diff --git a/eslint.config.js b/eslint.config.js
index 5ac10fcf2..989182fda 100644
--- a/eslint.config.js
+++ b/eslint.config.js
@@ -9,11 +9,12 @@ export default antfu({
     'plans',
     'e2e/fixtures/**/dist',
     'e2e/fixtures/**/.vite-devtools',
-    // The production playground is a standalone workspace (its own
-    // `pnpm-workspace.yaml`) that mirrors a real user install, so it uses plain
-    // dependency specifiers rather than the repo catalog and stays out of the
-    // repo-wide ESLint run.
+    // The production playgrounds are standalone workspaces (their own
+    // `pnpm-workspace.yaml`) that mirror a real user install, so they use
+    // plain dependency specifiers rather than the repo catalog and stay out
+    // of the repo-wide ESLint run.
     'playgrounds/production',
+    'playgrounds/production-nuxt',
     // `packages/oxc` is DevTools for the Oxc toolchain and dogfoods its own
     // oxlint/oxfmt on itself, whose formatting (e.g. `arrowParens: "avoid"`)
     // conflicts with this shared antfu config, so it is linted by its own
diff --git a/playgrounds/production-nuxt/.gitignore b/playgrounds/production-nuxt/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e112af394
--- /dev/null
+++ b/playgrounds/production-nuxt/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+node_modules
+dist
+.output
+.nuxt
+.tarballs
+pnpm-lock.yaml
+*.local
diff --git a/playgrounds/production-nuxt/README.md b/playgrounds/production-nuxt/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7e55ab3c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/playgrounds/production-nuxt/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+# Production Nuxt Playground
+
+A **standalone pnpm workspace** running a **Nuxt 5** app with **Nuxt DevTools
+4**, whose internal Vite DevTools dependency is overridden to the **local
+built dist** — so you can test how Vite DevTools behaves when it's running as
+Nuxt DevTools' own engine, rather than mounted directly as a Vite plugin.
+
+The playground at `playgrounds/production` installs `@vitejs/devtools`
+straight into a plain Vite app. This one exercises the other real-world
+integration path: Nuxt DevTools v4 (`@nuxt/devtools@^4.0.0-alpha.9`) depends
+directly on `@vitejs/devtools` and `@vitejs/devtools-kit`, so a Nuxt app with
+`devtools: { enabled: true }` gets Vite DevTools for free, through Nuxt
+DevTools.
+
+Nuxt 5 isn't published to the `nuxt` package's stable dist-tags yet, so
+`package.json` pulls it from Nuxt's [nightly release
+channel](https://nuxt.com/docs/guide/going-further/nightly-release-channel)
+via the `npm:nuxt-nightly@5x` alias — the same channel Nuxt itself documents
+for trying the next major early. Nuxt DevTools 4 (`@nuxt/devtools@^4.0.0-alpha.9`)
+is already on its regular dist-tags as a pre-release, so it's installed
+directly with no alias needed.
+
+## How it works
+
+`scripts/pack-local.mjs` builds the monorepo and packs the six published
+Vite DevTools packages into `.tarballs/`, exactly like `playgrounds/production`
+(it shares the same `scripts/pack-devtools-tarballs.mjs` implementation).
+Every run wipes and repacks under stable, version-agnostic names, then
+installs with `--force`, so the install always reflects the tarballs that
+were just packed, never a stale previous build.
+
+`pnpm-workspace.yaml` overrides `@vitejs/devtools`, `@vitejs/devtools-kit`,
+and every sibling package to those tarballs. Because `@nuxt/devtools` pulls
+those same two packages in as regular (non-`workspace:`) npm dependencies,
+the override reaches into Nuxt DevTools' own dependency tree and forces it to
+run on the exact Vite DevTools build under test here — not whatever version
+`@nuxt/devtools` has pinned on npm. Everything else (`nuxt`, `vue`,
+`@nuxt/devtools` itself, ...) resolves from the public registry, just like a
+real install.
+
+Its own `pnpm-workspace.yaml` keeps it isolated from the monorepo above, so a
+`pnpm install` here builds an independent dependency tree with its own lockfile.
