microsandbox
SHA-256A fast, local-first microVM runtime for running untrusted workloads with near-instant startup, cross-platform support, and Docker-like workflows.
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v0.6.10 · 30.3 MB
A fast, local-first microVM runtime for running untrusted workloads with Docker-like ease and true hardware isolation.
Core Features
- Hardware isolation via microVM technology
- Boots in under 100ms on average
- Cross-platform: Linux, macOS, Windows
- OCI-compatible images with Docker-like UX
- Embeddable SDK in five languages
What It Can't Do
- •Still in beta, so expect breaking changes and rough edges. Requires Apple Silicon (macOS), KVM (Linux), or Windows 10+ with WHP (Windows). First sandbox creation may take longer due to image pulling; subsequent runs are cached. Some advanced networking features are still evolving.
Use Cases
- Running AI agents or user code in a secure, isolated environment
- Launching quick dev environments or CI jobs from CLI or SDK
Detailed Introduction
Microsandbox is an open-source runtime that runs untrusted workloads — AI agents, plugins, CI jobs, dev environments, scrapers, and automation — inside hardware-isolated microVMs. Unlike traditional containers, it provides true VM-level isolation while keeping the familiar image, command, shell, and volume workflows of Docker. It boots in under 100 milliseconds on average, supports Linux, macOS, and Windows, and can be embedded directly into your application as a library or used as a standalone CLI. The SDK is available in Rust, Python, TypeScript, Go, and Ruby, making it easy to spawn sandboxes from any stack. Compared to Kata Containers or Firecracker setups, microsandbox is significantly easier to configure and run locally, especially on macOS and Windows without requiring Linux-only infrastructure. It also features a unique secrets system that keeps API keys out of the VM entirely, preventing leaks even if the sandbox is compromised. While still in beta, it already supports OCI images, detached long-running sandboxes, and agent-ready integrations via MCP and skills.
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Getting Started
Download installer
Click the button above to download the installer for your system
Install the software
Install the appropriate package for your distro (dpkg / rpm / AppImage)
Install the SDK: run cargo add microsandbox in Rust, uv add microsandbox in Python, or npm i microsandbox in TypeScript
Install the CLI: run curl -fsSL https://install.microsandbox.dev | sh on macOS/Linux, or irm https://install.microsandbox.dev/windows | iex in PowerShell on Windows
Start a microVM: execute msb run debian, or use the SDK to call Sandbox.builder("my-sandbox").create()
- Install the SDK: run cargo add microsandbox in Rust, uv add microsandbox in Python, or npm i microsandbox in TypeScript
- Install the CLI: run curl -fsSL https://install.microsandbox.dev | sh on macOS/Linux, or irm https://install.microsandbox.dev/windows | iex in PowerShell on Windows
- Start a microVM: execute msb run debian, or use the SDK to call Sandbox.builder("my-sandbox").create()
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SHA256 Checksum
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Open Source Transparency
View GitHub SourceUninstall Info
If installed via the CLI, remove the ~/.microsandbox/ directory and the msb executable from your PATH. If installed via a package manager, use the corresponding uninstall command (e.g., brew uninstall microsandbox, npm uninstall -g microsandbox).
No Extra Dependencies
Ready to use after download. No additional runtime required.
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