# Secure AI Coding Sandboxes

Disposable, isolated Linux VMs for running Claude Code with `--dangerously-skip-permissions`. One command creates a fully provisioned environment. Blow it away and recreate it in minutes.

The VM is a real Linux machine with its own filesystem, network, and process space — complete isolation from your host with easy access for development.

| Platform | Script | Isolation Level |
|----------|--------|-----------------|
| **macOS** | `setup_env.sh` (OrbStack) | Full VM isolation |
| **Windows** | `setup_env_windows.ps1` (Hyper-V) | Full VM isolation |

## Why This Exists

Running `claude --dangerously-skip-permissions` on your host machine means Claude can execute arbitrary commands, install packages, modify system files, and access everything on your disk. That's powerful for autonomous coding but risky on a machine with your SSH keys, credentials, and personal files.

These scripts create throwaway VMs where Claude can run unrestricted:

- **Isolated filesystem** — Claude can't touch your host files, keys, or configs
- **Isolated network** — services run on their own IP, no port conflicts with your host
- **Disposable** — delete and recreate in one command
- **Multiple VMs** — run separate sandboxes per project with shared git credentials
- **Full access from host** — edit files in your editor, browse databases, view running apps

## Quick Start (macOS)

```bash
# Create a sandbox, SSH in, run Claude unrestricted
./setup_env.sh my-project
ssh my-project@orb
claude --dangerously-skip-permissions
```

If anything goes wrong: `orb delete my-project && ./setup_env.sh my-project`

### macOS Setup

```bash
# Create and provision a VM (one command from macOS)
./setup_env.sh my-sandbox
```

On first run, you'll be prompted for git commit author name and email. These are saved to `config.env` and reused for all future VMs. You'll also get an interactive checklist to select which components to install. If you select VNC, you'll be prompted for a VNC password (this is never stored and must be entered each time).

```bash
# Create additional VMs — reuses config.env, shows component picker
./setup_env.sh my-other-project
./setup_env.sh elixir-playground
```

When run manually inside a VM, you're prompted for each component individually:

```bash
# Inside a VM — interactive, prompts per component
./setup_env.sh

# Inside a VM — accept all without prompting
./setup_env.sh -y
./setup_env.sh --yes
```

### macOS Requirements

- macOS with Apple Silicon (ARM64)
- [OrbStack](https://orbstack.dev) installed (`brew install orbstack`)

## Quick Start (Windows)

```powershell
# Run as Administrator
.\setup_env_windows.ps1 -VMName my-project

# Connect via SSH (after provisioning)
ssh -i $env:USERPROFILE\.ssh\id_ed25519_my-project dev@my-project.local

# Run Claude unrestricted
claude --dangerously-skip-permissions
```

If anything goes wrong: `Remove-VM -Name my-project -Force` then run the script again.

### Windows Setup

```powershell
# Create and provision a VM (run as Administrator)
.\setup_env_windows.ps1 -VMName my-sandbox

# Customize resources
.\setup_env_windows.ps1 -VMName my-sandbox -MemoryGB 16 -DiskGB 100 -CPUs 8

# Skip optional components
.\setup_env_windows.ps1 -VMName my-sandbox -SkipVNC -SkipOllama
```

On first run, you'll be prompted for:
- Git commit author name and email (saved to `config.env`)
- VM user password (min 8 chars, not stored)
- VNC password if VNC is enabled (min 8 chars, not stored)

### Windows Requirements

- Windows 10/11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education (Hyper-V not available on Home)
- Hyper-V enabled: `Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Hyper-V -All`
- Administrator privileges
- One of: Windows ADK, WSL with genisoimage, or Windows 10+ (IMAPI2 fallback)

### Why Hyper-V (not WSL2)?

WSL2 is convenient but provides weaker isolation:
- Shares kernel with all WSL2 instances
- Host filesystem mounted by default
- Can launch Windows executables from Linux
- Network traffic bypasses Windows firewall

