Virtual Desktop — Authenticated Browser Layer

What this skill does

Gives the agent a persistent authenticated browser (kasmweb/chrome) running as a Docker sidecar. Principal logs in once via noVNC. Sessions saved permanently.

Use cases: Google Workspace · social platforms · admin dashboards · e-commerce · forms · market research · data extraction · any platform with or without an API

Workspace Structure

/workspace/
├── screenshots/          ← visual proof of every action (auto-created)
├── logs/browser/         ← full tracebacks (auto-created)
├── tasks/lessons.md      ← immediate task capture during mission
├── AUDIT.md              ← append-only action log
├── memory/YYYY-MM-DD.md  ← daily session summary
└── .learnings/
    ├── ERRORS.md         ← errors, broken selectors, ref maps
    └── LEARNINGS.md      ← patterns, timing, navigation per platform

When to Use

Use this skill when the task requires a real authenticated browser:

• Pages requiring login (Google, social networks, dashboards, admin panels)
• JS-rendered pages where static fetch returns nothing useful
• Multi-step flows: forms, checkouts, confirmations, file uploads
• Platforms without an API
• Screenshots or visual evidence of a page state
• CAPTCHA-protected pages

Prefer a lighter path first — if a simple HTTP request or existing OpenClaw tool can answer the question, use that instead. This skill uses more tokens and resources than plain fetch.

Architecture

This skill runs a persistent kasmweb/chrome Docker sidecar alongside OpenClaw. Principal logs in once via noVNC (port 6901). Sessions saved permanently in a Docker volume.

Three execution paths — load only what the task needs:

Load only the smallest path needed. Simple navigation → OpenClaw native. Complex multi-step with logging → browser_control.py.

Setup — Run Once

OPENCLAW_DIR="${OPENCLAW_DIR:-$(pwd)}"
cd "$OPENCLAW_DIR"
CONTAINER="${OPENCLAW_CONTAINER:-$(docker ps --format '{{.Names}}' | grep openclaw | head -1)}"

# 1. Add kasmweb/chrome to docker-compose.yml
python3 -c "
import yaml, os
VNC_PW = os.environ.get('VNC_PW') or __import__('secrets').token_urlsafe(18)
with open('docker-compose.yml') as f:
    data = yaml.safe_load(f)
data.setdefault('services', {})['browser'] = {
    'image': 'kasmweb/chrome:1.15.0',
    'container_name': 'browser',
    'restart': 'unless-stopped',
    'shm_size': '1gb',
    'ports': ['6901:6901', '9222:9222'],
    'environment': [
        'VNC_PW=' + VNC_PW,
        'RESOLUTION=1920x1080',
        'CHROME_ARGS=--remote-debugging-port=9222 --remote-debugging-address=0.0.0.0 --no-sandbox --disable-blink-features=AutomationControlled --disable-infobars'
    ],
    'volumes': ['browser-profile:/home/kasm-user/chrome-profile'],
    'networks': list(data.get('networks', {'default': None}).keys())
}
data.setdefault('volumes', {})['browser-profile'] = None
with open('docker-compose.yml', 'w') as f:
    yaml.dump(data, f, default_flow_style=False, allow_unicode=True)
print('docker-compose.yml updated')
"

# 2. Update .env
# VNC_PW — generate a strong random password if not already set
if ! grep -q "VNC_PW" .env 2>/dev/null; then
  VNC_GENERATED=$(python3 -c "import secrets,string;     print(''.join(secrets.choice(string.ascii_letters+string.digits) for _ in range(24)))")
  echo "VNC_PW=${VNC_GENERATED}" >> .env
  echo "✅ VNC_PW generated — save this: ${VNC_GENERATED}"
fi
grep -q "BROWSER_CDP_URL"     .env || echo "BROWSER_CDP_URL=http://browser:9222" >> .env
grep -q "CAPSOLVER_API_KEY"   .env || echo "CAPSOLVER_API_KEY="                  >> .env
grep -q "BROWSERBASE_API_KEY" .env || echo "BROWSERBASE_API_KEY="                >> .env

