Expand tilde in profile path to home directory

Adds support for persistent browser profiles that preserve cookies,
localStorage, and login sessions across browser restarts.

Changes:
- Add --profile <path> CLI flag (flags.rs)
- Add AGENT_BROWSER_PROFILE environment variable support
- Add profile field to LaunchCommand type (types.ts)
- Use launchPersistentContext when profile is specified (browser.ts)
- Update help text and README with documentation

Usage:
  agent-browser --profile ~/.myapp-profile open myapp.com

This enables AI agents to maintain authenticated sessions across
browser restarts without re-authenticating each time.

README.md

@@ -270,6 +270,30 @@ Each session has its own:
 - Navigation history
 - Authentication state
 
+## Persistent Profiles
+
+By default, browser state (cookies, localStorage, login sessions) is ephemeral and lost when the browser closes. Use `--profile` to persist state across browser restarts:
+
+```bash
+# Use a persistent profile directory
+agent-browser --profile ~/.myapp-profile open myapp.com
+
+# Login once, then reuse the authenticated session
+agent-browser --profile ~/.myapp-profile open myapp.com/dashboard
+
+# Or via environment variable
+AGENT_BROWSER_PROFILE=~/.myapp-profile agent-browser open myapp.com
+```
+
+The profile directory stores:
+- Cookies and localStorage
+- IndexedDB data
+- Service workers
+- Browser cache
+- Login sessions
+
+**Tip**: Use different profile paths for different projects to keep their browser state isolated.
+
 ## Snapshot Options
 
 The `snapshot` command supports filtering to reduce output size:
@@ -295,6 +319,7 @@ agent-browser snapshot -i -c -d 5         # Combine options
 | Option | Description |
 |--------|-------------|
 | `--session <name>` | Use isolated session (or `AGENT_BROWSER_SESSION` env) |
+| `--profile <path>` | Persistent browser profile directory (or `AGENT_BROWSER_PROFILE` env) |
 | `--headers <json>` | Set HTTP headers scoped to the URL's origin |
 | `--executable-path <path>` | Custom browser executable (or `AGENT_BROWSER_EXECUTABLE_PATH` env) |
 | `--json` | JSON output (for agents) |

cli/src/commands.rs

@@ -901,6 +901,7 @@ mod tests {
             debug: false,
             headers: None,
             executable_path: None,
+            extensions: Vec::new(),
             cdp: None,
         }
     }

cli/src/connection.rs

@@ -159,9 +159,16 @@ pub struct DaemonResult {
     pub already_running: bool,
 }
 
-pub fn ensure_daemon(session: &str, headed: bool, executable_path: Option<&str>) -> Result<DaemonResult, String> {
+pub fn ensure_daemon(
+    session: &str,
+    headed: bool,
+    executable_path: Option<&str>,
+    extensions: &[String],
+) -> Result<DaemonResult, String> {
     if is_daemon_running(session) && daemon_ready(session) {
-        return Ok(DaemonResult { already_running: true });
+        return Ok(DaemonResult {
+            already_running: true,
+        });
     }
 
     let exe_path = env::current_exe().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
@@ -196,6 +203,10 @@ pub fn ensure_daemon(session: &str, headed: bool, executable_path: Option<&str>)
             cmd.env("AGENT_BROWSER_EXECUTABLE_PATH", path);
         }
 
+        if !extensions.is_empty() {
+            cmd.env("AGENT_BROWSER_EXTENSIONS", extensions.join(","));
+        }
+
         // Create new process group and session to fully detach
         unsafe {
             cmd.pre_exec(|| {
@@ -234,6 +245,10 @@ pub fn ensure_daemon(session: &str, headed: bool, executable_path: Option<&str>)
             cmd.env("AGENT_BROWSER_EXECUTABLE_PATH", path);
         }
 