+
+## Usage
+
+From this directory:
+
+```sh
+# Build the monorepo, pack the packages, and install them
+pnpm run setup
+
+# Start the Nuxt dev server (Nuxt DevTools panel)
+pnpm dev
+
+# Or produce a production build
+pnpm build
+```
+
+To re-pack after changing package source without rebuilding untouched packages,
+`pnpm run setup` re-runs the turbo build (cached), repacks, and reinstalls. If
+you already have fresh `dist` output and only want to re-pack + reinstall:
+
+```sh
+pnpm run setup:no-build
+```
+
+## Layout
+
+- `scripts/pack-local.mjs` — build + pack the published packages into `.tarballs/`, then install
+- `nuxt.config.ts` — a plain user config with `devtools: { enabled: true }`
+- `app/app.vue` — a minimal Nuxt app so the panels have real build/module data
diff --git a/playgrounds/production-nuxt/app/app.vue b/playgrounds/production-nuxt/app/app.vue
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9fbf2cf51
--- /dev/null
+++ b/playgrounds/production-nuxt/app/app.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+<script setup lang="ts">
+import { ref } from 'vue'
+
+const count = ref(0)
+</script>
+
+<template>
+  <main>
+    <h1>Vite DevTools — Production Nuxt Playground</h1>
+    <p>
+      This app installs Nuxt with Nuxt DevTools from npm, inside a standalone
+      pnpm workspace, with Nuxt DevTools' internal <code>@vitejs/devtools</code>
+      and <code>@vitejs/devtools-kit</code> dependencies overridden to the
+      local built dist — testing Vite DevTools the way it actually ships,
+      running as Nuxt DevTools' own engine.
+    </p>
+    <button type="button" @click="count++">
+      count is {{ count }}
+    </button>
+  </main>
+</template>
+
+<style scoped>
+main {
+  max-width: 42rem;
+  margin: 4rem auto;
+  padding: 0 1rem;
+  font-family: system-ui, sans-serif;
+  line-height: 1.6;
+}
+button {
+  padding: 0.5rem 1rem;
+  border-radius: 0.5rem;
+  border: 1px solid currentColor;
+  cursor: pointer;
+}
+</style>
diff --git a/playgrounds/production-nuxt/nuxt.config.ts b/playgrounds/production-nuxt/nuxt.config.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3b3a66708
--- /dev/null
+++ b/playgrounds/production-nuxt/nuxt.config.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+import { defineNuxtConfig } from 'nuxt/config'
+
+// This config is intentionally written the way a real user would write it:
+// enabling Nuxt DevTools is the only integration point needed. Nuxt DevTools
+// v4 (`@nuxt/devtools`, overridden here to resolve its internal Vite DevTools
+// dependency from the local built dist — see `pnpm-workspace.yaml`) embeds
+// Vite DevTools as its own engine, so there's no separate `@vitejs/devtools`
+// Vite plugin to add by hand.
+export default defineNuxtConfig({
+  compatibilityDate: '2024-11-01',
+  devtools: { enabled: true },
+})
diff --git a/playgrounds/production-nuxt/package.json b/playgrounds/production-nuxt/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1060e2412
--- /dev/null
+++ b/playgrounds/production-nuxt/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+{
+  "name": "playground-production-nuxt",
+  "type": "module",
+  "version": "0.4.11",
+  "private": true,
+  "description": "Standalone workspace that installs a Nuxt 5 app with Nuxt DevTools 4 from npm, overriding its internal Vite DevTools dependency to the local built dist, to test the real Nuxt-DevTools-embeds-Vite-DevTools install path.",
+  "scripts": {
+    "setup": "node scripts/pack-local.mjs",
+    "setup:no-build": "node scripts/pack-local.mjs --no-build",
+    "dev": "nuxt dev --host 0.0.0.0",
+    "build": "nuxt build",
+    "preview": "nuxt preview"
+  },
+  "dependencies": {
+    "nuxt": "npm:nuxt-nightly@5x",
+    "vue": "^3.5.39"
+  },
+  "devDependencies": {
+    "@nuxt/devtools": "^4.0.0-alpha.9"
+  }
+}
diff --git a/playgrounds/production-nuxt/pnpm-workspace.yaml b/playgrounds/production-nuxt/pnpm-workspace.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..92b509e66
--- /dev/null
+++ b/playgrounds/production-nuxt/pnpm-workspace.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+# Standalone workspace root.
+#
+# This file exists so pnpm treats `playgrounds/production-nuxt` as its own,
+# self-contained project instead of a member of the monorepo above it.
