Multi-Environment Setup for PAI v1/v2 Development

[mellanon]

For those maintaining a v1 installation while exploring v2, here's my setup for switching between environments without conflicts.

The Problem

I'm running a customized v1 installation ("Luna") in production while testing v2. Since ~/.claude can only point to one place, I needed a way to:

1. Keep v1 working for daily use
2. Experiment with v2 packs in isolation
3. Reset test environment quickly (vs 30+ min reinstalls)

Solution: Symlink Switching + Baselines

Directory Structure

~/Documents/src/
├── PAI-v1.2/Personal_AI_Infrastructure/.claude   ← v1 production
├── PAI-v2.0/Personal_AI_Infrastructure/.claude   ← v2 development
├── PAI-test/.claude                              ← Experimentation sandbox
└── PAI-baselines/
    └── kai-vanilla-v2/                           ← Clean Kai snapshot (8MB)

pai-switch Script

Simple bash script that manages the ~/.claude symlink:

pai-switch v1      # Production - daily work
pai-switch v2      # v2 pack development
pai-switch test    # Experimentation sandbox

# Baseline management
pai-switch restore            # Reset test to clean Kai (seconds vs 30+ min)
pai-switch save my-snapshot   # Save current test state
pai-switch baselines          # List available snapshots

Workflow

1. Daily work: pai-switch v1 → full v1 installation
2. Pack development: pai-switch v2 → author new packs
3. Testing: pai-switch test → install packs, break things freely
4. Recovery: pai-switch restore → back to clean Kai in seconds

Key Insight: Baselines vs Reinstallation

After a clean Kai installation (wizard + all packs), I copied PAI-test/.claude to PAI-baselines/kai-vanilla-v2. Now when testing goes wrong, I restore in seconds rather than rerunning the 30+ minute installation process.

Full pai-switch Script

#!/bin/bash
# pai-switch - Switch between PAI environments
#
# Usage:
#   pai-switch v1|prod    Switch to Luna v1 (production)
#   pai-switch v2|dev     Switch to Luna v2 (development)
#   pai-switch test       Switch to test sandbox
#   pai-switch status     Show current environment
#   pai-switch nuke-test  Wipe and recreate test environment
#   pai-switch restore    Restore test from baseline
#   pai-switch baselines  List available baselines

set -e

SRC_DIR="$HOME/Documents/src"
CLAUDE_LINK="$HOME/.claude"
BASELINES_DIR="$SRC_DIR/PAI-baselines"

# Color output
RED='\033[0;31m'
GREEN='\033[0;32m'
YELLOW='\033[1;33m'
BLUE='\033[0;34m'
NC='\033[0m' # No Color

show_status() {
    local current=$(readlink "$CLAUDE_LINK" 2>/dev/null || echo "not set")
    echo -e "${BLUE}Current ~/.claude:${NC} $current"

    # Determine which environment
    if [[ "$current" == *"PAI-v1.2"* ]]; then
        echo -e "${GREEN}Environment: v1 (production)${NC}"
    elif [[ "$current" == *"PAI-v2.0"* ]]; then
        echo -e "${YELLOW}Environment: v2 (development)${NC}"
    elif [[ "$current" == *"PAI-test"* ]]; then
        echo -e "${RED}Environment: test (sandbox)${NC}"
    else
        echo -e "${RED}Environment: unknown${NC}"
    fi
}

switch_to() {
    local target="$1"
    local label="$2"

    if [[ ! -d "$target" ]]; then
        echo -e "${RED}Error: Target does not exist: $target${NC}"
        exit 1
    fi

    ln -sfn "$target" "$CLAUDE_LINK"
    echo -e "${GREEN}Switched to $label${NC}"
    show_status
}

nuke_test() {
    echo -e "${YELLOW}This will DELETE and recreate PAI-test/.claude${NC}"
    read -p "Are you sure? (y/N) " -n 1 -r
    echo
    if [[ $REPLY =~ ^[Yy]$ ]]; then
        rm -rf "$SRC_DIR/PAI-test/.claude"
        mkdir -p "$SRC_DIR/PAI-test/.claude"/{skills,hooks,history}
        echo -e "${GREEN}Test environment wiped and recreated${NC}"
    else
        echo "Aborted"
    fi
}

