feat: add persistent browser server with auto-discovery

Add `glimpse serve` which starts geckodriver + Firefox and proxies
WebDriver requests through a Unix socket at
$XDG_RUNTIME_DIR/glimpse-<uid>.sock. All commands auto-discover the
socket and reuse the running browser session (~300ms vs ~2-3s per
command).

The proxy intercepts session create/delete to keep Firefox alive:
new session requests return the existing session ID, delete session
navigates to about:blank instead of closing Firefox.

- `glimpse serve` starts in foreground, logs to stderr
- `glimpse serve --stop` sends shutdown via socket
- `glimpse serve --status` prints JSON status
- SIGTERM/SIGINT do full cleanup (Firefox + geckodriver + socket)
- Second instance detected and rejected with exit code 1
- GLIMPSE_SOCKET_PATH env var for test isolation
- Three new smoke tests for serve lifecycle

AGENTS.md

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 This project provides small Firefox/Selenium browser utilities packaged by Nix:
 
-- `glimpse` - generic page utilities with subcommands, including provider-backed search
+- `glimpse` - headless browser CLI with subcommands for page extraction, JS execution, screenshots, and search
 
 Keep the tools simple, scriptable, and JSON-friendly.
 
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ npm run test:list
 node test/smoke.js <tag-or-name>
 ```
 
-For smoke testing without external network dependencies, use focused tags or scripts such as `npm run test:snapshot`, `npm run test:wait`, `npm run test:errors`, or `node test/smoke.js snapshot js`. Run `npm test` and `nix build .#default --no-link` when the change is broad, touches packaging, or needs full validation. Smoke tests require Firefox and geckodriver on `PATH` and use local `data:` HTML pages.
+For smoke testing without external network dependencies, use focused tags or scripts such as `npm run test:wait`, `npm run test:errors`, or `node test/smoke.js reader js`. Run `npm test` and `nix build .#default --no-link` when the change is broad, touches packaging, or needs full validation. Smoke tests require Firefox and geckodriver on `PATH` and use local `data:` HTML pages.
 
 Do not attempt a live Kagi test unless `KAGI_TOKEN` is available.
 
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ Do not attempt a live Kagi test unless `KAGI_TOKEN` is available.
 - Browser execution should be headless by default.
 - Use `--no-headless` as the opt-out.
 - Keep `--url=<server>` support for connecting to an existing WebDriver server.
-- `--timeout=<ms>` is a top-level option for command waits and defaults to `10000`.
+- `--timeout=<seconds>` is a top-level option for command waits and defaults to `10`.
 - `--wait-js=<code>` and `--wait-until=<state>` are top-level wait options available to every `glimpse` subcommand.
 - `--js=<code>` and `--script=<file>` are top-level options available to every `glimpse` subcommand and run before command-specific behavior.
 - Prefer structured JSON output for objects/arrays.
@@ -38,11 +38,11 @@ Do not attempt a live Kagi test unless `KAGI_TOKEN` is available.
 
 Current `glimpse` subcommands:
 
-- `snapshot <url>` - return an agent-friendly page snapshot as JSON
+- `reader <url>` - extract page content as Markdown (tries Firefox Reader View, falls back to raw Turndown conversion); supports `--no-reader` to skip Reader View, `--format=json` for structured output
 - `exec <url> --js=<code>` or `--script=<file>` - execute JavaScript and return the result
 - `screenshot <url> --output=<file>` - save a PNG screenshot
-- `reader <url>` - open Firefox Reader View and output readable content as Markdown
 - `search <query>` - search with a supported provider and output JSON results
+- `serve` - start a persistent browser server (geckodriver + Firefox) for faster repeat commands; auto-discovered via Unix socket, `--stop` to shut down, `--status` to check
 
 ## Runtime Requirements
 

flake.nix

@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@
             nodejs_22
             firefox
             geckodriver
+            typescript-language-server
           ];
         };
       }

src/driver.ts

@@ -1,12 +1,20 @@
+import http from "node:http";
+import { createRequire } from "node:module";
 import { execFileSync } from "node:child_process";
-import { Builder, type WebDriver } from "selenium-webdriver";
+import { Builder, WebDriver } from "selenium-webdriver";
+export { type WebDriver };
 import firefox from "selenium-webdriver/firefox.js";
+import { isServerRunning, socketPath } from "./serve.js";
+
+const require = createRequire(import.meta.url);
+const { HttpClient, Executor } = require("selenium-webdriver/http");
 
 export interface DriverOptions {
   headless?: boolean;
   existingUrl?: string;
 }
 
+// Find Geckodriver
 function findGeckodriver(): string {
   try {
     return execFileSync("which", ["geckodriver"], { encoding: "utf-8" }).trim();
@@ -17,10 +25,31 @@ function findGeckodriver(): string {
   }
 }
 
+// Create Driver - Connects to a glimpse serve socket if available, falls
+// back to an explicit --url server, or spins up an ad-hoc geckodriver.
