Workspaces

Configure workspace folders that NodeTool can access.

A workspace is a folder that NodeTool can safely access for reading and writing files during workflow runs, agent tasks, and chat sessions.

Why workspaces exist

Workspaces make local file access explicit and controlled:

  • Keep project files organized under known roots
  • Limit file operations to approved directories
  • Share the same folder roots across workflows and agent tools

Manage workspaces in the app

Workspaces have their own full-screen page at /workspaces (not a Settings tab):

  1. Open the app menu (click the logo at the top of the left rail).
  2. Choose Workspaces.
  3. Add one or more workspace directories on the Workspaces page.

Workspaces page

After adding a workspace, NodeTool can browse files, list folders, and read/write files inside the configured root.

Workspaces also appear in the Workspace tab of the bottom panel, which browses the current one as a file tree; on the composer chip, which names the workspace a chat run writes into; and under Advanced in the workflow form, which pins a workflow to one.

What a cloud deployment allows

Pointing a workspace at a host folder browses the server’s filesystem, so NODETOOL_ENV=production refuses create, update, and delete (packages/websocket/src/trpc/routers/workspace.ts). Reading stays open: every user gets a server-managed workspace under the data dir, and listing and downloading from it reach nothing the deployment did not create itself.

The server says which of the two applies in can_manage on workspace.list, and the UI reads it through useWorkspaces(). So every workspace surface is present on a cloud deployment, and the only missing control is Add Workspace, which would open a folder picker with nothing to browse.

Where workspaces are used

  • Agents and chat tools for file operations
  • Workflow nodes in the lib.os namespace (file read/write, path, and filesystem operations)
  • Project organization when working with local assets and generated outputs
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