For a continuous watcher, run
bash scripts/run_network_studio.sh watch or add flags such as --interval 30 --resolve.
- Keep the workspace local-first and honest about uncertainty.
Workflow
Choose The Surface
network-studio-workspace: install or refresh the portable workspace in a user-chosen folder
swiftbar-plugin: wire or repair the compact SwiftBar surface that points at the installed workspace
support-only: explain the most reliable network-check path without installing anything
Install Or Update The Portable Workspace
- Use
scripts/run_network_studio.sh install for the normal create-or-refresh path.
- Drop to
scripts/install_network_studio.py only when you need the lower-level copy step.
- Preserve
device-labels.json if it already exists.
- Preserve
logs/ contents. Do not delete history unless the user asks.
- Re-run the installer against the same workspace when the user asks to update an existing install.
Wire SwiftBar
- Prefer pointing SwiftBar directly at
<workspace>/swiftbar if the user is comfortable changing the plugin directory.
- If the user already uses
~/SwiftBarPlugins, pass --swiftbar-plugins-dir ~/SwiftBarPlugins. The installer writes a thin wrapper there that calls the workspace plugin.
Product Boundaries
- Use only on networks the user owns or administers.
- Explain that the portable workspace is LAN presence monitoring, not deep packet inspection.
- Recommend
brew install nmap for more reliable portable-workspace discovery, but do not block on it.
- Note that dashboard links and label paths are generated from the installed workspace, so moving the workspace later requires a refresh or reinstall.
- Keep scans, labels, and trust explanations local by default. Do not add covert telemetry, network exfiltration, or surveillance framing.
Resources
scripts/run_network_studio.sh: repo-native doctor, inspect, install, refresh, open, and watch helper for the portable workspace.
scripts/install_network_studio.py: copies the portable workspace, preserves user state, and optionally installs a SwiftBar wrapper.
references/project-map.md: default workspace, main files, and validation notes for the portable workspace.
assets/workspace/: bundled template for the watcher, dashboard builder, and SwiftBar plugin. Read or patch these files only when setup or behavior needs to change.