# 3. Update openclaw.json — hot reload, no restart needed
python3 -c "
import json, os
f = 'data/.openclaw/openclaw.json'
with open(f) as fp: cfg = json.load(fp)
cfg.setdefault('browser', {}).update({'enabled': True, 'headless': False,
    'noSandbox': True, 'defaultProfile': 'chrome-sidecar'})
profiles = cfg['browser'].setdefault('profiles', {})
profiles['chrome-sidecar'] = {'cdpUrl': 'http://browser:9222', 'color': '#4285F4'}
bb_key = os.environ.get('BROWSERBASE_API_KEY', '')
if bb_key:
    profiles['browserbase'] = {'cdpUrl': f'wss://connect.browserbase.com?apiKey={bb_key}', 'color': '#F97316'}
with open(f, 'w') as fp: json.dump(cfg, fp, indent=2)
print('openclaw.json updated — hot reload active')
"

# 4. Start browser container only — OpenClaw keeps running
docker compose up -d --no-deps browser
sleep 12

# 5. Install Python dependencies
docker exec "$CONTAINER" pip install requests playwright --break-system-packages -q
docker exec "$CONTAINER" node /app/node_modules/playwright-core/cli.js install chromium
echo "✅ Python dependencies installed"

# 6. Download CapSolver extension (optional — only if key present)
CAPSOLVER_KEY=$(grep CAPSOLVER_API_KEY .env | cut -d= -f2)
if [ -n "$CAPSOLVER_KEY" ]; then
  docker exec "$CONTAINER" bash -c "
  apt-get install -y unzip curl -qq
  curl -sL https://github.com/capsolver/capsolver-browser-extension/releases/latest/download/chrome.zip \
    -o /tmp/capsolver.zip
  unzip -q /tmp/capsolver.zip -d /data/.openclaw/capsolver-extension
  sed -i \"s/apiKey: \\\"\\\"/apiKey: \\\"$CAPSOLVER_KEY\\\"/\" \
    /data/.openclaw/capsolver-extension/assets/config.js 2>/dev/null
  "
  echo "✅ CapSolver extension configured"
fi

# 7. Create workspace directories and deploy browser_control.py
docker exec "$CONTAINER" bash -c "
mkdir -p /data/.openclaw/workspace/skills/virtual-desktop
mkdir -p /workspace/screenshots /workspace/logs/browser /workspace/.learnings /workspace/memory
touch /workspace/AUDIT.md /workspace/.learnings/ERRORS.md /workspace/.learnings/LEARNINGS.md
"
docker cp {baseDir}/browser_control.py \
  "$CONTAINER":/data/.openclaw/workspace/skills/virtual-desktop/browser_control.py
echo "✅ browser_control.py deployed"

# 8. Verify
docker ps | grep -E "openclaw|browser"
curl -s http://localhost:9222/json > /dev/null && echo "✅ Chrome CDP active" || echo "⏳ Chrome starting"
docker exec "$CONTAINER" \
  python3 /data/.openclaw/workspace/skills/virtual-desktop/browser_control.py status

# 9. Notify principal
VPS_IP=$(curl -s ifconfig.me 2>/dev/null || echo "YOUR_VPS_IP")
echo "Virtual Desktop ready — https://${VPS_IP}:6901"
echo "Log in to your platforms via noVNC then reply DONE."

Initial Login — Once Per Platform

https://YOUR_VPS_IP:6901   login: kasm_user   password: your VNC_PW

Open Chrome via noVNC and log in to every platform you want the agent to access. Sessions saved in Docker volume browser-profile — survive restarts — valid indefinitely.

