PinchTab Browser Ops

Use PinchTab as the default browser-control path.

Workflow

1. Start and verify PinchTab
2. Navigate and snapshot page structure
3. Operate elements by refs (click/fill/press) from fresh snapshots
4. Verify outcome with text, URL, and key UI markers

1) Instance lifecycle policy (mandatory)

Always reuse existing running instance first.

Rules:

• Reuse current running instance/profile whenever it is operable.
• Launch a new instance only when no operable instance exists.
• Do not close browser instances after task completion.
• Keep the instance alive for subsequent tasks and state continuity.

Check state first:

pinchtab health
pinchtab instances
pinchtab tab list

Only if unavailable, start service/instance:

pinchtab server
# then launch an instance only when needed

2) Navigate and map page

Open the target page:

pinchtab nav <url>
# or
pinchtab nav <url> --new-tab

Get actionable structure (preferred):

pinchtab snap -i -c

Use pinchtab find "<label>" if the page is large, then confirm with a fresh snap before action.

3) Operate safely by refs

Prefer deterministic commands:

pinchtab click <ref>
pinchtab fill <ref> "..."
pinchtab press <ref> Enter

Rules:

• Re-snapshot after each major state change (modal open, route change, submit, tab switch).
• Insert a short stabilization delay (1-2s) between critical actions on dynamic pages.
• Do not reuse stale refs after navigation or rerender.
• Retry at most 2 times with fresh snap; then ask for human intervention.

4) Verify and finish

Always validate completion using:

pinchtab text
pinchtab tab list

Check at least one concrete success signal (for example: “草稿箱(1)”, “保存成功”, changed URL, expected title).

Login/CAPTCHA policy

• Require user to complete login, QR scan, SMS code, CAPTCHA, or 2FA manually in local browser.
• Do not request, store, or relay one-time codes.
• Resume automation only after user confirms “已登录”.

Fallback policy

If strict nav/snap/find/click/fill/press/text cannot progress:

1. Recheck page state and auth state.
2. Ask user for one manual step (focused unblock only).
3. Use eval only when explicitly approved and only for short-lived unblock; revert to normal flow immediately.

Resource map

• 小红书长文发布标准流程（标题<=20、正文描述、话题、暂存离开）: references/xiaohongshu-longform.md