 export async function createDriver({
   headless = false,
   existingUrl,
 }: DriverOptions = {}): Promise<WebDriver> {
+  // Check For Glimpse Server Socket
+  if (!existingUrl) {
+    const sock = socketPath();
+    const running = await isServerRunning(sock);
+    if (running) {
+      const agent = new http.Agent(
+        // @ts-ignore — socketPath is supported by Node but not in the type defs
+        { socketPath: sock },
+      );
+      // URL is required by HttpClient but the agent routes via socket
+      const client = new HttpClient("http://localhost", agent);
+      const executor = new Executor(client);
+      return WebDriver.createSession(
+        executor,
+        new firefox.Options(),
+      ) as unknown as WebDriver;
+    }
+  }
+
   const options = new firefox.Options();
 
   // Configure Headless

src/index.ts

@@ -1,16 +1,30 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env node
 
 import { loadConfig, type GlimpseConfig } from "./config.js";
-import { createDriver } from "./driver.js";
-import { searchKagi } from "./providers/kagi.js";
+import { createDriver, type WebDriver } from "./driver.js";
+import { searchKagi, type SearchResult } from "./providers/kagi.js";
+import { startServer, stopServer, serverStatus } from "./serve.js";
 import { readFileSync, writeFileSync } from "node:fs";
 import TurndownService from "turndown";
 
-const DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_MS = 10000;
+const DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_S = 10;
 const POLL_INTERVAL_MS = 200;
 const startTime = Date.now();
 const runContext: { targetUrl?: string; currentUrl?: string } = {};
 
+interface ReaderArticle {
+  title?: string;
+  byline?: string;
+  siteName?: string;
+  html?: string;
+  text?: string;
+  readerUrl?: string;
+  sourceUrl?: string;
+  finalUrl?: string;
+  markdown?: string;
+  method?: "reader" | "raw";
+}
+
 // Parse CLI Args
 const [command, ...args] = process.argv.slice(2);
 const headless = !args.includes("--no-headless");
@@ -21,9 +35,9 @@ const waitJs = getOption("--wait-js");
 const waitUntil = getOption("--wait-until") ?? "none";
 const configPath = getOption("--config");
 let appConfig: GlimpseConfig = {};
-let timeoutMs = DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_MS;
+let timeoutMs: number;
 
-function getOption(name) {
+function getOption(name: string) {
   const prefix = `${name}=`;
   return args.find((arg) => arg.startsWith(prefix))?.slice(prefix.length);
 }
@@ -36,14 +50,14 @@ function elapsedMs() {
   return Date.now() - startTime;
 }
 
-function printResult(result) {
+function printResult(result: unknown) {
   if (result === undefined) {
     return;
   }
 
   const outputValue =
     result && typeof result === "object" && !Array.isArray(result)
-      ? { ...result, elapsedMs: result.elapsedMs ?? elapsedMs() }
+      ? { ...result, elapsedMs: (result as any).elapsedMs ?? elapsedMs() }
       : result;
   const output =
     typeof outputValue === "object"
@@ -56,18 +70,18 @@ class CliError extends Error {
   code: string;
   details: Record<string, unknown>;
 
-  constructor(code, message, details = {}) {
+  constructor(code: string, message: string, details = {}) {
     super(message);
     this.code = code;
     this.details = details;
   }
 }
 
-function cliError(code, message, details = {}) {
+function cliError(code: string, message: string, details = {}) {
   throw new CliError(code, message, details);
 }
 
-function unknownCommand(name) {
+function unknownCommand(name: string) {
   cliError("UNKNOWN_COMMAND", `Unknown command: ${name}`);
 }
 
@@ -75,17 +89,17 @@ function helpText() {
   return `Usage: glimpse <command> <url> [options]
 
 Commands:
-  snapshot <url> [options]    Return an agent-friendly page snapshot as JSON
+  reader <url> [options]      Extract page content as Markdown (Reader View with raw fallback)
   exec <url> [options]        Execute JavaScript on a page and return the result
   screenshot <url> [options]  Save a PNG screenshot of a page
-  reader <url> [options]      Extract Firefox Reader View content as Markdown
   search <query> [options]    Search using a supported provider and return JSON results
+  serve [options]             Start a persistent browser server for faster repeat commands
 
 Common Options:
   --help                      Show this help
   --no-headless               Show Firefox instead of running headless
   --url=<server>              Connect to an existing WebDriver server
-  --timeout=<ms>              Maximum wait time in milliseconds (default: 10000)
+  --timeout=<seconds>         Maximum wait time in seconds (default: 10)
   --wait-js=<code>            Poll JS until it returns a truthy value
   --wait-until=<state>        Wait for readiness: none, interactive, complete (default: none)
   --js=<code>                 Execute inline JS before command logic
@@ -102,18 +116,28 @@ Screenshot Options:
 Reader Options:
   --format=<format>           Output format: markdown, html, text, json (default: markdown)
   --output=<file>             Write output to a file
+  --no-reader                 Skip Reader View and use raw page extraction
+
+Serve Options:
+  --stop                      Stop a running server
+  --status                    Show server status
 
 Search Options:
   --provider=<provider>       Search provider: kagi (default: config or kagi)
   --token=<token>             Kagi token (default: KAGI_TOKEN or config)
+  --format=<format>           Output format: markdown, json (default: markdown)
 
 Examples:
-  glimpse snapshot https://example.com
+  glimpse reader https://example.com
+  glimpse reader https://example.com --no-reader
+  glimpse reader https://example.com/article --output=article.md
   glimpse exec https://example.com --js="return document.title"
   glimpse exec https://example.com --script=extract.js
   glimpse screenshot https://example.com --js="document.body.style.zoom = '80%'" --output=example.png
-  glimpse reader https://example.com/article --script=prepare.js --output=article.md
-  KAGI_TOKEN=... glimpse search --provider=kagi "node.js browser automation"`;
+  KAGI_TOKEN=... glimpse search --provider=kagi "node.js browser automation"
+  glimpse serve
+  glimpse serve --stop
+  glimpse serve --status`;
 }
 
 function printHelp() {
@@ -130,15 +154,15 @@ function usage() {
 function parseTimeout() {
   const value = getOption("--timeout");
   if (value === undefined) {
-    return DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_MS;
+    return DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_S * 1000;
   }
 
-  const parsed = Number.parseInt(value, 10);
