// Use Cua's cloud sandboxes via cua.ai. Requires CUA_API_KEY. Cloud sandboxes are isolated VMs run by trycua with billing per usage. Use when the user wants no local Docker/QEMU, wants Windows/macOS guests without Apple Silicon, or explicitly asks for cloud.
| name | cua-cloud-sandbox |
| description | Use Cua's cloud sandboxes via cua.ai. Requires CUA_API_KEY. Cloud sandboxes are isolated VMs run by trycua with billing per usage. Use when the user wants no local Docker/QEMU, wants Windows/macOS guests without Apple Silicon, or explicitly asks for cloud. |
In mode: "cloud", cua_sandbox_start provisions a sandbox in cua.ai.
Requires a Cua API key (sign up at https://cua.ai/signin).
// .pi/cua.jsonc
{
"mode": "cloud",
"cloud": {
"apiKeyEnv": "CUA_API_KEY",
"region": "north-america"
}
}
Then export the key before launching Pi:
export CUA_API_KEY=sk_cua-...
If the API key env var is empty when the session starts, the extension
prints a warning and falls back to mode: "local" for that session.
cua_sandbox_start({ os: "windows" }) // Windows 11
cua_sandbox_start({ os: "macos" }) // macOS (cloud Lume)
cua_sandbox_start({ os: "linux" }) // Ubuntu container
cua_sandbox_start({ os: "android" }) // Android emulator
Cloud mode is the only way to get macOS/Windows VMs from non-macOS hosts or hosts without Apple Silicon.
Cua bills per sandbox-second. Stop sandboxes promptly with
cua_sandbox_stop. The extension also auto-stops on session shutdown.
The region config sets the data center. Default omitted lets cua.ai
choose. Available regions are listed in the Cua console.
Drive the user's host machine directly through Cua, with no sandbox. Maps to Cua's Localhost API. Higher risk - the agent can click, type, and run shell commands on the real desktop. Use only when the user explicitly opts in and read the safety section first. Triggers - "control my computer", "click here", "use my real Chrome", "no sandbox", "내 컴퓨터 자동화".
Mouse, keyboard, and scroll primitives for cua_click / cua_type / cua_key / cua_scroll. Reference for action shapes, modifier keys, key chord syntax, and screenshot-driven targeting workflows.
pi-cua-integration is a Pi/Senpi extension that bridges Cua (trycua/cua) for computer-use sandboxes and host control. MUST USE when the user asks to drive a desktop UI, take screenshots, run a "computer use" task, control a sandbox, or invoke any cua_* tool. Triggers - "cua", "computer use", "sandbox", "screenshot the desktop", "click the screen", "take over the browser", "샌드박스 켜줘", "스크린샷 찍어", "내 컴퓨터에서 자동화".
Run Cua sandboxes locally - no API key required. Covers Docker (XFCE/Kasm) for Linux containers, QEMU for full VMs, Lume for macOS guests on Apple Silicon, and Tart for Apple VZ VMs. Use when the user wants a local sandbox, wants to keep things off the cloud, or asks "spin up an Ubuntu desktop", "open a sandbox VM", "let me try this safely first".