+#
+# Nuxt DevTools v4 (`@nuxt/devtools@^4.0.0-alpha.9`) embeds Vite DevTools: it
+# depends directly on `@vitejs/devtools` and `@vitejs/devtools-kit` as its own
+# engine. These overrides redirect that internal dependency — and every other
+# Vite DevTools package — to the local built dist tarballs produced by
+# `scripts/pack-local.mjs`, so Nuxt DevTools always runs on the exact Vite
+# DevTools build under test here rather than whatever version `@nuxt/devtools`
+# has pinned on npm. Everything else (nuxt, vue, ...) resolves from the public
+# registry — exactly what a real user gets.
+packages: []
+
+overrides:
+  '@vitejs/devtools': 'file:.tarballs/vitejs-devtools.tgz'
+  '@vitejs/devtools-kit': 'file:.tarballs/vitejs-devtools-kit.tgz'
+  '@vitejs/devtools-rolldown': 'file:.tarballs/vitejs-devtools-rolldown.tgz'
+  '@vitejs/devtools-vite': 'file:.tarballs/vitejs-devtools-vite.tgz'
+  '@vitejs/devtools-vitest': 'file:.tarballs/vitejs-devtools-vitest.tgz'
+  '@vitejs/devtools-oxc': 'file:.tarballs/vitejs-devtools-oxc.tgz'
+
+verifyDepsBeforeRun: false
+allowBuilds:
+  esbuild: true
+  rolldown: true
+  unrs-resolver: true
+minimumReleaseAge: 0
diff --git a/playgrounds/production-nuxt/scripts/pack-local.mjs b/playgrounds/production-nuxt/scripts/pack-local.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f15f823f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/playgrounds/production-nuxt/scripts/pack-local.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+// @ts-check
+/**
+ * Build the Vite DevTools packages, pack them into local tarballs, and
+ * install this playground from them — the same artifacts that would be
+ * published to npm. Nuxt DevTools v4 (`@nuxt/devtools`) depends directly on
+ * `@vitejs/devtools` and `@vitejs/devtools-kit`; `pnpm-workspace.yaml`
+ * overrides those (and every other Vite DevTools package) to these tarballs,
+ * so Nuxt DevTools runs on the build under test here.
+ *
+ * Every run wipes `.tarballs/` and repacks from scratch, then reinstalls with
+ * `--force` so pnpm never mistakes a freshly rebuilt tarball (same stable
+ * filename, new content) for the previous stale install.
+ *
+ * Usage:
+ *   node scripts/pack-local.mjs            # build the monorepo, pack, install
+ *   node scripts/pack-local.mjs --no-build # skip the build, just (re)pack + install
+ */
+import { dirname, join, resolve } from 'node:path'
+import process from 'node:process'
+import { fileURLToPath } from 'node:url'
+import { packDevToolsTarballs, run } from '../../../scripts/pack-devtools-tarballs.mjs'
+
+const scriptDir = dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url))
+const playgroundDir = resolve(scriptDir, '..')
+const repoRoot = resolve(playgroundDir, '../..')
+const tarballDir = join(playgroundDir, '.tarballs')
+
+const skipBuild = process.argv.includes('--no-build')
+
+packDevToolsTarballs({ repoRoot, tarballDir, skipBuild })
+
+// `--force` bypasses pnpm's content-addressable store cache, guaranteeing the
+// install always reflects the tarballs that were just packed above.
+run('pnpm install --no-frozen-lockfile --force', playgroundDir)
+
+console.log('\nDone. Run `pnpm dev` to start the playground.')
diff --git a/playgrounds/production-nuxt/tsconfig.json b/playgrounds/production-nuxt/tsconfig.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4b34df157
--- /dev/null
+++ b/playgrounds/production-nuxt/tsconfig.json
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+{
+  "extends": "./.nuxt/tsconfig.json"
+}
diff --git a/playgrounds/production/README.md b/playgrounds/production/README.md
index 1221a8483..68f60c2b9 100644
--- a/playgrounds/production/README.md
+++ b/playgrounds/production/README.md
@@ -12,14 +12,17 @@ and the `dist` output.
 
 ## How it works
 
-`scripts/pack-local.mjs` builds the monorepo and runs `pnpm pack` on the five
+`scripts/pack-local.mjs` builds the monorepo and runs `pnpm pack` on the six
 published packages (`@vitejs/devtools`, `-kit`, `-rolldown`, `-vite`,
-`-vitest`). `pnpm pack` rewrites each package's `workspace:*` and `catalog:*`
-protocols into concrete versions, producing the exact tarballs npm would serve.
-The tarballs land in `.tarballs/` under stable names; `pnpm-workspace.yaml`
-points `@vitejs/devtools` and every inter-package dependency at them through
-`overrides`. Everything else (devframe, `@devframes/*`, vite, vue) resolves
-from the public registry — just like a real install.
