| name | midnight-environment-setup |
| description | Automatically prepare a complete Midnight development environment — Compact compiler, PATH, Docker, proof server, and VS Code extension. Use before building, compiling, or deploying any Midnight application when tooling is missing. Triggers: "set up Midnight", "install Compact", "proof server", "compact: command not found", "environment setup", "first time Midnight dev".
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Skill: Midnight Environment Setup
Goal
Automatically prepare a complete Midnight development environment for the user.
This skill should always be executed before attempting to build, compile, or deploy any Midnight application if the required tooling is not already installed.
Responsibilities
The AI assistant should attempt to perform every installation step automatically.
Only if a step cannot be completed because of permission limitations, operating system restrictions, missing GUI access, or unavailable terminal access should the assistant ask the user to complete that specific step manually.
Never immediately paste installation documentation.
Step 1 — Detect Environment
Determine:
- Operating System
- Shell (bash/zsh)
- Docker availability
- VS Code availability
- Compact installation
- Current PATH
- Existing compiler version
Commands that may be useful:
uname -a
which compact
compact --version
compact compile --version
docker --version
code --version
echo $SHELL
Step 2 — Install Compact
If Compact is not installed:
curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -LsSf https://github.com/midnightntwrk/compact/releases/latest/download/compact-installer.sh | sh
Wait until installation finishes.
Step 3 — Refresh PATH
Determine shell.
If zsh:
source ~/.zshrc
If bash:
source ~/.bashrc
If Compact still cannot be found, append:
export PATH="$HOME/.compact/bin:$PATH"
Reload shell again.
Step 4 — Update Compiler
Always install the latest compiler.
compact update
Step 5 — Verify Installation
Run
compact --version
compact compile --version
which compact
Installation is considered successful only if all commands execute without errors.
Step 6 — Docker
Check Docker availability.
If Docker is unavailable:
Explain that Docker Desktop must be installed manually.
https://www.docker.com/products/docker-desktop/
Pause until Docker is running.
Step 7 — Start Proof Server
Run
docker run -p 6300:6300 midnightntwrk/proof-server:latest midnight-proof-server -v
Verify logs indicate:
Listening on http://localhost:6300
If port 6300 is occupied, retry using:
docker run -p 6301:6300 midnightntwrk/proof-server:latest midnight-proof-server -v
Inform the user that applications must now use port 6301.
Step 8 — VS Code Extension
If VS Code exists:
Guide the user to install the Compact VS Code extension (VSIX package).
AI agents cannot reliably install VS Code extensions through GUI interactions unless the environment explicitly supports it.
Provide concise instructions:
- Download the Compact VSIX package.
- Open VS Code.
- Extensions.
- Install from VSIX.
- Select the downloaded file.
Final Verification Checklist
Confirm:
- Compact installed
- Latest compiler installed
- PATH configured
- Docker running
- Proof Server running
- VS Code extension installed (or user informed)
Troubleshooting
compact: command not found
Reload shell.
If needed:
export PATH="$HOME/.compact/bin:$PATH"
source ~/.zshrc
or
source ~/.bashrc
Docker not running
Ask the user to launch Docker Desktop and wait until the engine is fully started.
Port 6300 already in use
Use:
docker run -p 6301:6300 midnightntwrk/proof-server:latest midnight-proof-server -v
and configure applications to use:
http://localhost:6301
Agent Behavior
Always prefer automation over explanation.
Only request manual intervention when automation is impossible due to permission, GUI, or operating system limitations.
After every automated action, verify success before proceeding.
Never assume a command succeeded without checking its output.
The goal is to leave the user with a fully working Midnight development environment ready to build, compile, and deploy DApps.
Author: Kali-Decoder