Hyper-V provides **maximum security**:
- Separate kernel per VM
- Complete filesystem isolation
- Own network stack
- No Windows integration by default

## What Gets Installed

All components are optional — deselect what you don't need in the interactive picker.

| Tool | Version | Purpose |
|------|---------|---------|
| mise | latest | Version manager for runtimes |
| Node.js | LTS | JavaScript runtime |
| Erlang | latest | BEAM VM |
| Elixir | latest | Elixir language |
| Chromium | system | Browser automation target |
| Playwright | latest | Browser testing framework |
| PostgreSQL | system default | Database |
| Ollama | latest | Local LLM inference |
| Claude Code | latest | AI coding assistant (Anthropic) |
| OpenCode | latest | Open-source AI coding assistant (multi-provider) |
| Tidewave | latest | Elixir/Phoenix MCP server for AI tools |
| yq | latest | YAML processor |
| watchexec | latest | File watcher (via cargo) |
| TigerVNC + XFCE | system | VNC access for browser login flows |

## Connecting from macOS

### SSH

```bash
# Shell into the VM (no key setup required)
ssh my-sandbox@orb

# Run a command directly
ssh my-sandbox@orb -- ls ~/projects

# Run Claude unrestricted
ssh my-sandbox@orb -- claude --dangerously-skip-permissions
```

OrbStack handles SSH key configuration automatically.

### Editing Files

Your editor connects to the VM over SSH. You edit files as if they were local — full LSP support, syntax highlighting, file tree, integrated terminal.

**Zed:**
1. `Cmd+Shift+P` -> "Open Remote Folder"
2. Enter: `my-sandbox@orb:~/projects`

**VS Code / Cursor:**
1. Install the "Remote - SSH" extension
2. `Cmd+Shift+P` -> "Remote-SSH: Connect to Host"
3. Enter: `my-sandbox@orb`
4. Open folder: `~/projects`

**Finder (direct filesystem access):**
```
/Volumes/OrbStack/my-sandbox/home/<user>/
```

### Viewing Running Apps

Services running in the VM are accessible from your Mac via `<vm-name>.orb.local`:

```bash
# Phoenix/Rails/Next.js dev server running on port 4000 inside the VM
open http://my-sandbox.orb.local:4000

# Or use port forwarding if the app only binds to localhost
ssh -L 4000:localhost:4000 my-sandbox@orb
```

PostgreSQL, Redis, or any service listening on the VM's interfaces is reachable at `my-sandbox.orb.local:<port>` from your Mac — no extra configuration.

## VNC (Browser Access)

For tasks requiring a visible browser (e.g., Claude Code OAuth login):

```bash
# Start VNC server inside the VM
ssh my-sandbox@orb -- vnc-start

# Connect from macOS (opens Screen Sharing.app)
open vnc://my-sandbox.orb.local:5901

# Stop when done (saves resources)
ssh my-sandbox@orb -- vnc-stop
```

### macOS Screen Sharing (built-in)

```bash
open vnc://my-sandbox.orb.local:5901
```

Enter your VNC password when prompted.

### RealVNC Viewer

1. Download from https://www.realvnc.com/en/connect/download/viewer/
2. Enter address: `my-sandbox.orb.local:5901`
3. When prompted for credentials, enter your VNC password (username can be left blank)

### TigerVNC Viewer

```bash
# Install via Homebrew
brew install tiger-vnc

# Connect
vncviewer my-sandbox.orb.local:5901
```

Enter your VNC password when prompted.

### Connection details for any VNC client

- **Host**: `my-sandbox.orb.local`
- **Port**: `5901` (display `:1`)
- **Password**: the VNC password from `config.env`
- **Resolution**: 1280x800 (configurable in `~/bin/vnc-start`)

## PostgreSQL

A superuser matching your Linux username and a `dev` database are created automatically.