-  if (!Number.isInteger(parsed) || parsed <= 0 || String(parsed) !== value) {
-    cliError("INVALID_OPTION", "--timeout must be a positive integer.");
+  const parsed = Number.parseFloat(value);
+  if (!Number.isFinite(parsed) || parsed <= 0) {
+    cliError("INVALID_OPTION", "--timeout must be a positive number.");
   }
 
-  return parsed;
+  return Math.round(parsed * 1000);
 }
 
 function validateCommonOptions() {
@@ -166,8 +190,8 @@ function getPreludeScriptSource() {
   return inlineJs;
 }
 
-async function withDriver(action) {
-  let driver;
+async function withDriver(action: (driver: WebDriver) => Promise<unknown>) {
+  let driver: WebDriver;
 
   try {
     driver = await createDriver({ headless, existingUrl });
@@ -182,16 +206,16 @@ async function withDriver(action) {
   }
 }
 
-async function waitForReadyState(driver) {
+async function waitForReadyState(driver: WebDriver) {
   if (waitUntil === "none") {
     return;
   }
 
   try {
     await driver.wait(async () => {
-      const readyState = await driver.executeScript(
+      const readyState = (await driver.executeScript(
         "return document.readyState",
-      );
+      )) as string;
       return waitUntil === "interactive"
         ? ["interactive", "complete"].includes(readyState)
         : readyState === "complete";
@@ -199,19 +223,19 @@ async function waitForReadyState(driver) {
   } catch {
     cliError(
       "WAIT_TIMEOUT",
-      `Timed out after ${timeoutMs}ms waiting for --wait-until=${waitUntil}`,
+      `Timed out after ${timeoutMs / 1000}s waiting for --wait-until=${waitUntil}`,
     );
   }
 }
 
-async function waitForJs(driver) {
+async function waitForJs(driver: WebDriver) {
   if (!waitJs) {
     return;
   }
 
   const start = Date.now();
   while (Date.now() - start < timeoutMs) {
-    let result;
+    let result: unknown;
 
     try {
       result = await driver.executeScript(waitJs);
@@ -228,11 +252,11 @@ async function waitForJs(driver) {
 
   cliError(
     "WAIT_TIMEOUT",
-    `Timed out after ${timeoutMs}ms waiting for --wait-js`,
+    `Timed out after ${timeoutMs / 1000}s waiting for --wait-js`,
   );
 }
 
-async function runPreludeScript(driver) {
+async function runPreludeScript(driver: WebDriver) {
   const scriptSource = getPreludeScriptSource();
   if (!scriptSource) {
     return undefined;
@@ -245,10 +269,13 @@ async function runPreludeScript(driver) {
   }
 }
 
-async function withPage(targetUrl, action) {
+async function withPage(
+  targetUrl: string,
+  action: (driver: WebDriver, scriptResult: unknown) => Promise<unknown>,
+) {
   runContext.targetUrl = targetUrl;
 
-  return withDriver(async (driver) => {
+  return withDriver(async (driver: WebDriver) => {
     // Navigate To Page
     try {
       await driver.get(targetUrl);
@@ -268,101 +295,12 @@ async function withPage(targetUrl, action) {
   });
 }
 
-const snapshotScript = `
-const normalize = (value) => String(value || "").replace(/\\s+/g, " ").trim();
-const visibleText = (element) => normalize(element?.innerText || element?.textContent || "");
-const safeValue = (input) => ["password", "hidden"].includes(input.type) ? "" : input.value || "";
-const labelText = (input) => {
-  const labels = Array.from(input.labels || []).map((label) => visibleText(label)).filter(Boolean);
-  if (labels.length > 0) return labels.join(" ");
-
-  if (input.id) {
-    const label = Array.from(document.querySelectorAll("label[for]"))
-      .find((candidate) => candidate.getAttribute("for") === input.id);
-    if (label) return visibleText(label);
-  }
-
-  return "";
-};
-const inputSummary = (input) => ({
-  type: input.type || input.tagName.toLowerCase(),
-  name: input.name || "",
-  id: input.id || "",
-  placeholder: input.placeholder || "",
-  value: safeValue(input),
-  label: labelText(input),
-});
-const collectHeadings = () => {
-  try {
-    return Array.from(document.querySelectorAll("h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6,[role='heading']"))
-      .map((heading) => {
-        const tagLevel = heading.tagName.match(/^H([1-6])$/i)?.[1];
-        const ariaLevel = heading.getAttribute("aria-level");
-        const level = Number.parseInt(tagLevel || ariaLevel || "0", 10);
-        const text = visibleText(heading);
-
-        return text ? { level: level || null, text } : null;
-      })
-      .filter(Boolean);
-  } catch {
-    return [];
-  }
-};
-
-return {
-  text: normalize(document.body?.innerText || ""),
-  headings: collectHeadings(),
-  links: Array.from(document.querySelectorAll("a[href]"))
-    .map((link) => ({ text: visibleText(link), href: link.href }))
-    .filter((link) => link.text || link.href),
-  buttons: Array.from(document.querySelectorAll("button,input[type='button'],input[type='submit'],input[type='reset'],[role='button']"))
-    .map((button) => ({
-      text: visibleText(button) || button.value || button.getAttribute("aria-label") || "",
-      type: button.type || button.getAttribute("role") || "button",
-      name: button.name || "",
-      id: button.id || "",
-    }))
-    .filter((button) => button.text || button.name || button.id),
-  inputs: Array.from(document.querySelectorAll("input,textarea,select"))
-    .map(inputSummary),
-  forms: Array.from(document.querySelectorAll("form"))
-    .map((form) => ({
-      action: form.action || "",
-      method: (form.method || "get").toLowerCase(),
-      text: visibleText(form),
-      inputs: Array.from(form.querySelectorAll("input,textarea,select")).map(inputSummary),
-    })),
-};
-`;
-
-async function snapshotCommand() {
-  const [targetUrl] = getPositionalArgs();
-
-  if (!targetUrl) usage();
-
-  return withPage(targetUrl, async (driver) => {
-    // Capture Page Metadata
-    const [url, title, result] = await Promise.all([
-      driver.getCurrentUrl(),
-      driver.getTitle(),
-      driver.executeScript(snapshotScript),
-    ]);
-
-    return {
-      ok: true,
-      url,
-      title,
-      result,
-    };
-  });
-}
-
 async function execCommand() {
   const [targetUrl] = getPositionalArgs();
 
   if (!targetUrl || (!inlineJs && !scriptPath)) usage();
 
-  return withPage(targetUrl, async (_driver, scriptResult) => scriptResult);
+  return withPage(targetUrl, async (_driver: WebDriver, scriptResult: unknown) => scriptResult);
 }
 
 async function screenshotCommand() {
@@ -371,7 +309,7 @@ async function screenshotCommand() {
 
   if (!targetUrl) usage();
 
-  return withPage(targetUrl, async (driver) => {
+  return withPage(targetUrl, async (driver: WebDriver) => {
     // Save Screenshot
     const image = await driver.takeScreenshot();
     writeFileSync(outputPath, image, "base64");
