Quickstart

Connect to a box (nothing to install)

hopbox is live at box.hopbox.dev. Your SSH key is your identity — just connect:

ssh proj@box.hopbox.dev            # spawn/attach your box "proj", get a shell
ssh proj:debian-12@box.hopbox.dev  # pick a catalog image
ssh images@box.hopbox.dev          # list the image catalog (spawns no box)

Reconnect with the same key and you get the same box back (within its lifetime). Files move like any SSH host:

scp -r ./src proj@box.hopbox.dev:src      # copy in
ssh proj@box.hopbox.dev "make test"       # run a command (pipe-friendly, no pty)
rsync -az ./ proj@box.hopbox.dev:proj/    # sync a tree

Manage your boxes — ssh cli@host

No client to install; your key authenticates you:

ssh cli@box.hopbox.dev ls              # list your boxes
ssh cli@box.hopbox.dev rm proj         # remove one
ssh cli@box.hopbox.dev                 # banner + your fleet

See ssh cli for all commands.

Hand a task to an AI

hopbox isn't just a place to log in — you can delegate. Store an agent credential once, then give a box a task and a coding agent does it in its own VM:

# one-time: let your agent boxes use your Claude Code token
printf %s "$TOKEN" | ssh cli@box.hopbox.dev secret set CLAUDE_CODE_OAUTH_TOKEN

# delegate — the agent works, and asks you if it's unsure
ssh fixer:claude-code@box.hopbox.dev box-guest agent "add retry logic to api.py and run the tests"
ssh cli@box.hopbox.dev asks          # questions your agents are blocked on
ssh cli@box.hopbox.dev answer <id> yes

Watch it all — the fleet, agents working, their questions — in the web console at box.hopbox.dev/app. See Agent boxes.

Run your own server

One command on a Linux host with systemd (Docker backend, zero extra setup):

curl -fsSL https://hopbox.dev/install.sh | sudo sh

Private beta

The repo is currently private, so the install one-liners need repo access (a token or a deploy key). Ask us for access — or just use the hosted box.hopbox.dev, which needs no install at all.

It installs hopboxd + hopbox-mcp + the in-box hopbox-agent + box-guest, writes a systemd unit, turns the AI-control MCP plane on by default, and starts on the docker backend. Then:

ssh box@<your-host>       # spawn a box on your server

For the Firecracker microVM backend and TLS, see Deploy a server.

Next

• Boxes over SSH — images, lifetimes, box-guest.
• Agent boxes — delegate work to an AI; the ask loop.
• The AI-control plane — let an AI drive the whole fleet.
• Deploy a server — the microVM host in detail.