feat: add dev update channel

docs/cli/update.md

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ If you installed via **npm/pnpm** (global install, no git metadata), use the pac
 ```bash
 clawdbot update
 clawdbot update --channel beta
+clawdbot update --channel dev
 clawdbot update --tag beta
 clawdbot update --restart
 clawdbot update --json
@@ -25,7 +26,7 @@ clawdbot --update
 ## Options
 
 - `--restart`: restart the Gateway daemon after a successful update.
-- `--channel <stable|beta>`: set the update channel for npm installs (persisted in config).
+- `--channel <stable|beta|dev>`: set the update channel (git + npm; persisted in config).
 - `--tag <dist-tag|version>`: override the npm dist-tag or version for this update only.
 - `--json`: print machine-readable `UpdateRunResult` JSON.
 - `--timeout <seconds>`: per-step timeout (default is 1200s).
@@ -34,13 +35,20 @@ Note: downgrades require confirmation because older versions can break configura
 
 ## What it does (git checkout)
 
+Channels:
+
+- `stable`: checkout the latest non-beta tag, then build + doctor.
+- `beta`: checkout the latest `-beta` tag, then build + doctor.
+- `dev`: checkout `main`, then fetch + rebase.
+
 High-level:
 
 1. Requires a clean worktree (no uncommitted changes).
-2. Fetches and rebases against `@{upstream}`.
-3. Installs deps (pnpm preferred; npm fallback).
-4. Builds + builds the Control UI.
-5. Runs `clawdbot doctor` as the final “safe update” check.
+2. Switches to the selected channel (tag or branch).
+3. Fetches and rebases against `@{upstream}` (dev only).
+4. Installs deps (pnpm preferred; npm fallback).
+5. Builds + builds the Control UI.
+6. Runs `clawdbot doctor` as the final “safe update” check.
 
 ## `--update` shorthand
 
@@ -49,5 +57,6 @@ High-level:
 ## See also
 
 - `clawdbot doctor` (offers to run update first on git checkouts)
+- [Development channels](/install/development-channels)
 - [Updating](/install/updating)
 - [CLI reference](/cli)

docs/docs.json

@@ -793,6 +793,7 @@
           "install/index",
           "install/installer",
           "install/updating",
+          "install/development-channels",
           "install/uninstall",
           "install/ansible",
           "install/nix",

docs/install/development-channels.md

@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+---
+summary: "Stable, beta, and dev channels: semantics, switching, and tagging"
+read_when:
+  - You want to switch between stable/beta/dev
+  - You are tagging or publishing prereleases
+---
+
+# Development channels
+
+Clawdbot ships three update channels:
+
+- **stable**: tagged releases (`vYYYY.M.D` or `vYYYY.M.D-<patch>`). npm dist-tag: `latest`.
+- **beta**: prerelease tags (`vYYYY.M.D-beta.N`). npm dist-tag: `beta`.
+- **dev**: moving head of `main` (git). npm dist-tag: `dev` (when published).
+
+## Switching channels
+
+Git checkout:
+
+```bash
+clawdbot update --channel stable
+clawdbot update --channel beta
+clawdbot update --channel dev
+```
+
+- `stable`/`beta` check out the latest matching tag.
+- `dev` switches to `main` and rebases on the upstream.
+
+npm/pnpm global install:
+
+```bash
+clawdbot update --channel stable
+clawdbot update --channel beta
+clawdbot update --channel dev
+```
+
+This updates via the corresponding npm dist-tag (`latest`, `beta`, `dev`).
+
+Tip: if you want stable + dev in parallel, keep two clones and point your gateway at the stable one.
+
+## Tagging best practices
+
+- Stable: tag each release (`vYYYY.M.D` or `vYYYY.M.D-<patch>`).
+- Beta: use `vYYYY.M.D-beta.N` (increment `N`).
+- Keep tags immutable: never move or reuse a tag.
+- Publish dist-tags alongside git tags:
+  - `latest` → stable
+  - `beta` → prerelease
+  - `dev` → main snapshot (optional)
+
+## macOS app availability
+
+Beta and dev builds may **not** include a macOS app release. That’s OK:
+
+- The git tag and npm dist-tag can still be published.
+- Call out “no macOS build for this beta” in release notes or changelog.

docs/install/updating.md

@@ -50,20 +50,18 @@ pnpm add -g clawdbot@latest
 ```
 We do **not** recommend Bun for the Gateway runtime (WhatsApp/Telegram bugs).
 
-To stay on the beta channel for CLI updates:
+To switch update channels (git + npm installs):
 
 ```bash
 clawdbot update --channel beta
-```
-
-Switch back to stable later:
-
-```bash
+clawdbot update --channel dev
 clawdbot update --channel stable
 ```
 
 Use `--tag <dist-tag|version>` for a one-off install tag/version.
 
+See [Development channels](/install/development-channels) for channel semantics and release notes.
+
 Note: on npm installs, the gateway logs an update hint on startup (checks the current channel tag). Disable via `update.checkOnStart: false`.
 
 Then:
@@ -88,7 +86,8 @@ clawdbot update --restart
 
 It runs a safe-ish update flow:
 - Requires a clean worktree.
-- Fetches + rebases against the configured upstream.
+- Switches to the selected channel (tag or branch).
+- Fetches + rebases against the configured upstream (dev channel).
 - Installs deps, builds, builds the Control UI, and runs `clawdbot doctor`.
 
 If you installed via **npm/pnpm** (no git metadata), `clawdbot update` will try to update via your package manager. If it can’t detect the install, use “Update (global install)” instead.