---
title: "Quickstart"
description: "Install the CLI, log in, and run your first sandbox in under 5 minutes."
---

## Install the CLI

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="npm">
    ```bash
    npm install -g @pocketenv/cli
    ```
  </Tab>
  <Tab title="homebrew">
    ```bash
    brew install pocketenv-io/tap/pocketenv
    ```
  </Tab>
  <Tab title="curl">
    ```bash
    curl -fsSL https://cli.pocketenv.io | bash
    ```
  </Tab>
  <Tab title="bun">
    ```bash
    bun install -g @pocketenv/cli
    ```
  </Tab>
  <Tab title="pnpm">
    ```bash
    pnpm add -g @pocketenv/cli
    ```
  </Tab>
  <Tab title="nix">
    ```bash
    nix profile install github:pocketenv-io/pocketenv
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

Verify the installation:

```bash
pocketenv --version
```

![cli.png](/images/cli.png)

## Log in

Pocketenv uses your AT Protocol handle (e.g. a Bluesky account) for authentication.

```bash
pocketenv login alice.bsky.social
```

This opens a browser window to complete the OAuth flow. Once done, your session token is saved to `~/.pocketenv/token.json`.

<Note>
  For CI/CD environments, skip the browser flow by setting the `POCKETENV_TOKEN` environment variable instead.
</Note>

## Create a sandbox

```bash
pocketenv create
```

By default this uses the `cloudflare` provider and the `openclaw` base image — a minimal Linux environment with openclaw and common dev tools pre-installed.

Specify a different provider or base:

```bash
pocketenv create my-sandbox --provider daytona --base openclaw
```

## Run a command

```bash
pocketenv exec my-first-sandbox "echo hello from the sandbox"
# hello from the sandbox
```

## Open an interactive shell

```bash
pocketenv console my-first-sandbox
```

This drops you into a live SSH session inside the sandbox. Type `exit` to return to your local terminal.

## Start, stop, and delete

```bash
pocketenv stop my-first-sandbox    # Stop the sandbox
pocketenv start my-first-sandbox   # Resume it later
pocketenv rm my-first-sandbox      # Delete permanently
```

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Providers" icon="server" href="/guides/providers">
    Configure Daytona, Vercel, E2B, Modal, and more.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Expose ports" icon="network-wired" href="/guides/ports-and-networking">
    Make your sandbox services accessible from the internet.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Secrets & env vars" icon="lock" href="/guides/secrets-and-env">
    Store credentials and configuration securely.
  </Card>
  <Card title="SDK" icon="code" href="/development">
    Use Pocketenv programmatically from TypeScript/JavaScript.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>