desk move

Restore a workspace and launch another agent with handoff context. Without a pack ID, Desk selects the latest saved pack for the current directory. It matches the canonical absolute source path recorded in the pack metadata and orders by capture time. If no matching pack exists, run desk pack first. New local changes are not included in the saved pack until you pack again.

desk move [PACK_ID] --to=TARGET [flags]

Examples

# Launch Codex from the latest pack for this directory.
desk move --to=codex

# Use an existing pack.
desk move PACK_ID --to=qoder

# Use an installed executable at an explicit path.
desk move PACK_ID --to=bob --binary=/path/to/bob

Pack IDs and --resume agent IDs accept unique hexadecimal prefixes, including the short IDs shown by ls and ps. Ambiguous prefixes require more characters. All data comes from ~/.desk/store by default, or $DESK_HOME/store when set.

The target must be installed. Source and target must differ. Bob launch supports 2.0.2. A move always proceeds to launch; use desk pack to save only.

Flags

Flag	Meaning
--to	Required target: claude, codex, qoder, or bob.
--binary	Installed target executable override.
--project	Directory whose latest saved pack to use; defaults to the current directory.
--resume	Launch a retained prepared Desk agent ID.

--project cannot be combined with a pack ID or --resume. --resume cannot be combined with a pack ID. The resume value is a Desk agent ID, not a native conversation ID or a pack ID.

Where the target works

For all harnesses, moving from the packed project directory (or selecting it with --project) keeps the existing working directory and its current files. The handoff still uses the saved pack, and the target session uses your normal HOME and existing login. An explicit pack moved from another directory uses an extracted workspace.

Desk prints the target’s workspace and HOME. The original source stays in place. Archived source settings and sessions stay in Desk’s per-move .desk-handoff directory, with a report and readable transcript when available.

The target inherits your normal environment and existing local login. All four agents resume restored text history when available. If readable history is unavailable, Desk supplies handoff context. Archived settings and permissions are not activated. Credentials remain outside packs.

Resume work after exiting the agent

Use the target agent’s native continue or resume command with the moved workspace and HOME. The agent guides include complete examples.

Recover an interrupted move

desk ps
desk move --to=codex --resume=AGENT_ID

Only an entry still marked prepared is eligible. The requested target must match the saved entry. Recovery does not repeat an already attempted launch.

For starting, failed or exited entries, inspect the retained workspace and HOME. Move the original pack again to create a fresh attempt, or stop writers and capture the working workspace to preserve newer progress.