list_baselines() {
    echo -e "${BLUE}Available baselines:${NC}"
    if [[ -d "$BASELINES_DIR" ]]; then
        for baseline in "$BASELINES_DIR"/*/; do
            if [[ -d "$baseline" ]]; then
                local name=$(basename "$baseline")
                local size=$(du -sh "$baseline" 2>/dev/null | cut -f1)
                echo -e "  ${GREEN}$name${NC} ($size)"
            fi
        done
    else
        echo -e "  ${YELLOW}No baselines directory found${NC}"
    fi
}

restore_test() {
    local baseline="${2:-kai-vanilla-v2}"
    local baseline_path="$BASELINES_DIR/$baseline"

    if [[ ! -d "$baseline_path" ]]; then
        echo -e "${RED}Error: Baseline not found: $baseline${NC}"
        list_baselines
        exit 1
    fi

    echo -e "${YELLOW}This will REPLACE PAI-test/.claude with baseline: $baseline${NC}"
    read -p "Are you sure? (y/N) " -n 1 -r
    echo
    if [[ $REPLY =~ ^[Yy]$ ]]; then
        rm -rf "$SRC_DIR/PAI-test/.claude"
        cp -R "$baseline_path" "$SRC_DIR/PAI-test/.claude"
        echo -e "${GREEN}Test environment restored from $baseline${NC}"
    else
        echo "Aborted"
    fi
}

save_baseline() {
    local name="${2:-$(date +%Y-%m-%d)-snapshot}"
    local target="$BASELINES_DIR/$name"

    if [[ -d "$target" ]]; then
        echo -e "${RED}Error: Baseline already exists: $name${NC}"
        exit 1
    fi

    mkdir -p "$BASELINES_DIR"
    cp -R "$SRC_DIR/PAI-test/.claude" "$target"
    echo -e "${GREEN}Saved baseline: $name${NC}"
    list_baselines
}

case "$1" in
    v1|prod)
        switch_to "$SRC_DIR/PAI-v1.2/Personal_AI_Infrastructure/.claude" "v1 (production)"
        ;;
    v2|dev)
        switch_to "$SRC_DIR/PAI-v2.0/Personal_AI_Infrastructure/.claude" "v2 (development)"
        ;;
    test|sandbox)
        switch_to "$SRC_DIR/PAI-test/.claude" "test (sandbox)"
        ;;
    status|s)
        show_status
        ;;
    nuke-test|nuke)
        nuke_test
        ;;
    restore)
        restore_test "$@"
        ;;
    save)
        save_baseline "$@"
        ;;
    baselines|list)
        list_baselines
        ;;
    *)
        echo "pai-switch - Switch between PAI environments"
        echo ""
        echo "Usage:"
        echo "  pai-switch v1|prod           Switch to Luna v1 (production)"
        echo "  pai-switch v2|dev            Switch to Luna v2 (development)"
        echo "  pai-switch test              Switch to test sandbox"
        echo "  pai-switch status            Show current environment"
        echo "  pai-switch nuke-test         Wipe and recreate test environment"
        echo "  pai-switch restore [name]    Restore test from baseline (default: kai-vanilla-v2)"
        echo "  pai-switch save [name]       Save current test as baseline"
        echo "  pai-switch baselines         List available baselines"
        echo ""
        show_status
        ;;
esac

Thought I'd share that while we are transitioning to v2

[danielmiessler]

Really cool. I just wish it wasn't necessary. That's the goal I'm working towards.

[mellanon]

Gosh I've got $PAI_DIR and ~/.claude mania tripping me up but I hope the drop lands well.

The project is heading in the right direction. You're doing a stellar job of it all! Imagine tearing up and building up at this pace in the "olden days". Doesn't feel as scary going on a refactoring detour or pursuing that extra feature.

[ShaneDugas]

I agree and totally understand this sentiment! :-)

[MarkAC007]

Appreciate the share.