@@ -385,11 +323,11 @@ async function screenshotCommand() {
   });
 }
 
-function markdownTitle(text) {
+function markdownTitle(text: string) {
   return text.replaceAll(/\s+/g, " ").trim();
 }
 
-function articleToMarkdown(article) {
+function articleToMarkdown(article: ReaderArticle) {
   const turndown = new TurndownService({
     headingStyle: "atx",
     codeBlockStyle: "fenced",
@@ -413,7 +351,7 @@ function articleToMarkdown(article) {
   return `${parts.join("\n\n").trim()}\n`;
 }
 
-function renderReaderOutput(article, format) {
+function renderReaderOutput(article: ReaderArticle, format: string) {
   switch (format) {
     case "markdown":
       return article.markdown;
@@ -431,17 +369,33 @@ function renderReaderOutput(article, format) {
   }
 }
 
+function searchResultsToMarkdown(results: SearchResult[]): string {
+  return results
+    .map((r) => `## [${r.title}](${r.url})\n> ${r.description}`)
+    .join("\n\n")
+    .trim();
+}
+
 async function searchCommand() {
   const provider =
     getOption("--provider") ?? appConfig.search?.provider ?? "kagi";
   const query = getPositionalArgs().join(" ");
+  const format = getOption("--format") ?? "markdown";
 
   if (!query) usage();
 
+  if (!["markdown", "json"].includes(format)) {
+    cliError(
+      "INVALID_OPTION",
+      `Unsupported search format: ${format}. Expected markdown, json.`,
+    );
+  }
+
   // Run Provider Search
+  let results: SearchResult[];
   switch (provider) {
     case "kagi":
-      return searchKagi({
+      results = await searchKagi({
         query,
         token: getOption("--token"),
         config: appConfig,
@@ -449,35 +403,36 @@ async function searchCommand() {
         existingUrl,
         timeoutMs,
       });
+      break;
     default:
       cliError(
         "UNSUPPORTED_SEARCH_PROVIDER",
         `Unsupported search provider: ${provider}. Expected kagi.`,
       );
   }
+
+  // Render Output
+  switch (format) {
+    case "markdown":
+      return searchResultsToMarkdown(results);
+    case "json":
+      return results;
+  }
 }
 
-async function readerCommand() {
-  const [targetUrl] = getPositionalArgs();
-  const outputPath = getOption("--output");
-  const format = getOption("--format") ?? "markdown";
+// Try Reader View Extraction
+async function tryReaderView(
+  driver: WebDriver,
+  finalUrl: string,
+  targetUrl: string,
+): Promise<ReaderArticle | null> {
+  const readerUrl = `about:reader?url=${encodeURIComponent(finalUrl)}`;
+  await driver.get(readerUrl);
 
-  if (!targetUrl) usage();
-
-  return withPage(targetUrl, async (driver) => {
-    // Capture Final Url
-    const finalUrl = await driver.getCurrentUrl();
-
-    // Open Firefox Reader View
-    const readerUrl = `about:reader?url=${encodeURIComponent(finalUrl)}`;
-    await driver.get(readerUrl);
-
-    // Wait For Reader Content
-    let article;
-    try {
-      article = await driver.wait(
-        async () => {
-          return driver.executeScript(`
+  try {
+    return await driver.wait(
+      async () => {
+        return driver.executeScript(`
           const content = document.querySelector("#moz-reader-content, .moz-reader-content");
           const error = document.querySelector(".reader-error");
           const text = content?.innerText?.trim() || "";
@@ -499,15 +454,67 @@ async function readerCommand() {
 
           return null;
         `);
-        },
-        timeoutMs,
-        `No readable article content found for URL: ${targetUrl}`,
-      );
-    } catch (err) {
-      cliError("TIMEOUT", err.message);
+      },
+      timeoutMs,
+      `No readable article content found for URL: ${targetUrl}`,
+    );
+  } catch {
+    return null;
+  }
+}
+
+// Raw Page Extraction Fallback
+async function extractRawPage(
+  driver: WebDriver,
+  originalUrl?: string,
+): Promise<ReaderArticle> {
+  // Navigate Back If Needed (e.g. after failed Reader View)
+  if (originalUrl) {
+    await driver.get(originalUrl);
+  }
+
+  const result = (await driver.executeScript(`
+    return {
+      title: document.title || "",
+      html: document.body?.innerHTML || "",
+      text: document.body?.innerText?.trim() || "",
+    };
+  `)) as { title: string; html: string; text: string };
+
+  return {
+    title: result.title,
+    html: result.html,
+    text: result.text,
+  };
+}
+
+async function readerCommand() {
+  const [targetUrl] = getPositionalArgs();
+  const outputPath = getOption("--output");
+  const format = getOption("--format") ?? "markdown";
+  const skipReader = args.includes("--no-reader");
+
+  if (!targetUrl) usage();
+
+  return withPage(targetUrl, async (driver: WebDriver) => {
+    const finalUrl = await driver.getCurrentUrl();
+
+    // Extract Page Content
+    let article: ReaderArticle;
+    if (!skipReader) {
+      article = await tryReaderView(driver, finalUrl, targetUrl);
     }
 
-    // Render Output
+    // Fallback To Raw Extraction
+    if (!article) {
+      // Navigate back only if Reader View was attempted
+      article = await extractRawPage(driver, skipReader ? undefined : finalUrl);
+      article.method = "raw";
+    } else {
+      article.method = "reader";
+    }
+
+    // Build Output
     article.sourceUrl = targetUrl;
     article.finalUrl = finalUrl;
     article.markdown = articleToMarkdown(article);
@@ -530,6 +537,16 @@ async function readerCommand() {
   });
 }
 
+async function serveCommand() {
+  if (args.includes("--stop")) {
+    return stopServer();
+  }
+  if (args.includes("--status")) {
+    return serverStatus();
+  }
+  return startServer({ headless });
+}
+
 async function main() {
   if (!command || command === "--help") {
     printHelp();
@@ -542,8 +559,6 @@ async function main() {
   appConfig = loadConfig({ path: configPath });
 
   switch (command) {
-    case "snapshot":
-      return snapshotCommand();
     case "exec":
       return execCommand();
     case "screenshot":
@@ -552,6 +567,8 @@ async function main() {
       return readerCommand();
     case "search":
       return searchCommand();
+    case "serve":
+      return serveCommand();
     default:
       unknownCommand(command);
   }

src/serve.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,421 @@
+import http from "node:http";
+import net from "node:net";
+import os from "node:os";
+import path from "node:path";
+import fs from "node:fs";
+import { ChildProcess, spawn } from "node:child_process";
+import { execFileSync } from "node:child_process";
+
+const GECKODRIVER_STARTUP_TIMEOUT = 5000;
+// Socket Path - Per-user socket in XDG_RUNTIME_DIR (tmpfs, auto-cleaned on
+// logout) with tmpdir fallback. GLIMPSE_SOCKET_PATH overrides for tests.
