Codesandbox

CodeSandbox offers two execution contexts: Sandboxes (browser-based, instant spin-up with pre-configured templates) and Devboxes (more persistent cloud dev environments). The API enables agents to fork sandboxes, read file contents, and generate share links. Primary agent use cases: creating preview environments for code snippets, running user-submitted code in isolation, and building interactive coding features. The API surface is narrower than full-compute alternatives (E2B, Modal) — oriented toward preview and collaboration rather than headless compute. Good fit for agent workflows that need shareable, interactive execution environments. Confidence is docs-derived.

API token auth via Authorization: Bearer header. Tokens scoped to user account; sandbox access determined by visibility (public/private). Organization-level tokens available for team sandbox management. Sandbox forking allows isolated copies without touching the original. No fine-grained per-resource scoping in the base API; enterprise plans add RBAC. Test sandboxes can be made public for unauthenticated access.

Documentation at codesandbox.io/docs covers sandbox creation, importing from GitHub, and the API. API docs include endpoint descriptions and example responses but lack the depth of more API-first platforms. Interactive sandbox embed makes testing easy. Define API (creating sandboxes from a file tree) is particularly well-documented. SDK availability is limited — direct HTTP calls are the primary path.

REST API for sandbox management. Define API accepts a POST with a file tree and template, returning a sandbox ID and URL. Fork, read, update, and embed operations available. GraphQL API available for complex queries (sandbox metadata, collaborators). Embed tokens for read-only sharing without requiring end-user auth. Response payloads are consistent JSON with sandbox ID, URL, and privacy flags.

Standard HTTP error codes with JSON error bodies. Sandbox startup is fast for cached templates (sub-second for browser Sandboxes). Devboxes have slightly longer cold-start times. Rate limits on sandbox creation documented in API reference. No formal SLA published for the API tier; enterprise plans include uptime commitments. Ephemeral nature of sandboxes means agents should not rely on long-term persistence without explicit save operations.