+`-vitest`, `-oxc`). `pnpm pack` rewrites each package's `workspace:*` and
+`catalog:*` protocols into concrete versions, producing the exact tarballs npm
+would serve. Every run wipes `.tarballs/` and repacks from scratch under
+stable, version-agnostic names, then installs the playground with `--force` —
+so the install always reflects the tarballs that were just packed, never a
+stale previous build. `pnpm-workspace.yaml` points `@vitejs/devtools` and
+every inter-package dependency at those tarballs through `overrides`.
+Everything else (devframe, `@devframes/*`, vite, vue) resolves from the public
+registry — just like a real install.
 
 Its own `pnpm-workspace.yaml` keeps it isolated from the monorepo above, so a
 `pnpm install` here builds an independent dependency tree with its own lockfile.
@@ -40,21 +43,15 @@ pnpm build
 ```
 
 To re-pack after changing package source without rebuilding untouched packages,
-`pnpm run setup` re-runs the turbo build (cached) and re-packs. If you already
-have fresh `dist` output and only want to re-pack + reinstall:
+`pnpm run setup` re-runs the turbo build (cached), repacks, and reinstalls. If
+you already have fresh `dist` output and only want to re-pack + reinstall:
 
 ```sh
 pnpm run setup:no-build
 ```
 
-If pnpm doesn't pick up freshly re-packed tarballs, force it:
-
-```sh
-pnpm install --no-frozen-lockfile --force
-```
-
 ## Layout
 
-- `scripts/pack-local.mjs` — build + pack the published packages into `.tarballs/`
+- `scripts/pack-local.mjs` — build + pack the published packages into `.tarballs/`, then install
 - `vite.config.ts` — a plain user config importing `DevTools` from `@vitejs/devtools`
 - `src/` — a minimal Vue app so the panels have real build/module data
diff --git a/playgrounds/production/package.json b/playgrounds/production/package.json
index 09c3d405e..d6693bc0f 100644
--- a/playgrounds/production/package.json
+++ b/playgrounds/production/package.json
@@ -5,9 +5,8 @@
   "private": true,
   "description": "Standalone workspace that installs Vite DevTools from the local built dist, to test the real user install experience.",
   "scripts": {
-    "setup": "node scripts/pack-local.mjs && pnpm install --no-frozen-lockfile",
-    "setup:no-build": "node scripts/pack-local.mjs --no-build && pnpm install --no-frozen-lockfile",
-    "pack:local": "node scripts/pack-local.mjs",
+    "setup": "node scripts/pack-local.mjs",
+    "setup:no-build": "node scripts/pack-local.mjs --no-build",
     "dev": "vite --host",
     "build": "vite build",
     "preview": "vite preview --host"
diff --git a/playgrounds/production/scripts/pack-local.mjs b/playgrounds/production/scripts/pack-local.mjs
index b6b25591d..ec0750498 100644
--- a/playgrounds/production/scripts/pack-local.mjs
+++ b/playgrounds/production/scripts/pack-local.mjs
@@ -1,78 +1,36 @@
 // @ts-check
 /**
- * Build the Vite DevTools packages and pack them into local tarballs that this
- * standalone playground installs — the same artifacts that would be published
- * to npm, so the playground exercises the real user install path.
+ * Build the Vite DevTools packages, pack them into local tarballs, and
+ * install this playground from them — the same artifacts that would be
+ * published to npm, so the playground exercises the real user install path.
+ *
+ * Every run wipes `.tarballs/` and repacks from scratch, then reinstalls with
+ * `--force` so pnpm never mistakes a freshly rebuilt tarball (same stable
+ * filename, new content) for the previous stale install.
  *
  * Usage:
- *   node scripts/pack-local.mjs            # build the monorepo, then pack
- *   node scripts/pack-local.mjs --no-build # skip the build, just (re)pack dist
+ *   node scripts/pack-local.mjs            # build the monorepo, pack, install
+ *   node scripts/pack-local.mjs --no-build # skip the build, just (re)pack + install
  *
- * `pnpm pack` resolves each package's `workspace:*` and `catalog:*` protocols
- * into concrete versions, so the tarballs are exactly what end users receive.
- * The playground's package.json then points `@vitejs/devtools` and every
- * inter-package dependency at these tarballs via `pnpm.overrides`.
+ * The playground's package.json / pnpm-workspace.yaml point `@vitejs/devtools`
+ * and every inter-package dependency at these tarballs via `pnpm.overrides`.
