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Sandbox CLI

Manage Docker-based sandbox containers for isolated agent execution.

Overview

Clawdia can run agents in isolated Docker containers for security. The sandbox commands help you manage these containers, especially after updates or configuration changes.

Commands

clawdia sandbox explain

Inspect the effective sandbox mode/scope/workspace access, sandbox tool policy, and elevated gates (with fix-it config key paths).
clawdia sandbox explain
clawdia sandbox explain --session agent:main:main
clawdia sandbox explain --agent work
clawdia sandbox explain --json

clawdia sandbox list

List all sandbox containers with their status and configuration.
clawdia sandbox list
clawdia sandbox list --browser  # List only browser containers
clawdia sandbox list --json     # JSON output
Output includes:
  • Container name and status (running/stopped)
  • Docker image and whether it matches config
  • Age (time since creation)
  • Idle time (time since last use)
  • Associated session/agent

clawdia sandbox recreate

Remove sandbox containers to force recreation with updated images/config.
clawdia sandbox recreate --all                # Recreate all containers
clawdia sandbox recreate --session main       # Specific session
clawdia sandbox recreate --agent mybot        # Specific agent
clawdia sandbox recreate --browser            # Only browser containers
clawdia sandbox recreate --all --force        # Skip confirmation
Options:
  • --all: Recreate all sandbox containers
  • --session <key>: Recreate container for specific session
  • --agent <id>: Recreate containers for specific agent
  • --browser: Only recreate browser containers
  • --force: Skip confirmation prompt
Important: Containers are automatically recreated when the agent is next used.

Use Cases

After updating Docker images

# Pull new image
docker pull clawdia-sandbox:latest
docker tag clawdia-sandbox:latest clawdia-sandbox:bookworm-slim

# Update config to use new image
# Edit config: agents.defaults.sandbox.docker.image (or agents.list[].sandbox.docker.image)

# Recreate containers
clawdia sandbox recreate --all

After changing sandbox configuration

# Edit config: agents.defaults.sandbox.* (or agents.list[].sandbox.*)

# Recreate to apply new config
clawdia sandbox recreate --all

After changing setupCommand

clawdia sandbox recreate --all
# or just one agent:
clawdia sandbox recreate --agent family

For a specific agent only

# Update only one agent's containers
clawdia sandbox recreate --agent alfred

Why is this needed?

Problem: When you update sandbox Docker images or configuration:
  • Existing containers continue running with old settings
  • Containers are only pruned after 24h of inactivity
  • Regularly-used agents keep old containers running indefinitely
Solution: Use clawdia sandbox recreate to force removal of old containers. They’ll be recreated automatically with current settings when next needed. Tip: prefer clawdia sandbox recreate over manual docker rm. It uses the Gateway’s container naming and avoids mismatches when scope/session keys change.

Configuration

Sandbox settings live in ~/.nelsonmuntz-c/clawdia.json under agents.defaults.sandbox (per-agent overrides go in agents.list[].sandbox):
{
  "agents": {
    "defaults": {
      "sandbox": {
        "mode": "all",                    // off, non-main, all
        "scope": "agent",                 // session, agent, shared
        "docker": {
          "image": "clawdia-sandbox:bookworm-slim",
          "containerPrefix": "clawdia-sbx-"
          // ... more Docker options
        },
        "prune": {
          "idleHours": 24,               // Auto-prune after 24h idle
          "maxAgeDays": 7                // Auto-prune after 7 days
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

See Also