+export function socketPath(): string {
+  if (process.env.GLIMPSE_SOCKET_PATH) return process.env.GLIMPSE_SOCKET_PATH;
+  const uid =
+    typeof process.getuid === "function" ? String(process.getuid()) : "0";
+  const dir = process.env.XDG_RUNTIME_DIR ?? os.tmpdir();
+  return path.join(dir, `glimpse-${uid}.sock`);
+}
+
+// Try Connect - Attempts to connect to an existing socket. Resolves with
+// true if something is listening, false otherwise.
+export function isServerRunning(sock = socketPath()): Promise<boolean> {
+  return new Promise((resolve) => {
+    const conn = net.createConnection(sock);
+    conn.on("connect", () => {
+      conn.destroy();
+      resolve(true);
+    });
+    conn.on("error", () => resolve(false));
+  });
+}
+
+// Find Geckodriver
+function findGeckodriver(): string {
+  try {
+    return execFileSync("which", ["geckodriver"], { encoding: "utf-8" }).trim();
+  } catch {
+    throw new Error(
+      "geckodriver not found on $PATH. Install it (e.g. via Nix or your package manager).",
+    );
+  }
+}
+
+// Start Geckodriver - Spawns geckodriver on a random port and waits for it
+// to be ready. Returns the child process and the resolved port.
+async function startGeckodriver(): Promise<{
+  process: ChildProcess;
+  port: number;
+}> {
+  const binary = findGeckodriver();
+  const child = spawn(binary, ["--port", "0"], {
+    stdio: ["ignore", "pipe", "pipe"],
+  });
+
+  // Wait For Port
+  const port = await new Promise<number>((resolve, reject) => {
+    const timeout = setTimeout(() => {
+      child.kill();
+      reject(new Error("Timed out waiting for geckodriver to start"));
+    }, GECKODRIVER_STARTUP_TIMEOUT);
+
+    let output = "";
+    child.stdout?.on("data", (chunk: Buffer) => {
+      output += chunk.toString();
+      const match = output.match(/Listening on [^\s]*:(\d+)/);
+      if (match) {
+        clearTimeout(timeout);
+        resolve(Number.parseInt(match[1], 10));
+      }
+    });
+
+    child.on("exit", (code) => {
+      clearTimeout(timeout);
+      reject(new Error(`geckodriver exited with code ${code}: ${output}`));
+    });
+  });
+
+  return { process: child, port };
+}
+
+// Create Firefox Session - Creates a new WebDriver session via the
+// geckodriver HTTP API directly, keeping Firefox alive.
+async function createSession(
+  geckodriverPort: number,
+  headless: boolean,
+): Promise<string> {
+  const body = JSON.stringify({
+    capabilities: {
+      alwaysMatch: {
+        browserName: "firefox",
+        "moz:firefoxOptions": {
+          args: headless ? ["--headless"] : [],
+        },
+      },
+    },
+  });
+
+  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    const req = http.request(
+      {
+        hostname: "127.0.0.1",
+        port: geckodriverPort,
+        path: "/session",
+        method: "POST",
+        headers: {
+          "Content-Type": "application/json",
+          "Content-Length": Buffer.byteLength(body),
+        },
+      },
+      (res) => {
+        let data = "";
+        res.on("data", (chunk: Buffer) => (data += chunk.toString()));
+        res.on("end", () => {
+          try {
+            const parsed = JSON.parse(data);
+            if (parsed.value?.sessionId) {
+              resolve(parsed.value.sessionId);
+            } else {
+              reject(
+                new Error(`Failed to create session: ${data.slice(0, 500)}`),
+              );
+            }
+          } catch {
+            reject(new Error(`Invalid response from geckodriver: ${data.slice(0, 500)}`));
+          }
+        });
+      },
+    );
+    req.on("error", reject);
+    req.end(body);
+  });
+}
+
+// Delete Session - Closes the Firefox session via WebDriver API.
+async function deleteSession(
+  geckodriverPort: number,
+  sessionId: string,
+): Promise<void> {
+  return new Promise((resolve) => {
+    const req = http.request(
+      {
+        hostname: "127.0.0.1",
+        port: geckodriverPort,
+        path: `/session/${sessionId}`,
+        method: "DELETE",
+      },
+      () => resolve(),
+    );
+    req.on("error", () => resolve());
+    req.end();
+  });
+}
+
+// Proxy Request - Forwards an HTTP request to geckodriver over TCP.
+function proxyRequest(
+  clientReq: http.IncomingMessage,
+  clientRes: http.ServerResponse,
+  geckodriverPort: number,
+) {
+  // Rewrite Host Header - The client sends Host: localhost via the socket
+  // but geckodriver expects the actual host:port.
+  const headers = { ...clientReq.headers, host: `127.0.0.1:${geckodriverPort}` };
+
+  const proxyReq = http.request(
+    {
+      hostname: "127.0.0.1",
+      port: geckodriverPort,
+      path: clientReq.url,
+      method: clientReq.method,
+      headers,
+    },
+    (proxyRes) => {
+      clientRes.writeHead(proxyRes.statusCode ?? 500, proxyRes.headers);
+      proxyRes.pipe(clientRes);
+    },
+  );
+
+  proxyReq.on("error", (err) => {
+    clientRes.writeHead(502);
+    clientRes.end(JSON.stringify({ error: err.message }));
+  });
+
+  clientReq.pipe(proxyReq);
+}
+
+// Intercept Session Management - The proxy intercepts session creation and
+// deletion to reuse the persistent Firefox session. New session requests
+// return the existing session ID. Delete session requests are turned into
+// navigations to about:blank instead of actually closing Firefox.
