# Interactive Development

This guide walks through using Chaser as a persistent remote development environment with a real shell, file persistence, and port forwarding.

## Set up a workspace

Create a named workspace so your files persist across sessions:

```bash
chaser workspaces create --session-type sandbox --name dev --json
```

Optionally pin an OCI image for a custom base environment:

```bash
chaser workspaces create --session-type sandbox --name dev \
  --image ghcr.io/example/dev:latest --json
```

## Boot and connect

```bash
# Create a session attached to your workspace
SID="$(chaser sandbox --workspace dev --json | jq -r '.id')"

# Open an interactive shell
chaser shell "$SID"
```

Your shell drops you into `/workspace` where workspace files are mounted.

## Run a dev server with port forwarding

Start a server inside the sandbox and access it locally:

```bash
# Start a dev server
chaser shell "$SID" -c "cd /workspace && npm run dev -- --host 0.0.0.0"

# Open a local proxy (in another terminal)
chaser forward "$SID" 3000 8080 --open
```

This binds `http://127.0.0.1:8080` and proxies traffic to port 3000 in the sandbox. You can also access it directly at `https://<session_id>.chaser.sh/forward/3000/`.

## Upload project files

Push local files to the sandbox:

```bash
# Upload a single file
chaser upload "$SID" ./package.json /workspace/package.json

# Or use teleport to upload a whole directory and open a shell
chaser teleport "$SID" --local ./my-app --remote /workspace
```

## Snapshot before risky changes

Create a restore point before a major upgrade:

```bash
chaser workspaces snapshots create dev --name before-upgrade --json
```

If something goes wrong, restore:

```bash
chaser workspaces snapshots restore dev before-upgrade --force --json
```

## Clone a workspace for branches

Create an independent copy of your workspace for parallel work:

```bash
chaser workspaces create --clone-from dev --name dev-feature --json
```

## Import from GitHub

Import a repository directly into a new workspace:

```bash
curl -sS "$CHASER_API_URL/v1/workspaces/import" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $CHASER_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"github_repo": "owner/repo"}' | jq
```

The repository is cloned into `/workspace` and the repo selector is saved on the workspace for re-bootstrap.

## Related

- [Sandbox Sessions](/docs/sessions/sandbox-sessions) -- shell, exec, and file access
- [Port Forwarding](/docs/developer-tools/port-forwarding) -- local and direct forwarding
- [Workspaces](/docs/platform/workspaces) -- snapshots, templates, cloning