docker-sandbox

name	docker-sandbox
description	Run Docker and containers in a cloud sandbox — a full root Ubuntu VM with Docker preinstalled and real kernel access, so `docker build`/`docker run`/compose all work (unlike isolate-based sandboxes that can't run Docker). 4 vCPU / 8 GB / 80 GB, per-second billing. Use to build images, run compose stacks, or test containers off-host.

Docker sandbox (Box)

Use this when a task needs Docker: building an image, running docker compose, or testing a container. Many sandboxes (V8 isolates, restricted microVMs) can't run Docker at all — Box is a full VM with Docker preinstalled, so it just works.

Why Box

• Docker preinstalled, real machine — docker build, docker run, compose stacks.
• 80 GB disk — room for images and layers.
• Cheap & isolated — per-second billing, separate from the host.

Prereqs

curl -fsSL https://box.ascii.dev/install | sh, then box login "$BOX_API_KEY" --json.

Recipe

box_id="$(box new --json | jq -r 'select(.event == "ready") | .id')"
box ssh "$box_id" -- bash -s < ./clone-and-build.sh   # git clone + docker build
box ssh "$box_id" -- "cd /project && docker compose up -d"
box ssh "$box_id" -- "host 8080"                       # expose the running container
box delete "$box_id" --json

Limits

EU-only; 100 active VMs soft cap; disk-level snapshots (containers don't survive stop/resume — restart compose after resume).