A specialized skill for launching and managing VS Code Remote Tunnels within Docker containers for seamless remote terminal access.
Install & Download
1. ClawHub CLI
The fastest way to install a skill directly from the registry.
npx clawhub@latest install vscode-tunnel
2. Manual Installation
Copy the skill folder to one of these locations
~/.openclaw/skills/ <project>/skills/ Priority: Workspace > Local > Bundled
3. Prompt Installation
Copy this prompt to OpenClaw to install it automatically.
Help me install vscode-tunnel using Clawhub. If Clawhub is not installed, install it first (npm i -g clawhub).
Prefer to download?
Get the raw skill files in a ZIP archive.
What is VS Code Tunnel?
The VS Code Tunnel skill is designed to bridge the gap between local development environments and Docker-based container workloads. By leveraging the official VS Code CLI, this skill allows developers to establish secure, encrypted tunnels that enable direct remote terminal access to a running container from any VS Code instance globally.
This integration is a vital component for developers working within the Openclaw Skills ecosystem who need persistent, high-performance command-line interaction with remote or isolated development environments. It simplifies the process of container debugging and remote management without the overhead of complex SSH configurations.
VS Code Tunnel Use Cases
- Accessing a terminal inside a remote Docker container without manual SSH setup.
- Debugging applications running in cloud-based or headless container environments.
- Setting up a persistent development environment accessible from any VS Code client globally.
- Managing containerized services through a familiar VS Code interface rather than restricted CLI tools.
How VS Code Tunnel Works
- The user triggers the skill using natural language phrases like "start vscode tunnel" or "connect vscode".
- The script checks for the existence of the VS Code CLI in the directory specified by VSCODE_CLI_DIR.
- If missing, it uses curl and tar to download and extract the official binary.
- The tunnel.sh script initiates a connection to the Microsoft VS Code Tunnel service, optionally using a provided name.
- The system generates an authorization code displayed in the logs, which the user must enter to link their Microsoft account.
- Once authorized, the tunnel runs in the background, providing a stable remote link accessible via the VS Code Remote Explorer.
VS Code Tunnel Setup
Ensure your environment has curl, tar, and grep installed. To set up the tunnel within your container, use the following commands:
# Start the tunnel with an interactive name prompt
bash tunnel.sh start
# Start the tunnel with a pre-defined name
bash tunnel.sh start my-dev-container
You can configure the following environment variables to customize the installation:
VSCODE_TUNNEL_NAME: The identifier for your tunnel.VSCODE_CLI_DIR: The path where the CLI binary will be stored (defaults to ~/.vscode-cli).
VS Code Tunnel Data Schema & Taxonomy
The skill manages its state and configuration through a simple directory and environment-based schema:
| Item | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
~/.vscode-cli |
Directory | Stores the downloaded VS Code CLI binary and local configuration. |
VSCODE_TUNNEL_NAME |
Variable | Metadata used to identify the connection in the VS Code UI. |
tunnel.log |
Log File | Captures stdout/stderr from the tunnel process, including authorization codes. |
tunnel.sh |
Script | The primary execution entry point for lifecycle management. |
VS Code Tunnel Advanced Features
- Custom Tunnel Naming: Support for specific naming conventions to distinguish between multiple microservices or environments within the Openclaw Skills ecosystem.
- Background Execution: The tunnel operates as a background process, allowing the agent to continue performing other tasks.
- Real-time Log Streaming: Integrated log viewing capabilities to monitor connection health and retrieve security tokens dynamically.
- Multi-Distro Support: Optimized to work across Linux x64 architectures, including lightweight Alpine, Debian, and Ubuntu distributions.
SKILL.md
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