Step by step — do this once after setup:

1. Open https://YOUR_VPS_IP:6901 in your browser
2. Enter password: your VNC_PW value from .env
3. Chrome Desktop opens inside the browser

4. Log in to Google (accounts.google.com)
   → Email + password + 2FA if required
   → "Trust this device" → YES
   → This unlocks: Gmail, Drive, Calendar, Docs,
     Sheets, Google AI Studio, YouTube, all Google services

5. Log in to every other platform you want Wesley to access:
   → Twitter/X        → twitter.com
   → LinkedIn         → linkedin.com
   → Reddit           → reddit.com
   → Hostinger panel  → hpanel.hostinger.com
   → Any other site   → log in normally

6. After each login: Chrome saves the session automatically
   in the Docker volume browser-profile

7. Reply DONE to Wesley on Telegram
   → Wesley confirms sessions are active
   → He will never ask for your credentials again

What happens after:

Wesley opens any platform → already logged in ✅
No credentials needed → ever again
Session expires (rare) → Wesley notifies Telegram
  → You open noVNC → log in again → reply DONE
  → Takes 2 minutes

Important — 2FA:

Google 2FA → confirm once via noVNC
              Chrome remembers the device
              No 2FA required again on this browser

Other platforms → same principle
                  confirm once → trusted device → done

Quick Reference

OpenClaw Native Browser — Fastest Path

# Navigation
openclaw browser open <url>
openclaw browser snapshot [--interactive]
openclaw browser back | forward | reload | close

# Interaction
openclaw browser click <ref>
openclaw browser type <ref> "text"
openclaw browser select <ref> "value"
openclaw browser hover <ref>
openclaw browser scroll [--direction down|up|right|left]

# Files
openclaw browser upload /tmp/file.pdf
openclaw browser download <ref> file.pdf

# Cookies & storage
openclaw browser cookies | cookies set k v --url "https://example.com" | cookies clear
openclaw browser storage local get | set k v | clear

# Configuration
openclaw browser set geo 48.8566 2.3522 --origin "https://example.com"
openclaw browser set timezone Europe/Paris
openclaw browser set locale fr-FR
openclaw browser set device "iPhone 14"
openclaw browser set media dark
openclaw browser set headers --headers-json '{"X-Custom":"val"}'

# Debug
openclaw browser console --level error
openclaw browser requests --filter api
openclaw browser trace start | stop
openclaw browser status

# Stealth (if site blocks VPS)
openclaw browser --browser-profile browserbase open <url>

browser_control.py — With AUDIT Logging + CAPTCHA + Vision

BC="python3 /data/.openclaw/workspace/skills/virtual-desktop/browser_control.py"

$BC screenshot  <url> [label]
$BC navigate    <url> [selector]
$BC click       <url> <selector>
$BC click_xy    <url> <x> <y>
$BC fill        <url> <selector> <value>
$BC select      <url> <selector> <value>
$BC hover       <url> <selector>
$BC scroll      <url> <direction> [pixels]
$BC keyboard    <url> <selector> <key>
$BC extract     <url> <selector> [output_file]
$BC wait_for    <url> <selector> [timeout_ms]
$BC upload      <url> <file_selector> <file_path>
$BC analyze     <url_or_image> [question]     ← Claude Vision
$BC captcha     <url>                         ← Autonomous CAPTCHA
$BC workflow    <json_steps_file>             ← Multi-step workflow
$BC status

Workflow JSON Format

[
  { "action": "goto",       "target": "https://TARGET_URL" },
  { "action": "captcha" },
  { "action": "analyze",    "value": "Identify the key elements on this page" },
  { "action": "wait_for",   "target": ".loaded", "timeout_ms": 5000 },
  { "action": "fill",       "target": "#field",  "value": "text" },
  { "action": "click",      "target": "#btn" },
  { "action": "click_xy",   "x": 960, "y": 540 },
  { "action": "scroll",     "direction": "down" },
  { "action": "hover",      "target": "#menu" },
  { "action": "select",     "target": "#list",   "value": "option" },
  { "action": "keyboard",   "target": "#input",  "value": "Enter" },
  { "action": "extract",    "target": ".data",   "value": "/workspace/tasks/out.json" },
  { "action": "screenshot" },
  { "action": "wait",       "value": "2" }
]

CAPTCHA — Autonomous Strategy

1. Auto-detection on every page load
   → reCAPTCHA v2/v3, hCaptcha, Cloudflare Turnstile

2. CapSolver API (if CAPSOLVER_API_KEY set)
   → Extracts sitekey → API → token → injects → continues
   → ~$0.001 per CAPTCHA