+function handleRequest(
+  req: http.IncomingMessage,
+  res: http.ServerResponse,
+  geckodriverPort: number,
+  sessionId: string,
+) {
+  const method = req.method?.toUpperCase();
+  const urlPath = req.url ?? "";
+
+  // Intercept New Session - Return the existing session ID
+  if (method === "POST" && urlPath === "/session") {
+    // Drain the request body
+    req.resume();
+    req.on("end", () => {
+      const response = {
+        value: {
+          sessionId,
+          capabilities: {},
+        },
+      };
+      const body = JSON.stringify(response);
+      res.writeHead(200, {
+        "Content-Type": "application/json",
+        "Content-Length": String(Buffer.byteLength(body)),
+      });
+      res.end(body);
+    });
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // Intercept Delete Session - Navigate to about:blank instead
+  if (
+    method === "DELETE" &&
+    urlPath === `/session/${sessionId}`
+  ) {
+    const navBody = JSON.stringify({ url: "about:blank" });
+    const navReq = http.request(
+      {
+        hostname: "127.0.0.1",
+        port: geckodriverPort,
+        path: `/session/${sessionId}/url`,
+        method: "POST",
+        headers: {
+          "Content-Type": "application/json",
+          "Content-Length": String(Buffer.byteLength(navBody)),
+        },
+      },
+      (navRes) => {
+        let data = "";
+        navRes.on("data", (chunk: Buffer) => (data += chunk.toString()));
+        navRes.on("end", () => {
+          res.writeHead(200, { "Content-Type": "application/json" });
+          res.end(JSON.stringify({ value: null }));
+        });
+      },
+    );
+    navReq.on("error", () => {
+      res.writeHead(200, { "Content-Type": "application/json" });
+      res.end(JSON.stringify({ value: null }));
+    });
+    navReq.end(navBody);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // Proxy Everything Else
+  proxyRequest(req, res, geckodriverPort);
+}
+
+// Shutdown Command - Sent by `glimpse serve --stop` via a special
+// non-WebDriver endpoint.
+const SHUTDOWN_PATH = "/__glimpse/shutdown";
+const STATUS_PATH = "/__glimpse/status";
+
+export interface ServeOptions {
+  headless?: boolean;
+}
+
+// Start Server - Main entry point for `glimpse serve`.
+export async function startServer({
+  headless = true,
+}: ServeOptions = {}): Promise<void> {
+  const sock = socketPath();
+
+  // Check For Existing Server
+  const running = await isServerRunning(sock);
+  if (running) {
+    console.error(`glimpse: server already running on ${sock}`);
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+
+  // Clean Stale Socket
+  if (fs.existsSync(sock)) {
+    fs.unlinkSync(sock);
+  }
+
+  // Start Geckodriver
+  console.error("glimpse: starting geckodriver...");
+  const geckodriver = await startGeckodriver();
+  console.error(`glimpse: geckodriver listening on port ${geckodriver.port}`);
+
+  // Create Persistent Firefox Session
+  console.error(
+    `glimpse: starting Firefox${headless ? " (headless)" : ""}...`,
+  );
+  const sessionId = await createSession(geckodriver.port, headless);
+  console.error(`glimpse: Firefox session ${sessionId} created`);
+
+  // Create Proxy Server
+  const server = http.createServer((req, res) => {
+    const urlPath = req.url ?? "";
+
+    // Handle Shutdown
+    if (urlPath === SHUTDOWN_PATH) {
+      req.resume();
+      res.writeHead(200, { "Content-Type": "application/json" });
+      res.end(JSON.stringify({ ok: true }));
+      shutdown();
+      return;
+    }
+
+    // Handle Status
+    if (urlPath === STATUS_PATH) {
+      req.resume();
+      res.writeHead(200, { "Content-Type": "application/json" });
+      res.end(
+        JSON.stringify({
+          ok: true,
+          sessionId,
+          geckodriverPort: geckodriver.port,
+          socket: sock,
+          headless,
+          pid: process.pid,
+        }),
+      );
+      return;
+    }
+
+    handleRequest(req, res, geckodriver.port, sessionId);
+  });
+
+  server.listen(sock, () => {
+    console.error(`glimpse: server listening on ${sock}`);
+  });
+
+  // Cleanup Handler
+  let shuttingDown = false;
+  async function shutdown() {
+    if (shuttingDown) return;
+    shuttingDown = true;
+
+    console.error("glimpse: shutting down...");
+
+    // Close Proxy Server
+    server.close();
+
+    // Delete Firefox Session
+    try {
+      await deleteSession(geckodriver.port, sessionId);
+    } catch {
+      // Firefox may already be gone
+    }
+
+    // Kill Geckodriver
+    geckodriver.process.kill();
+
+    // Remove Socket
+    try {
+      fs.unlinkSync(sock);
+    } catch {
+      // Socket may already be gone
+    }
+
+    console.error("glimpse: stopped");
+    process.exit(0);
+  }
+
+  process.on("SIGTERM", shutdown);
+  process.on("SIGINT", shutdown);
+}
+
+// Stop Server - Connects to the socket and sends a shutdown request.
+export async function stopServer(): Promise<void> {
+  const sock = socketPath();
+  const running = await isServerRunning(sock);
+
+  if (!running) {
+    console.error("glimpse: no server running");
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+
+  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    const req = http.request(
+      { socketPath: sock, path: SHUTDOWN_PATH, method: "POST" },
+      (res) => {
+        res.resume();
+        res.on("end", () => {
+          console.error("glimpse: server stopped");
+          resolve();
+        });
+      },
+    );
+    req.on("error", reject);
+    req.end();
+  });
+}
+
+// Server Status - Connects to the socket and queries status.
