> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.celesto.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Agent computers

> Understand Celesto agent computers: isolated sandboxes where AI agents can run commands, read and write files, publish ports, and keep state.

A Celesto computer is a sandboxed Linux machine for an AI agent. It gives the agent a real workspace with files, a shell, process isolation, optional browser capabilities, and APIs for lifecycle control.

Think of it as the agent's workbench. Your application asks Celesto to create a computer, sends commands or file operations to it, and deletes it when the work is finished.

## What an agent can do

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card icon="terminal" title="Run shell commands" href="/celesto-sdk/computers#run-commands">
    Execute scripts, package managers, tests, build tools, and diagnostics.
  </Card>

  <Card icon="folder-open" title="Read and write files" href="/celesto-sdk/computers">
    Keep source code, generated files, logs, and artifacts inside the sandbox.
  </Card>

  <Card icon="globe" title="Expose ports" href="/celesto-sdk/features/publish-ports">
    Publish preview apps, APIs, notebooks, dashboards, and webhooks.
  </Card>

  <Card icon="rotate" title="Pause and resume" href="/celesto-sdk/features/lifecycle">
    Stop a computer when work pauses, then start the same computer later.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## The lifecycle

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create">
    Choose a template such as `scratch` or `coding-agent`, then create a computer with the SDK or CLI.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Run work">
    Send commands, write files, publish ports, or connect an agent framework.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Stop or delete">
    Stop the computer when you want to resume later. Delete it when the saved state is no longer needed.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Hosted or local

Use the hosted Celesto Platform when you want managed infrastructure, APIs, and orchestration. Use local SmolVM when you want open-source sandboxes on your own machine.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card icon="cloud" title="Hosted platform" href="/celesto-sdk/overview">
    Managed computers from Python, TypeScript, JavaScript, or the Celesto CLI.
  </Card>

  <Card icon="computer" title="Local SmolVM" href="/smolvm/introduction">
    Open-source microVM sandboxes for local development and private runs.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>