3. Cloudflare Turnstile
   → CapSolver Chrome extension handles in background → waits 60s

4. Fallback — if CapSolver fails or key not set
   → Screenshot → Telegram → principal opens noVNC → solves → agent continues

Proxy — If Site Blocks the VPS

# Browserbase — CAPTCHA + stealth + residential proxy built-in
# Free tier: 1 concurrent session, 1h/month — browserbase.com
# Add BROWSERBASE_API_KEY to .env
openclaw browser --browser-profile browserbase open <url>

# Custom proxy
# Add PROXY_URL=http://user:pass@proxy:port to .env
# browser_control.py reads it automatically via get_browser()

Claude Vision — Analyse Images and Pages

# Web page → auto screenshot + analysis
$BC analyze https://example.com "What does this page sell?"

# AI-generated image
$BC analyze https://site.com/image.png "Describe the visual elements"

# Existing screenshot
$BC analyze /workspace/screenshots/capture.png "Is there a form here?"

# Inside a workflow
{ "action": "analyze", "value": "Identify all form fields" }

Execution Protocol

BEFORE EVERY ACTION:
  1. Log to AUDIT.md: "BEFORE [action] on [url]"
  2. Detect CAPTCHA → resolve automatically if present
  3. Execute action
  4. Screenshot as proof
  5. Log to AUDIT.md: "OK/FAILED [action]"
  6. Telegram report if real-world consequences

NEVER:
  → Access platforms not authorized by the principal
  → Execute payments or destructive actions without explicit approval
  → Fail silently — always log
  → Retry more than 3 times without alerting the principal

Browser Traps

Avoid these common mistakes:

• Guessing selectors from source → use snapshot --interactive or codegen to discover stable refs
• Using force: true before understanding why → investigate the overlay/disabled state first
• Driving a full browser when HTTP would work → more cost, more flake, less signal
• Sharing one session across parallel tasks that mutate state → failures become order-dependent
• Waiting on networkidle for chatty SPAs → analytics, polling, or sockets keep the page "busy" even when the UI is ready
• Retrying the same selector 10 times → log to ERRORS.md and alert the principal instead
• Accessing high-stakes flows (payments, production data) without explicit confirmation → require approval first

Error Recovery

CAPTCHA          → CapSolver auto → fallback noVNC
CLOUDFLARE       → switch to --browser-profile browserbase
SESSION EXPIRED  → Telegram → principal opens noVNC → reconnects
ELEMENT MISSING  → use analyze to understand the new layout
                 → log to .learnings/ERRORS.md with ref map
TIMEOUT          → check /workspace/logs/browser/YYYY-MM-DD.log

Files Written

This skill does NOT:

• Create files outside the paths listed above
• Persist sessions or credentials beyond the Docker volume
• Make undeclared network requests beyond the target sites and optional services above
• Access platforms not explicitly authorized by the principal

Self-Improvement

Write immediately after every session — do not batch:

# ERRORS.md — on failure
## [YYYY-MM-DD] [Platform] — [Title]
**Priority**: low|medium|high   **Status**: pending|resolved
**What happened**: ...   **Root cause**: ...   **Fix**: ...   **Ref map**: {"old_ref":"new_ref"}

# LEARNINGS.md — on discovery
## [YYYY-MM-DD] [Platform] — [Pattern]
**Category**: navigation|interaction|timing|auth_flow|captcha|vision
**Discovery**: ...   **Usage**: ...

Security

This skill opens port 6901 (noVNC) and stores authenticated browser sessions permanently.

REQUIRED before running:
  1. Set a strong VNC_PW in .env — never use the default
  2. Firewall port 6901 to your IP only:
     Hostinger → Panel → VPS → Firewall → restrict 6901 to your IP
     Or use SSH tunnel: ssh -L 6901:localhost:6901 user@YOUR_VPS_IP
  3. Only log in to accounts you trust the agent to access
  4. Optional keys (CapSolver, Browserbase, Anthropic) send data to
     those services — only add them if you trust and accept their costs

External Endpoints

No other data is sent externally.