**Auth model:**
- Local socket (`psql dev`): peer auth (OS username must match PG role)
- Localhost TCP (127.0.0.1): scram-sha-256 (password required)
- Host network (192.168.0.0/16, i.e., from macOS): scram-sha-256

### From inside the VM

```bash
psql dev                    # Connect to dev database
psql -l                     # List databases
createdb myapp_dev          # Create a new database
```

### From macOS

```bash
# Direct (requires: brew install libpq)
psql -h my-sandbox.orb.local -U <user> -d dev
```

### Connection strings

```
# Elixir/Phoenix
postgres://<user>@my-sandbox.orb.local/myapp_dev

# Generic
host=my-sandbox.orb.local port=5432 dbname=dev user=<user>
```

### DataGrip

1. New Data Source -> PostgreSQL
2. **SSH/SSL** tab: Check "Use SSH tunnel", Host: `my-sandbox@orb`, Auth: Key pair
3. **General** tab: Host: `localhost`, Port: `5432`, User: your VM username, Database: `dev`, No password
4. Test Connection -> Apply

### DBeaver

1. New Database Connection -> PostgreSQL
2. **SSH** tab: Check "Use SSH Tunnel", Host: `my-sandbox.orb.local`, Port: `22`, Auth: Public Key
3. **Main** tab: Host: `localhost`, Port: `5432`, Database: `dev`, Username: your VM username, no password
4. Test Connection -> Finish

### Creating additional databases

```bash
# From inside the VM
createdb myapp_dev
createdb myapp_test

# From macOS
ssh my-sandbox@orb -- createdb myapp_dev
```

## Claude Code Plugins

The script installs these plugins at user scope:

**Anthropic marketplace** (`anthropics/claude-code`):
- code-review, code-simplifier, feature-dev, pr-review-toolkit, security-guidance, frontend-design

**Superpowers marketplace** (`obra/superpowers`):
- double-shot-latte, elements-of-style, superpowers, superpowers-chrome, superpowers-lab

**MCP Servers**:
- `playwright` - Browser automation and screenshots
- `superpowers-chrome` - Direct Chrome/Chromium control (headless)

## Configuration

All tools are configured to use the latest versions by default. Erlang and Elixir versions can be customized in `setup_env.sh`:

```bash
ERLANG_VERSION="latest"  # or pin to specific version like "28.3.1"
ELIXIR_VERSION="latest"  # or pin to specific version like "1.19.5-otp-28"
```

### Shared credentials

Git credentials (name, email) are stored in `config.env` (gitignored). VNC passwords are never stored and must be entered each time you create a VM with VNC enabled.

To reset git credentials:

```bash
rm config.env
./setup_env.sh my-sandbox   # will prompt again
```

Or copy the example and edit:

```bash
cp config.env.example config.env
# Edit config.env with your values
```

## Managing VMs

```bash
# List all VMs
orb list

# Delete a VM (instant cleanup)
orb delete my-sandbox

# Stop a VM (preserves state, frees resources)
orb stop my-sandbox

# Start a stopped VM
orb start my-sandbox

# Nuclear option — delete and recreate
orb delete my-sandbox && ./setup_env.sh my-sandbox
```

## Idempotency

The VM provisioning script is safe to run multiple times. It checks for existing installations before re-installing and avoids appending duplicate configuration lines.

## Logs

Each provisioning run creates a log file at `/tmp/setup_env_<timestamp>.log` inside the VM with detailed output from package installations and any errors. Log files are created with mode 600 (owner-only access).

## Security

The script includes several security hardening measures:

- **Input validation**: VM names, VNC passwords, and git credentials are validated against strict patterns
- **No credential storage**: VNC passwords are prompted each time and never written to disk
- **Safe credential passing**: Values are base64-encoded when passed to the VM to prevent shell injection
- **Config file security**: `config.env` is created with mode 600 and parsed safely (not sourced)
- **Secure temp files**: Uses `mktemp` with restrictive permissions for all temporary files
- **Host filesystem isolation**: macOS home directory access is disabled inside the VM
- **PostgreSQL hardening**: Uses peer auth for local sockets, scram-sha-256 for network connections