Canvas Code Execution Skill

When to Use

Use this skill when:

• Implementing Python execution via Pyodide
• Adding JavaScript execution via iframe sandbox
• Working with package management (micropip)
• Handling execution errors and timeouts
• Adding new supported languages

Architecture Overview

lib/canvas/
├── execution-errors.ts    # Typed error handling with user-friendly messages
├── import-detector.ts     # Python import parsing and package detection
├── package-manager.ts     # Pyodide singleton + micropip integration
├── package-security.ts    # Allowlist/blocklist for packages
├── monaco-loader.ts       # Monaco editor with CDN fallback
└── types.ts               # Canvas types and language support

components/canvas/
├── canvas-preview.tsx     # Execution preview with Pyodide/iframe
├── canvas-editor.tsx      # Monaco editor wrapper
└── canvas-panel.tsx       # Full Canvas panel with split view

Security Model (NEVER VIOLATE)

1. Package Allowlist Only

// ✅ CORRECT: Check allowlist before loading
import { isPackageAllowed, isPackageBlocked } from '@/lib/canvas/package-security';

if (!isPackageAllowed(packageName)) {
  throw new CanvasExecutionError({
    code: CanvasErrorCode.PACKAGE_NOT_ALLOWED,
    context: { packageName }
  });
}

2. Block Dynamic Imports

// DANGEROUS_PATTERNS in import-detector.ts blocks:
// - __import__()
// - importlib.import_module()
// - exec()
// - eval()
// - compile() with 'exec'
// - getattr(__import__)
// - builtins.__import__

3. Iframe Sandbox Restrictions

// For JavaScript execution - minimal permissions
const sandbox = [
  'allow-scripts',
  // NO allow-same-origin
  // NO allow-forms
  // NO allow-popups
].join(' ');

4. Execution Timeouts

// Always enforce timeouts
const EXECUTION_TIMEOUT = 30_000;      // 30s for code
const PYODIDE_LOAD_TIMEOUT = 60_000;   // 60s for Pyodide init
const PACKAGE_INSTALL_TIMEOUT = 120_000; // 2min for packages

Error Handling Pattern

CanvasExecutionError Class

import { CanvasExecutionError, CanvasErrorCode } from '@/lib/canvas/execution-errors';

// Creating errors
throw new CanvasExecutionError({
  code: CanvasErrorCode.EXECUTION_SYNTAX_ERROR,
  context: {
    lineNumber: 5,
    traceback: pythonTraceback,
  },
});

// Factory methods
CanvasExecutionError.fromPythonError(traceback, duration);
CanvasExecutionError.timeout(duration, 'execution');
CanvasExecutionError.packageError(packageName, 'not_allowed');

// For UI display (user-friendly)
const display = error.toUserDisplay();
// { title, message, recovery[], severity, showRefresh }

Error Severity Levels

Severity	Meaning	Action
user	Code error (syntax, runtime)	Show fix suggestions
recoverable	Timeout, network	Retry button
reload_required	Memory exceeded, crash	Refresh button
fatal	CDN unreachable, sandbox violation	Feature unavailable

Import Detection

Analyzing Code for Packages

import { analyzeImports, validateImports } from '@/lib/canvas/import-detector';

const analysis = analyzeImports(pythonCode);

// analysis.packagesToLoad: string[]     - External packages needed
// analysis.blockedPackages: {...}[]     - Blocked with reasons
// analysis.stdlibPackages: string[]     - Python stdlib (no action)
// analysis.unknownPackages: string[]    - Unknown (may work)
// analysis.canExecute: boolean          - Safe to run
// analysis.warnings: string[]           - User warnings
// analysis.estimatedDownloadKB: number  - Total download size

Quick Validation

const { valid, errors, warnings } = validateImports(code);
if (!valid) {
  // Show errors to user
}

Package Manager Usage

Singleton Pattern

import { PyodidePackageManager, getPackageManager } from '@/lib/canvas/package-manager';

const manager = getPackageManager({
  verbose: process.env.NODE_ENV === 'development',
  onProgress: (progress) => {
    // Update UI with progress.message, progress.packagesLoaded, etc.
  },
});