+        if !extensions.is_empty() {
+            cmd.env("AGENT_BROWSER_EXTENSIONS", extensions.join(","));
+        }
+
         // CREATE_NEW_PROCESS_GROUP | DETACHED_PROCESS
         const CREATE_NEW_PROCESS_GROUP: u32 = 0x00000200;
         const DETACHED_PROCESS: u32 = 0x00000008;

cli/src/flags.rs

@@ -9,9 +9,16 @@ pub struct Flags {
     pub headers: Option<String>,
     pub executable_path: Option<String>,
     pub cdp: Option<String>,
+    pub extensions: Vec<String>,
+    pub profile: Option<String>,
 }
 
 pub fn parse_flags(args: &[String]) -> Flags {
+    let extensions_env = env::var("AGENT_BROWSER_EXTENSIONS")
+        .ok()
+        .map(|s| s.split(',').map(|p| p.trim().to_string()).filter(|p| !p.is_empty()).collect::<Vec<_>>())
+        .unwrap_or_default();
+
     let mut flags = Flags {
         json: false,
         full: false,
@@ -21,6 +28,8 @@ pub fn parse_flags(args: &[String]) -> Flags {
         headers: None,
         executable_path: env::var("AGENT_BROWSER_EXECUTABLE_PATH").ok(),
         cdp: None,
+        extensions: extensions_env,
+        profile: env::var("AGENT_BROWSER_PROFILE").ok(),
     };
 
     let mut i = 0;
@@ -47,13 +56,25 @@ pub fn parse_flags(args: &[String]) -> Flags {
                     flags.executable_path = Some(s.clone());
                     i += 1;
                 }
-            }
+            },
+            "--extension" => {
+                if let Some(s) = args.get(i + 1) {
+                    flags.extensions.push(s.clone());
+                    i += 1;
+                }
+            },
             "--cdp" => {
                 if let Some(s) = args.get(i + 1) {
                     flags.cdp = Some(s.clone());
                     i += 1;
                 }
             }
+            "--profile" => {
+                if let Some(s) = args.get(i + 1) {
+                    flags.profile = Some(s.clone());
+                    i += 1;
+                }
+            }
             _ => {}
         }
         i += 1;
@@ -68,7 +89,7 @@ pub fn clean_args(args: &[String]) -> Vec<String> {
     // Global flags that should be stripped from command args
     const GLOBAL_FLAGS: &[&str] = &["--json", "--full", "--headed", "--debug"];
     // Global flags that take a value (need to skip the next arg too)
-    const GLOBAL_FLAGS_WITH_VALUE: &[&str] = &["--session", "--headers", "--executable-path", "--cdp"];
+    const GLOBAL_FLAGS_WITH_VALUE: &[&str] = &["--session", "--headers", "--executable-path", "--cdp", "--extension", "--profile"];
 
     for arg in args.iter() {
         if skip_next {

cli/src/main.rs

@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ fn main() {
         }
     };
 
-    let daemon_result = match ensure_daemon(&flags.session, flags.headed, flags.executable_path.as_deref()) {
+    let daemon_result = match ensure_daemon(&flags.session, flags.headed, flags.executable_path.as_deref(), &flags.extensions) {
         Ok(result) => result,
         Err(e) => {
             if flags.json {
@@ -161,10 +161,18 @@ fn main() {
         }
     };
 
-    // Warn if executable_path was specified but daemon was already running
+    // Warn if executable_path, profile, or extensions were specified but daemon was already running
-    if daemon_result.already_running && flags.executable_path.is_some() {
+    if daemon_result.already_running && (flags.executable_path.is_some() || !flags.extensions.is_empty() || flags.profile.is_some()) {
         if !flags.json {
-            eprintln!("\x1b[33m⚠\x1b[0m --executable-path ignored: daemon already running. Use 'agent-browser close' first to restart with new path.");
+            if flags.executable_path.is_some() {
+                eprintln!("\x1b[33m⚠\x1b[0m --executable-path ignored: daemon already running. Use 'agent-browser close' first to restart with new path.");
+            }
+            if !flags.extensions.is_empty() {
+                eprintln!("\x1b[33m⚠\x1b[0m --extension ignored: daemon already running. Use 'agent-browser close' first to restart with extensions.");
+            }
+            if flags.profile.is_some() {
+                eprintln!("\x1b[33m⚠\x1b[0m --profile ignored: daemon already running. Use 'agent-browser close' first to restart with profile.");
+            }
         }
     }
 
