How do I install the Dev Sync skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/dev-sync in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Dev Sync safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Dev Sync?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Dev Sync free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Dev Sync?

tomevault-io (@tomevault-io) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Dev Sync by tomevault-io — Agent Skill

Name: Dev Sync
Author: tomevault-io

Dev Sync

This skill should be used when the user asks to "sync to VM", "rebuild VM", "test on VM", "dev-sync", "push changes to VM", or wants to iterate on NixOS configuration using a VM. Covers the dev-sync workflow for rapid VM development. Use when this capability is needed.

tomevault-io f342b77 2 files · 3.3 KB Updated Sep 17, 2026

File contents

VM Development Workflow (dev-sync)

The ./scripts/dev-sync script enables rapid iteration on NixOS configuration using a VM.

Setup

Copy .env.example to .env:

cp .env.example .env

Configure VM connection in .env:

VM_HOST=192.168.122.3
VM_USER=altan
VM_PASS=test

Commands

# Sync files only (no rebuild)
./scripts/dev-sync sync

# Sync + rebuild NixOS
./scripts/dev-sync rebuild

# Sync + run flake check
./scripts/dev-sync check

# Open SSH session to VM
./scripts/dev-sync ssh

How It Works

Rsyncs files to ~/nixos-sync on VM (as user)
Sudo rsyncs to /etc/nixos (preserves .git)
Auto-commits changes for flake compatibility
Runs requested command (rebuild, check, etc.)

Important: Flake + Git

NixOS flakes require files to be git-tracked. The script:

Preserves .git directory on VM
Auto-initializes git repo if missing
Auto-commits changes before rebuild

Common Workflows

Test configuration changes

# Make changes locally, then:
./scripts/dev-sync rebuild

Restart services without logout

# After rebuild, restart specific service:
sshpass -p 'test' ssh altan@192.168.122.3 'systemctl --user restart noctalia-shell'

Full test cycle

./scripts/dev-sync rebuild && \
sshpass -p 'test' ssh altan@192.168.122.3 'systemctl --user restart noctalia-shell'

Check for errors before rebuild

./scripts/dev-sync check

Verification Commands

Run on VM via SSH:

# Check service status
sshpass -p 'test' ssh altan@192.168.122.3 'systemctl --user status noctalia-shell'

# Check generated config
sshpass -p 'test' ssh altan@192.168.122.3 'cat ~/.config/noctalia/settings.json | jq .'

# Check noctalia runtime state
sshpass -p 'test' ssh altan@192.168.122.3 'noctalia-shell ipc call state all | jq .'

Troubleshooting

"path does not exist" errors

Files must be git-tracked for flakes
Script auto-commits, but check if new directories are added

Build fails on VM but works locally

VM may have different nixpkgs version
Check flake.lock is synced

Services not restarting

Use systemctl --user restart <service>
Or logout/login for full reload

Converted and distributed by TomeVault — claim your Tome and manage your conversions.

---name: dev-syncdescription: This skill should be used when the user asks to "sync to VM", "rebuild VM", "test on VM", "dev-sync", "push changes to VM", or wants to iterate on NixOS configuration using a VM. Covers the dev-sync workflow for rapid VM development. Use when this capability is needed.---# VM Development Workflow (dev-sync)The `./scripts/dev-sync` script enables rapid iteration on NixOS configuration using a VM.## Setup1. Copy `.env.example` to `.env`:```bashcp .env.example .env```2. Configure VM connection in `.env`:```VM_HOST=192.168.122.3VM_USER=altanVM_PASS=test```## Commands```bash# Sync files only (no rebuild)./scripts/dev-sync sync# Sync + rebuild NixOS./scripts/dev-sync rebuild# Sync + run flake check./scripts/dev-sync check# Open SSH session to VM./scripts/dev-sync ssh```## How It Works1. **Rsyncs** files to `~/nixos-sync` on VM (as user)2. **Sudo rsyncs** to `/etc/nixos` (preserves .git)3. **Auto-commits** changes for flake compatibility4. Runs requested command (rebuild, check, etc.)## Important: Flake + GitNixOS flakes require files to be git-tracked. The script:- Preserves `.git` directory on VM- Auto-initializes git repo if missing- Auto-commits changes before rebuild## Common Workflows### Test configuration changes```bash# Make changes locally, then:./scripts/dev-sync rebuild```### Restart services without logout```bash# After rebuild, restart specific service:sshpass -p 'test' ssh altan@192.168.122.3 'systemctl --user restart noctalia-shell'```### Full test cycle```bash./scripts/dev-sync rebuild && \sshpass -p 'test' ssh altan@192.168.122.3 'systemctl --user restart noctalia-shell'```### Check for errors before rebuild```bash./scripts/dev-sync check```## Verification CommandsRun on VM via SSH:```bash# Check service statussshpass -p 'test' ssh altan@192.168.122.3 'systemctl --user status noctalia-shell'# Check generated configsshpass -p 'test' ssh altan@192.168.122.3 'cat ~/.config/noctalia/settings.json | jq .'# Check noctalia runtime statesshpass -p 'test' ssh altan@192.168.122.3 'noctalia-shell ipc call state all | jq .'```## Troubleshooting### "path does not exist" errors- Files must be git-tracked for flakes- Script auto-commits, but check if new directories are added### Build fails on VM but works locally- VM may have different nixpkgs version- Check flake.lock is synced### Services not restarting- Use `systemctl --user restart <service>`- Or logout/login for full reload---> Converted and distributed by [TomeVault](https://tomevault.io/claim/altans) — claim your Tome and manage your conversions.

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