+export async function serverStatus(): Promise<void> {
+  const sock = socketPath();
+  const running = await isServerRunning(sock);
+
+  if (!running) {
+    console.error("glimpse: no server running");
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+
+  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    const req = http.request(
+      { socketPath: sock, path: STATUS_PATH, method: "GET" },
+      (res) => {
+        let data = "";
+        res.on("data", (chunk: Buffer) => (data += chunk.toString()));
+        res.on("end", () => {
+          process.stdout.write(data + "\n");
+          resolve();
+        });
+      },
+    );
+    req.on("error", reject);
+    req.end();
+  });
+}

test/smoke.js

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env node
+// @ts-nocheck
 
 import {
   mkdtempSync,
@@ -9,7 +10,7 @@ import {
 } from "node:fs";
 import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
 import { join } from "node:path";
-import { spawnSync } from "node:child_process";
+import { spawnSync, spawn } from "node:child_process";
 import assert from "node:assert/strict";
 
 const cliPath = new URL("../src/index.ts", import.meta.url).pathname;
@@ -73,7 +74,7 @@ test("no args prints help", ["help", "cli"], () => {
 
   assert.equal(result.status, 0, result.stderr || result.stdout);
   assert.match(result.stdout, /Usage: glimpse <command> <url> \[options\]/);
-  assert.match(result.stdout, /snapshot <url>/);
+  assert.match(result.stdout, /reader <url>/);
   assert.equal(result.stderr, "");
 });
 
@@ -86,48 +87,50 @@ test("help flag prints help", ["help", "cli"], () => {
   assert.equal(result.stderr, "");
 });
 
-test("snapshot returns page metadata and content", ["snapshot"], () => {
-  const output = expectSuccess([
-    "snapshot",
+test("reader extracts page content as markdown", ["reader"], () => {
+  const result = runCli([
+    "reader",
     dataHtml(
-      '<title>Hello</title><h1>Main</h1><a href="/x">X</a><button>Go</button>',
+      '<title>Hello</title><h1>Main</h1><p>Some text</p><a href="https://example.com">Link</a>',
     ),
+    "--no-reader",
   ]);
 
-  assert.equal(output.ok, true);
-  assert.equal(output.title, "Hello");
-  assert.equal(typeof output.elapsedMs, "number");
-  assert.deepEqual(output.result.headings, [{ level: 1, text: "Main" }]);
-  assert.deepEqual(output.result.links, [{ href: "/x", text: "X" }]);
-  assert.equal(output.result.buttons[0].text, "Go");
-  assert.match(output.result.text, /Main/);
+  assert.equal(result.status, 0, result.stderr || result.stdout);
+  const output = result.stdout.trim();
+  assert.match(output, /# Main/);
+  assert.match(output, /Some text/);
+  assert.match(output, /\[Link\]\(https:\/\/example\.com\/??\)/);
 });
 
-test("snapshot extracts aria headings", ["snapshot"], () => {
+test("reader returns json format with method field", ["reader"], () => {
   const output = expectSuccess([
-    "snapshot",
-    dataHtml(
-      '<title>Hello</title><div role="heading" aria-level="2">ARIA</div>',
-    ),
+    "reader",
+    dataHtml("<title>Hello</title><h1>Main</h1><p>World</p>"),
+    "--no-reader",
+    "--format=json",
   ]);
 
-  assert.equal(output.ok, true);
-  assert.deepEqual(output.result.headings, [{ level: 2, text: "ARIA" }]);
+  assert.equal(output.title, "Hello");
+  assert.equal(output.method, "raw");
+  assert.equal(typeof output.markdown, "string");
+  assert.match(output.markdown, /# Main/);
+  assert.match(output.text, /Main/);
 });
 
 test(
-  "snapshot runs top-level javascript before extraction",
-  ["snapshot", "js"],
+  "reader runs top-level javascript before extraction",
+  ["reader", "js"],
   () => {
-    const output = expectSuccess([
-      "snapshot",
+    const result = runCli([
+      "reader",
       dataHtml("<title>Hello</title><h1>Old</h1>"),
+      "--no-reader",
       "--js=document.querySelector('h1').textContent = 'New'",
     ]);
 
-    assert.equal(output.ok, true);
-    assert.deepEqual(output.result.headings, [{ level: 1, text: "New" }]);
-    assert.equal(output.result.text, "New");
+    assert.equal(result.status, 0, result.stderr || result.stdout);
+    assert.match(result.stdout, /# New/);
   },
 );
 
@@ -160,10 +163,123 @@ test(
   },
 );
 
+// Serve Helper - Starts a glimpse serve process with an isolated socket,
+// waits for the "server listening" message, and returns a handle with stop().
+function startServe(extraEnv = {}) {
+  const sock = join(tempDir, `serve-${Date.now()}.sock`);
+  const env = { ...process.env, GLIMPSE_SOCKET_PATH: sock, ...extraEnv };
+
+  const child = spawn(process.execPath, ["--import", "tsx", cliPath, "serve"], {
+    encoding: "utf-8",
+    env,
+    stdio: ["ignore", "pipe", "pipe"],
+  });
+
+  let stderr = "";
+  child.stderr.on("data", (chunk) => { stderr += chunk.toString(); });
+
+  const ready = new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    const timeout = setTimeout(() => reject(new Error(`serve did not start: ${stderr}`)), 15000);
+    child.stderr.on("data", () => {
+      if (stderr.includes("server listening")) {
+        clearTimeout(timeout);
+        resolve();
+      }
+    });
+    child.on("exit", (code) => {
+      clearTimeout(timeout);
+      reject(new Error(`serve exited early (code ${code}): ${stderr}`));
+    });
+  });
+
+  function runWithSocket(args) {
+    return spawnSync(process.execPath, ["--import", "tsx", cliPath, ...args], {
+      encoding: "utf-8",
+      env,
+      timeout: 30000,
+    });
+  }
+
+  function stop() {
+    runWithSocket(["serve", "--stop"]);
+    return new Promise((resolve) => {
+      child.on("exit", () => resolve());
+      setTimeout(() => { child.kill(); resolve(); }, 5000);
+    });
+  }
+
+  return { ready, stop, runWithSocket, sock, child };
+}
+
+test(
+  "serve starts and stops cleanly",
+  ["serve"],
+  async () => {
+    const server = startServe();
