> ## 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.

# Coding agents

> Build coding agents on Celesto with sandboxed terminals, repositories, package installs, tests, preview apps, durable state, and large workspace storage.

Coding agents need a safe place to do messy work. They clone repositories, install dependencies, edit files, run tests, start preview apps, and keep intermediate state while they iterate.

Celesto gives each coding agent its own sandboxed computer. The agent can use a terminal and files like a real developer machine, while your application stays isolated from untrusted commands.

## A typical coding workflow

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create a coding computer">
    Use the `coding-agent` template when the agent needs common development tools.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Clone or upload the project">
    Put source code in the sandbox workspace so the agent can inspect and modify it.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Install dependencies and run checks">
    Let the agent use package managers, test runners, linters, and build tools inside the sandbox.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Publish a preview">
    If the agent starts a web app, publish the port so you can inspect the result.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Stop or delete">
    Stop when the task should resume later. Delete when the task is done.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Why it works well

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card icon="shield-halved" title="Safer command execution" href="/smolvm/concepts/security">
    Generated code and shell commands run inside the sandbox, not on your server.
  </Card>

  <Card icon="database" title="Room for large projects" href="/celesto-sdk/features/petabyte-storage">
    Keep repositories, build artifacts, and generated files in CelestoFS workspace storage.
  </Card>

  <Card icon="rotate" title="Resume long tasks" href="/getting-started/long-running-agents">
    Keep state when a coding job spans multiple turns, retries, or handoffs.
  </Card>

  <Card icon="globe" title="Share previews" href="/celesto-sdk/features/publish-ports">
    Expose local apps and dashboards from the sandbox through public HTTPS URLs.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Start here

Create a hosted computer with the [Celesto quickstart](/celesto-sdk/quickstart), then read [Create and manage sandboxed computers](/celesto-sdk/computers) for templates, command execution, ports, and lifecycle.