// Initialize once per page
await manager.initialize();

// Execute with automatic package loading
const result = await manager.executeWithPackages(code);
// { success, output, error, returnValue, durationMs }

Progress Callbacks

interface PackageLoadProgress {
  status: 'analyzing' | 'downloading' | 'installing' | 'complete' | 'error';
  currentPackage: string | null;
  packagesTotal: number;
  packagesLoaded: number;
  estimatedSizeKB: number;
  downloadedKB: number;
  message: string;
}

Adding New Packages

1. Add to Allowlist

// In package-security.ts ALLOWED_PACKAGES
newpackage: {
  name: "newpackage",
  displayName: "New Package",
  description: "Short student-friendly description",
  tier: PackageTier.STANDARD,        // or DATA_SCIENCE, PURE_PYTHON
  category: PackageCategory.DATA,     // or MATH, VISUALIZATION, etc.
  sizeKB: 2000,                       // Download size
  memoryKB: 15_000,                   // RAM when loaded
  isPurePython: true,                 // Or false for C extensions
  aliases: ["np"],                    // Import aliases
  dependencies: ["numpy"],            // Auto-installed
  warnSlowLoad: false,
  warnMemory: false,
},

2. Update Blocklist If Needed

// In BLOCKED_PACKAGES
dangerouspackage: {
  reason: "Security reason visible to students",
  alternatives: ["safe-alternative"],
},

Monaco Editor Integration

Loading with Fallback

import { initializeMonaco, isMonacoReady, resetMonacoLoader } from '@/lib/canvas/monaco-loader';

// CDN fallback chain:
// 1. jsdelivr (primary)
// 2. unpkg
// 3. cdnjs

// Handle AMD conflicts with Pyodide
// - Monaco and Pyodide both use AMD loaders
// - package-manager.ts sets __pyodideLoadingAMD flag
// - monaco-loader.ts waits for this flag before loading

Reset on Error

try {
  await initializeMonaco();
} catch (error) {
  resetMonacoLoader();
  // Retry or show error
}

Language Support

Execution Matrix

// From types.ts
export const EXECUTION_SUPPORT: Record<string, 'pyodide' | 'iframe' | 'none'> = {
  python: 'pyodide',
  javascript: 'iframe',
  typescript: 'iframe',  // Transpiled
  html: 'iframe',
  react: 'iframe',
  css: 'iframe',
  sql: 'none',
  java: 'none',
  // etc.
};

Adding New Language

1. Add to SUPPORTED_LANGUAGES tiers in types.ts
2. Set execution support in EXECUTION_SUPPORT
3. Add Monaco language ID mapping in getMonacoLanguage()
4. Add file extension in getFileExtension()

Component Integration

Canvas Preview

// In canvas-preview.tsx
<CanvasPreview
  content={code}
  language="python"
  onExecutionResult={(result) => {
    // Handle output, errors
  }}
  onExecutionStart={() => {
    // Show loading
  }}
/>

Error Display

import { CanvasExecutionError } from '@/lib/canvas/execution-errors';

function ExecutionErrorDisplay({ error }: { error: CanvasExecutionError }) {
  const display = error.toUserDisplay();

  return (
    <div className={cn('p-4 rounded-lg', severityStyles[display.severity])}>
      <h4 className="font-medium">{display.title}</h4>
      <p className="text-sm mt-1">{display.message}</p>
      {display.recovery.length > 0 && (
        <ul className="text-xs mt-2 space-y-1">
          {display.recovery.map((r, i) => (
            <li key={i}>• {r}</li>
          ))}
        </ul>
      )}
      {display.showRefresh && (
        <Button onClick={() => window.location.reload()} size="sm">
          Refresh Page
        </Button>
      )}
    </div>
  );
}

Testing Checklist

• Python execution with imports works
• Package loading shows progress
• Blocked packages show helpful alternatives
• Timeouts trigger with recovery options
• Mobile memory warnings appear
• Monaco loads (check AMD conflicts)
• Iframe sandbox restrictions enforced
• Error messages are student-friendly
• Dynamic import patterns are blocked