Machine Capabilities

Every box is a Linux VM with a curated set of tools available from the moment you SSH in. Nothing to install before you start working.

Pre-installed tools

AI & automation

Tool	Description
`claude`	Claude Code CLI — AI coding assistant
`codex`	OpenAI Codex CLI
`host`	Expose localhost services to the internet
`lux`	Desktop and browser automation
`ascii`	Ascii workspace tools

Languages & runtimes

Tool	Description
`node` / `npm`	Node.js and npm
`bun`	Bun JavaScript runtime
`python3`	Python 3
`uv`	Fast Python package runner / project manager
`go`	Go toolchain
`rustc` / `cargo`	Rust compiler and package manager

Version control

Tool	Description
`git`	Git
`gh`	GitHub CLI — PR creation, issue management, etc.

Utilities

Tool	Description
`rg`	ripgrep — fast code search
`jq`	JSON processor
`curl`	HTTP client
`docker`	Container runtime (available on supported images)
`chrome`	Headless Chromium
`ffmpeg`	Media processing

Desktop access

Every box has a browser-based desktop stream. Open it with:

box desktop bx_f7k2q9hd

Useful for tools that need a GUI — browsers, Electron apps, visual debugging.

SSH access

Boxes accept connections over standard SSH. The CLI manages your key automatically at ~/.ssh/ascii_box_ed25519, but you can also retrieve the private key for use with external tools:

# CLI-managed (easiest)
box ssh bx_f7k2q9hd

# Manual — get the private key
box info bx_f7k2q9hd  # shows IP and SSH user

Port forwarding

Forward any port from the box to your local machine:

box forward bx_f7k2q9hd --remote 3000

See CLI Reference for full options.

​Pre-installed tools

​AI & automation

​Languages & runtimes

​Version control

​Utilities

​Desktop access

​SSH access

​Port forwarding