  */
-import { execSync } from 'node:child_process'
-import { mkdirSync, readdirSync, renameSync, rmSync } from 'node:fs'
 import { dirname, join, resolve } from 'node:path'
 import process from 'node:process'
 import { fileURLToPath } from 'node:url'
+import { packDevToolsTarballs, run } from '../../../scripts/pack-devtools-tarballs.mjs'
 
 const scriptDir = dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url))
 const playgroundDir = resolve(scriptDir, '..')
 const repoRoot = resolve(playgroundDir, '../..')
 const tarballDir = join(playgroundDir, '.tarballs')
 
-/**
- * The set of packages published to npm as part of Vite DevTools.
- * `@vitejs/devtools-ui` is private (bundled into the others at build time) and
- * `@vitejs/devtools-oxc` is a separate opt-in package, so neither is packed.
- *
- * @type {Array<{ name: string, dir: string, out: string }>}
- */
-const PACKAGES = [
-  { name: '@vitejs/devtools', dir: 'packages/core', out: 'vitejs-devtools.tgz' },
-  { name: '@vitejs/devtools-kit', dir: 'packages/kit', out: 'vitejs-devtools-kit.tgz' },
-  { name: '@vitejs/devtools-rolldown', dir: 'packages/rolldown', out: 'vitejs-devtools-rolldown.tgz' },
-  { name: '@vitejs/devtools-vite', dir: 'packages/vite', out: 'vitejs-devtools-vite.tgz' },
-  { name: '@vitejs/devtools-vitest', dir: 'packages/vitest', out: 'vitejs-devtools-vitest.tgz' },
-  { name: '@vitejs/devtools-oxc', dir: 'packages/oxc', out: 'vitejs-devtools-oxc.tgz' },
-]
-
 const skipBuild = process.argv.includes('--no-build')
 
-/** @param {string} cmd @param {string} cwd */
-function run(cmd, cwd) {
-  console.log(`\n$ ${cmd}\n  (cwd: ${cwd})`)
-  execSync(cmd, { cwd, stdio: 'inherit' })
-}
-
-if (!skipBuild) {
-  run('pnpm build', repoRoot)
-}
-
-rmSync(tarballDir, { recursive: true, force: true })
-mkdirSync(tarballDir, { recursive: true })
-
-// Pack each package. `--ignore-scripts` skips the `prepack` rebuild since the
-// monorepo build above already produced fresh dist output.
-for (const { name, dir } of PACKAGES) {
-  console.log(`\nPacking ${name}...`)
-  run(`pnpm pack --config.ignore-scripts=true --pack-destination "${tarballDir}"`, join(repoRoot, dir))
-}
+packDevToolsTarballs({ repoRoot, tarballDir, skipBuild })
 
-// pnpm writes `<name>-<version>.tgz`; rename to the stable, version-agnostic
-// names the playground's package.json / overrides reference.
-const produced = readdirSync(tarballDir)
-for (const { name, out } of PACKAGES) {
-  const base = name.replace('@', '').replace('/', '-')
-  const pattern = new RegExp(`^${base.replace(/[.*+?^${}()|[\]\\]/g, '\\$&')}-\\d[^/]*\\.tgz$`)
-  const match = produced.find(f => pattern.test(f))
-  if (!match)
-    throw new Error(`Could not find packed tarball for ${name} (expected ${base}-<version>.tgz)`)
-  renameSync(join(tarballDir, match), join(tarballDir, out))
-  console.log(`✓ ${name} -> .tarballs/${out}`)
-}
+// `--force` bypasses pnpm's content-addressable store cache, guaranteeing the
+// install always reflects the tarballs that were just packed above.
+run('pnpm install --no-frozen-lockfile --force', playgroundDir)
 
-console.log('\nDone. Now run: pnpm install --no-frozen-lockfile')
+console.log('\nDone. Run `pnpm dev` to start the playground.')
diff --git a/pnpm-workspace.yaml b/pnpm-workspace.yaml
index 2d3aa46ca..fa60d224d 100644
--- a/pnpm-workspace.yaml
+++ b/pnpm-workspace.yaml
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ packages:
   - examples/*
   - playgrounds/*
   - '!playgrounds/production'
+  - '!playgrounds/production-nuxt'
   - docs
   - e2e
   - storybook
diff --git a/scripts/pack-devtools-tarballs.mjs b/scripts/pack-devtools-tarballs.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4c7ccfe72
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/pack-devtools-tarballs.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+// @ts-check
+/**
+ * Shared implementation behind every standalone playground's
+ * `scripts/pack-local.mjs` (currently `playgrounds/production` and
+ * `playgrounds/production-nuxt`).
