AgentBox CLI
AgentBox runs Claude Code, Codex and Open Code in separate virtual machines on your PC, a self-hosted server or a cloud.
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- Last commit
- MIT
Extended access
Why this level
- The agent works with a project copy in a separate machine; cloud provider tokens are stored in `~/.agentbox/secrets.env`.
Install
- Works in
Manual install
npm -g install @madarco/agentboxThe first Install command from the README. `agentbox install` then runs the provider setup wizard.
Access and checks
How we reviewExtended accessThe tool runs code or makes network calls and only reads external data.
- The agent works with a project copy in a separate machine; cloud provider tokens are stored in `~/.agentbox/secrets.env`.
This is third-party code. Review the repository files before installing.
What it does
The `agentbox claude` command creates a box (a Docker container with a FUSE overlay), moves the project there with the skills, plugins and settings of Claude Code, Codex or Open Code, and starts the agent in a detachable tmux session. Several boxes run in parallel and `agentbox dashboard` switches between them. Every box has its own shell (`agentbox shell`), a browser viewed through `agentbox screen`, opening in VS Code or Cursor (`agentbox code`) and a web app address from `agentbox url`. A new box starts from a checkpoint in under a second and an idle one is paused. Git credentials stay on the local machine and the agent asks before pushing. Providers: local and remote Docker, Hetzner, Daytona, Vercel, E2B, DigitalOcean.
Who it is for. Developers running several agents on different tasks who do not want them sharing one working copy and one set of credentials.
Good fit when
- Two or three agents edit different parts of a project at the same time.
- An agent works for a long time while the laptop does something else.
- A web app must be opened from a box address and viewed in the in-box browser.
- An agent has to run in Hetzner, Vercel or E2B with the same settings as locally.
Not a fit when
- Docker is missing and cannot be installed.
- The workstation runs Windows; the README names only macOS and Linux.
- One agent session in a regular terminal is enough.
Example request
Start Claude Code in a separate box for this project, bring up the web app and give me the address from `agentbox url`.Limitations
macOS or Linux, Docker (Docker Desktop or OrbStack) and Node 20.10 or newer are required. The first `agentbox create` or `agentbox claude` builds the `agentbox/box:dev` image of about 1 GB. Daytona support is marked partial in the README table. Cloud provider tokens are saved in `~/.agentbox/secrets.env`, so restrict access to that file. The agent works on a project copy inside the box, so bring the result back with `agentbox download` and review it before merging.
How to disable. Remove boxes with `agentbox destroy`, then uninstall the package from global npm and delete `~/.agentbox/secrets.env` that holds cloud provider tokens.
FAQ
Where do boxes run?
In local Docker by default. For a cloud, name the provider before the agent: `agentbox hetzner claude`, also vercel, daytona, e2b, digitalocean and remote Docker over SSH.
How do I return to a running agent?
Run `agentbox attach 1`, where the number is the box index. Detach with Ctrl+a d and the agent keeps going.
What about Git access inside a box?
Git credentials stay on the local machine. The agent asks permission before pushing to a remote repository.
How do I open the web app from a box?
`agentbox url` opens the app address in the host browser and `agentbox screen` shows the in-box browser through noVNC.
Can I connect my own cloud?
Yes, through a provider plugin built on `@madarco/agentbox-provider-sdk`; the project documentation has a Build a provider guide.
Discussion
No questions or reviews yet.
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README in short
The README opens with `agentbox claude`, then covers installation, the cloud provider table, box lifecycle commands and building provider plugins.