+    await server.ready;
+
+    // Status Should Report Running
+    const status = server.runWithSocket(["serve", "--status"]);
+    assert.equal(status.status, 0, status.stderr);
+    const info = parseJson(status.stdout);
+    assert.equal(info.ok, true);
+    assert.equal(typeof info.sessionId, "string");
+    assert.equal(info.socket, server.sock);
+
+    await server.stop();
+    assert.equal(existsSync(server.sock), false, "socket should be cleaned up");
+  },
+);
+
+test(
+  "serve reuses browser session across commands",
+  ["serve"],
+  async () => {
+    const server = startServe();
+    await server.ready;
+
+    // First Command
+    const r1 = server.runWithSocket([
+      "reader",
+      dataHtml("<h1>First</h1>"),
+      "--no-reader",
+    ]);
+    assert.equal(r1.status, 0, r1.stderr);
+    assert.match(r1.stdout, /# First/);
+
+    // Second Command
+    const r2 = server.runWithSocket([
+      "reader",
+      dataHtml("<h1>Second</h1>"),
+      "--no-reader",
+    ]);
+    assert.equal(r2.status, 0, r2.stderr);
+    assert.match(r2.stdout, /# Second/);
+
+    await server.stop();
+  },
+);
+
+test(
+  "serve rejects second instance",
+  ["serve", "errors"],
+  async () => {
+    const server = startServe();
+    await server.ready;
+
+    // Second Instance Should Fail
+    const result = server.runWithSocket(["serve"]);
+    assert.notEqual(result.status, 0);
+    assert.match(result.stderr, /already running/);
+
+    await server.stop();
+  },
+);
+
 test("search validates kagi token in provider", ["search", "errors"], () => {
   const env = { ...process.env };
   delete env.KAGI_TOKEN;
-  const result = runCli(["search", "example query"], { env });
+  const result = runCli(["search", "--config=/nonexistent/path", "example query"], { env });
   const output = parseJson(result.stderr);
 
   assert.notEqual(result.status, 0, result.stdout || result.stderr);
@@ -182,8 +298,9 @@ test(
     writeFileSync(configPath, "not json");
 
     const output = expectFailure([
-      "snapshot",
+      "reader",
       dataHtml("<title>Hello</title>"),
+      "--no-reader",
       `--config=${configPath}`,
     ]);
 
@@ -201,8 +318,9 @@ test(
     writeFileSync(configPath, JSON.stringify({ search: { provider: 42 } }));
 
     const output = expectFailure([
-      "snapshot",
+      "reader",
       dataHtml("<title>Hello</title>"),
+      "--no-reader",
       `--config=${configPath}`,
     ]);
 
@@ -218,17 +336,17 @@ test("empty home config is accepted", ["config"], () => {
   mkdirSync(configDir, { recursive: true });
   writeFileSync(join(configDir, "config.json"), "{}");
 
-  const output = expectSuccess(
-    ["snapshot", dataHtml("<title>Hello</title><h1>Main</h1>")],
+  const result = runCli(
+    ["reader", dataHtml("<title>Hello</title><h1>Main</h1>"), "--no-reader"],
     { env: { ...process.env, XDG_CONFIG_HOME: configHome } },
   );
 
-  assert.equal(output.ok, true);
-  assert.equal(output.title, "Hello");
+  assert.equal(result.status, 0, result.stderr || result.stdout);
+  assert.match(result.stdout, /# Main/);
 });
 
 test("unknown command returns structured error", ["errors", "cli"], () => {
-  const output = expectFailure(["nope", dataHtml("<title>Hello</title>")]);
+  const output = expectFailure(["nope", dataHtml("<title>Hello</title>"), "--no-reader"]);
 
   assert.equal(output.ok, false);
   assert.equal(output.error.code, "UNKNOWN_COMMAND");
@@ -241,22 +359,24 @@ test(
   ["errors", "timeout"],
   () => {
     const output = expectFailure([
-      "snapshot",
+      "reader",
       dataHtml("<title>Hello</title>"),
+      "--no-reader",
       "--timeout=abc",
     ]);
 
     assert.equal(output.ok, false);
     assert.equal(output.error.code, "INVALID_OPTION");
-    assert.match(output.error.message, /--timeout must be a positive integer/);
+    assert.match(output.error.message, /--timeout must be a positive number/);
     assert.equal(typeof output.elapsedMs, "number");
   },
 );
 
 test("invalid wait-until returns invalid option", ["errors", "wait"], () => {
   const output = expectFailure([
-    "snapshot",
+    "reader",
     dataHtml("<title>Hello</title>"),
+    "--no-reader",
     "--wait-until=loaded",
   ]);
 
@@ -266,22 +386,24 @@ test("invalid wait-until returns invalid option", ["errors", "wait"], () => {
 });
 
 test("wait-js succeeds when condition is true", ["wait"], () => {
-  const output = expectSuccess([
-    "snapshot",
-    dataHtml("<title>Hello</title>"),
+  const result = runCli([
+    "reader",
+    dataHtml("<title>Hello</title><h1>Main</h1>"),
+    "--no-reader",
     '--wait-js=return document.title === "Hello"',
   ]);
 
-  assert.equal(output.ok, true);
-  assert.equal(output.title, "Hello");
+  assert.equal(result.status, 0, result.stderr || result.stdout);
+  assert.match(result.stdout, /# Main/);
 });
 
 test("wait-js timeout returns wait timeout", ["wait", "errors"], () => {
   const output = expectFailure([
-    "snapshot",
+    "reader",
     dataHtml("<title>Hello</title>"),
+    "--no-reader",
     "--wait-js=return false",
-    "--timeout=1",
+    "--timeout=0.001",
   ]);
 
   assert.equal(output.ok, false);
@@ -296,8 +418,9 @@ test(
   ["wait", "errors", "js"],
   () => {
     const output = expectFailure([
-      "snapshot",
+      "reader",
       dataHtml("<title>Hello</title>"),
+      "--no-reader",
       '--wait-js=throw new Error("boom")',
     ]);
 
@@ -313,8 +436,9 @@ test(
   ["errors", "js"],
   () => {
     const output = expectFailure([
-      "snapshot",
+      "reader",
       dataHtml("<title>Hello</title>"),
+      "--no-reader",
       '--js=throw new Error("boom")',
     ]);
 

tsconfig.json

@@ -11,5 +11,6 @@
     "forceConsistentCasingInFileNames": true,
     "skipLibCheck": true
   },
-  "include": ["src/**/*.ts"]
+  "include": ["src/**/*.ts"],
+  "exclude": ["test", "node_modules", "dist"]
 }