@@ -224,16 +232,22 @@ fn main() {
     }
 
     // Launch headed browser if --headed flag is set (without CDP)
-    if flags.headed && flags.cdp.is_none() {
+    // Also launch with profile if --profile is set
-        let launch_cmd = json!({
+    if (flags.headed || flags.profile.is_some()) && flags.cdp.is_none() {
+        let mut launch_cmd = json!({
             "id": gen_id(),
             "action": "launch",
-            "headless": false
+            "headless": !flags.headed
         });
 
+        // Add profile path if specified
+        if let Some(ref profile_path) = flags.profile {
+            launch_cmd["profile"] = json!(profile_path);
+        }
+
         if let Err(e) = send_command(launch_cmd, &flags.session) {
             if !flags.json {
-                eprintln!("\x1b[33m⚠\x1b[0m Could not launch headed browser: {}", e);
+                eprintln!("\x1b[33m⚠\x1b[0m Could not launch browser: {}", e);
             }
         }
     }

cli/src/output.rs

@@ -1189,8 +1189,10 @@ Snapshot Options:
 
 Options:
   --session <name>           Isolated session (or AGENT_BROWSER_SESSION env)
+  --profile <path>           Persistent browser profile (or AGENT_BROWSER_PROFILE env)
   --headers <json>           HTTP headers scoped to URL's origin (for auth)
   --executable-path <path>   Custom browser executable (or AGENT_BROWSER_EXECUTABLE_PATH)
+  --extension <path>         Load browser extensions (repeatable).
   --json                     JSON output
   --full, -f                 Full page screenshot
   --headed                   Show browser window (not headless)
@@ -1206,6 +1208,7 @@ Examples:
   agent-browser get text @e1
   agent-browser screenshot --full
   agent-browser --cdp 9222 snapshot      # Connect via CDP port
+  agent-browser --profile ~/.myapp open example.com  # Persistent profile
 "#
     );
 }

src/browser.ts

@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ import {
   type Route,
   type Locator,
 } from 'playwright-core';
+import path from 'node:path';
+import os from 'node:os';
 import type { LaunchCommand } from './types.js';
 import { type RefMap, type EnhancedSnapshot, getEnhancedSnapshot, parseRef } from './snapshot.js';
 
@@ -40,6 +42,7 @@ interface PageError {
 export class BrowserManager {
   private browser: Browser | null = null;
   private cdpPort: number | null = null;
+  private isPersistentContext: boolean = false;
   private contexts: BrowserContext[] = [];
   private pages: Page[] = [];
   private activePageIndex: number = 0;
@@ -58,7 +61,7 @@ export class BrowserManager {
    * Check if browser is launched
    */
   isLaunched(): boolean {
-    return this.browser !== null;
+    return this.browser !== null || this.isPersistentContext;
   }
 
   /**
@@ -605,12 +608,21 @@ export class BrowserManager {
    */
   async launch(options: LaunchCommand): Promise<void> {
     const cdpPort = options.cdpPort;
+    const hasExtensions = !!options.extensions?.length;
+    const hasProfile = !!options.profile;
 
-    if (this.browser) {
+    if (hasExtensions && cdpPort) {
-      const switchingFromCdpToBrowser = !cdpPort && this.cdpPort !== null;
+      throw new Error('Extensions cannot be used with CDP connection');
-      const needsCdpReconnect = !!cdpPort && this.needsCdpReconnect(cdpPort);
+    }
 
-      if (switchingFromCdpToBrowser || needsCdpReconnect) {
+    if (hasProfile && cdpPort) {
+      throw new Error('Profile cannot be used with CDP connection');
+    }
+
+    if (this.isLaunched()) {
+      const needsRelaunch =
+        (!cdpPort && this.cdpPort !== null) || (!!cdpPort && this.needsCdpReconnect(cdpPort));
+      if (needsRelaunch) {
         await this.close();
       } else {
         return;
@@ -622,35 +634,58 @@ export class BrowserManager {
       return;
     }
 
