Docker Sandboxes

· Docker Inc ·

2 min read Original article ↗

Docker Sandboxes run AI coding agents in isolated microVM sandboxes. Each sandbox gets its own Docker daemon, filesystem, and network — the agent can build containers, install packages, and modify files without touching your host system.

Note

The sbx CLI is free to use, including for commercial work. Only organization governance requires a separate paid subscription.

Organization admins can centrally manage sandbox network, filesystem, and MCP policies, so the same controls apply uniformly across every developer's machine. Available on a separate paid subscription.

Get started

Follow the installation guide to check the system requirements, install the sbx CLI, and sign in.

Then launch an agent in a sandbox:

$ cd ~/my-project
$ sbx run claude

See the get started guide for a first-session walkthrough, or jump to the usage guide for basic commands.

Learn more

  • Agents — supported agents and per-agent configuration
  • Integrations — connect editors and apps like VS Code and Cursor to a sandbox over SSH
  • MCP gateway — register MCP servers and connect them to sandboxed agents
  • Customize — reusable templates and declarative kits for extending or tailoring sandboxes
  • Architecture — microVM isolation, workspace mounting, networking
  • Upstream proxy — route sandbox and daemon traffic through a corporate proxy, PAC file, or your OS system proxy
  • Security — isolation model, credential handling, and network policies
  • CLI reference — full list of sbx commands and options
  • Troubleshooting — common issues and fixes
  • FAQ — login requirements, telemetry, etc

Feedback

Your feedback shapes what gets built next. If you run into a bug, hit a missing feature, or have a suggestion, open an issue at github.com/docker/sbx-releases/issues.