+ *
+ * Builds the monorepo and packs the published Vite DevTools packages into
+ * local tarballs, the same artifacts that would be published to npm, so a
+ * standalone playground can install them and exercise the real user install
+ * path. `pnpm pack` resolves each package's `workspace:*` and `catalog:*`
+ * protocols into concrete versions, so the tarballs are exactly what end
+ * users receive.
+ *
+ * Each call wipes and fully repacks the target tarball directory — there is
+ * no incremental/stale state to reason about, and the produced filenames are
+ * stable (version-agnostic) so a playground's `package.json` /
+ * `pnpm-workspace.yaml` overrides never need to change between packs.
+ */
+import { execSync } from 'node:child_process'
+import { mkdirSync, readdirSync, renameSync, rmSync } from 'node:fs'
+import { join } from 'node:path'
+
+/**
+ * The set of packages published to npm as part of Vite DevTools.
+ * `@vitejs/devtools-ui` is private (bundled into the others at build time) and
+ * is not packed here.
+ *
+ * @type {Array<{ name: string, dir: string, out: string }>}
+ */
+export const DEVTOOLS_PACKAGES = [
+  { name: '@vitejs/devtools', dir: 'packages/core', out: 'vitejs-devtools.tgz' },
+  { name: '@vitejs/devtools-kit', dir: 'packages/kit', out: 'vitejs-devtools-kit.tgz' },
+  { name: '@vitejs/devtools-rolldown', dir: 'packages/rolldown', out: 'vitejs-devtools-rolldown.tgz' },
+  { name: '@vitejs/devtools-vite', dir: 'packages/vite', out: 'vitejs-devtools-vite.tgz' },
+  { name: '@vitejs/devtools-vitest', dir: 'packages/vitest', out: 'vitejs-devtools-vitest.tgz' },
+  { name: '@vitejs/devtools-oxc', dir: 'packages/oxc', out: 'vitejs-devtools-oxc.tgz' },
+]
+
+/** @param {string} cmd @param {string} cwd */
+export function run(cmd, cwd) {
+  console.log(`\n$ ${cmd}\n  (cwd: ${cwd})`)
+  execSync(cmd, { cwd, stdio: 'inherit' })
+}
+
+/**
+ * Build the monorepo (unless `skipBuild`) and pack every entry in
+ * `DEVTOOLS_PACKAGES` into `tarballDir`, replacing whatever was there before.
+ *
+ * @param {{ repoRoot: string, tarballDir: string, skipBuild?: boolean }} options
+ */
+export function packDevToolsTarballs({ repoRoot, tarballDir, skipBuild = false }) {
+  if (!skipBuild)
+    run('pnpm build', repoRoot)
+
+  // Always start from a clean directory: a full wipe-then-repack means there
+  // is never a stale tarball left behind from a package that used to exist,
+  // an interrupted previous run, or a version-suffixed leftover.
+  rmSync(tarballDir, { recursive: true, force: true })
+  mkdirSync(tarballDir, { recursive: true })
+
+  // Pack each package. `--ignore-scripts` skips the `prepack` rebuild since
+  // the monorepo build above already produced fresh dist output.
+  for (const { name, dir } of DEVTOOLS_PACKAGES) {
+    console.log(`\nPacking ${name}...`)
+    run(`pnpm pack --config.ignore-scripts=true --pack-destination "${tarballDir}"`, join(repoRoot, dir))
+  }
+
+  // pnpm writes `<name>-<version>.tgz`; rename to the stable, version-agnostic
+  // names the playground's package.json / overrides reference, so the latest
+  // pack always lands under the exact same filename as the previous one.
+  const produced = readdirSync(tarballDir)
+  for (const { name, out } of DEVTOOLS_PACKAGES) {
+    const base = name.replace('@', '').replace('/', '-')
+    const pattern = new RegExp(`^${base.replace(/[.*+?^${}()|[\]\\]/g, '\\$&')}-\\d[^/]*\\.tgz$`)
+    const match = produced.find(f => pattern.test(f))
+    if (!match)
+      throw new Error(`Could not find packed tarball for ${name} (expected ${base}-<version>.tgz)`)
+    renameSync(join(tarballDir, match), join(tarballDir, out))
+    console.log(`✓ ${name} -> ${out}`)
+  }
+}