-    // Select browser type
     const browserType = options.browser ?? 'chromium';
+    if (hasExtensions && browserType !== 'chromium') {
+      throw new Error('Extensions are only supported in Chromium');
+    }
+
     const launcher =
       browserType === 'firefox' ? firefox : browserType === 'webkit' ? webkit : chromium;
+    const viewport = options.viewport ?? { width: 1280, height: 720 };
 
-    // Launch browser
+    let context: BrowserContext;
-    this.browser = await launcher.launch({
+    if (hasExtensions) {
-      headless: options.headless ?? true,
+      // Extensions require persistent context in a temp directory
-      executablePath: options.executablePath,
+      const extPaths = options.extensions!.join(',');
-    });
+      const session = process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_SESSION || 'default';
-    this.cdpPort = null;
+      context = await launcher.launchPersistentContext(
+        path.join(os.tmpdir(), `agent-browser-ext-${session}`),
+        {
+          headless: false,
+          executablePath: options.executablePath,
+          args: [`--disable-extensions-except=${extPaths}`, `--load-extension=${extPaths}`],
+          viewport,
+          extraHTTPHeaders: options.headers,
+        }
+      );
+      this.isPersistentContext = true;
+    } else if (hasProfile) {
+      // Profile uses persistent context for durable cookies/storage
+      // Expand ~ to home directory since it won't be shell-expanded
+      const profilePath = options.profile!.replace(/^~\//, os.homedir() + '/');
+      context = await launcher.launchPersistentContext(profilePath, {
+        headless: options.headless ?? true,
+        executablePath: options.executablePath,
+        viewport,
+        extraHTTPHeaders: options.headers,
+      });
+      this.isPersistentContext = true;
+    } else {
+      // Regular ephemeral browser
+      this.browser = await launcher.launch({
+        headless: options.headless ?? true,
+        executablePath: options.executablePath,
+      });
+      this.cdpPort = null;
+      context = await this.browser.newContext({ viewport, extraHTTPHeaders: options.headers });
+    }
 
-    // Create context with viewport and optional headers
-    const context = await this.browser.newContext({
-      viewport: options.viewport ?? { width: 1280, height: 720 },
-      extraHTTPHeaders: options.headers,
-    });
-
-    // Set default timeout to 10 seconds (Playwright default is 30s)
     context.setDefaultTimeout(10000);
-
     this.contexts.push(context);
 
-    // Create initial page
+    const page = context.pages()[0] ?? (await context.newPage());
-    const page = await context.newPage();
     this.pages.push(page);
     this.activePageIndex = 0;
-
-    // Automatically start console and error tracking
     this.setupPageTracking(page);
   }
 
@@ -877,6 +912,7 @@ export class BrowserManager {
     this.pages = [];
     this.contexts = [];
     this.cdpPort = null;
+    this.isPersistentContext = false;
     this.activePageIndex = 0;
     this.refMap = {};
     this.lastSnapshot = '';

src/daemon.ts

@@ -158,11 +158,17 @@ export async function startDaemon(): Promise<void> {
             parseResult.command.action !== 'launch' &&
             parseResult.command.action !== 'close'
           ) {
+            const extensions = process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_EXTENSIONS
+              ? process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_EXTENSIONS.split(',')
+                  .map((p) => p.trim())
+                  .filter(Boolean)
+              : undefined;
             await browser.launch({
               id: 'auto',
               action: 'launch',
               headless: true,
               executablePath: process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_EXECUTABLE_PATH,
+              extensions: extensions,
             });
           }
 

src/types.ts

@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ export interface LaunchCommand extends BaseCommand {
   headers?: Record<string, string>;
   executablePath?: string;
   cdpPort?: number;
+  extensions?: string[];
+  profile?: string; // Path to persistent browser profile directory
 }
 
 export interface NavigateCommand extends BaseCommand {