---
title: Sandbox
description: The sandbox gives the Lead Agent a controlled environment where it can read files, write outputs, run shell commands, and produce artifacts. Without a sandbox, the agent can only generate text. With a sandbox, it can write and execute code, process data files, generate charts, and build deliverables.
---

import { Callout, Cards, Tabs } from "nextra/components";

# Sandbox

<Callout type="info" emoji="📦">
  The sandbox is the isolated workspace where the agent does file and
  command-based work. It is what makes DeerFlow capable of real action, not just
  conversation.
</Callout>

The sandbox gives the Lead Agent a controlled environment where it can read files, write outputs, run shell commands, and produce artifacts. Without a sandbox, the agent can only generate text. With a sandbox, it can write and execute code, process data files, generate charts, and build deliverables.

## Sandbox modes

DeerFlow supports three sandbox modes. Choose the one that fits your deployment:

### LocalSandbox (default)

Commands run directly on the host machine's filesystem. There is no container isolation.

- **Best for**: trusted, single-user local development workflows.
- **Risk**: the agent has access to the host filesystem. Use `allow_host_bash: false` (default) to prevent arbitrary command execution.

```yaml
sandbox:
  use: deerflow.sandbox.local:LocalSandboxProvider
  allow_host_bash: false # default; set to true only for fully trusted workflows
```

### Container-based AIO Sandbox

Commands run in an isolated container (Docker on Linux/Windows, or Apple Container on macOS). Each sandbox session gets a fresh container environment.

- **Best for**: multi-user environments, production deployments, or any case where you want execution isolation.

```yaml
sandbox:
  use: deerflow.community.aio_sandbox:AioSandboxProvider

  # Optional: container image (default shown below)
  image: enterprise-public-cn-beijing.cr.volces.com/vefaas-public/all-in-one-sandbox:latest

  # Optional: max concurrent containers (default: 3, LRU eviction when exceeded)
  replicas: 3

  # Optional: container name prefix (default: deer-flow-sandbox)
  container_prefix: deer-flow-sandbox

  # Optional: idle timeout in seconds (default: 600)
  idle_timeout: 600

  # Optional: custom mounts
  mounts:
    - host_path: /path/on/host
      container_path: /home/user/shared
      read_only: false

  # Optional: environment variables injected into the container
  environment:
    API_KEY: $MY_API_KEY
```

Install: `cd backend && uv add 'deerflow-harness[aio-sandbox]'`

### Provisioner-managed Sandbox (Kubernetes)

Each sandbox gets a dedicated Pod in a Kubernetes cluster, managed by the provisioner service. This provides the strongest isolation and is recommended for production environments with multiple concurrent users.

```yaml
sandbox:
  use: deerflow.community.aio_sandbox:AioSandboxProvider
  provisioner_url: http://provisioner:8002
```

The provisioner service is included in `docker/docker-compose-dev.yaml` and manages the Pod and Service lifecycle for each sandbox ID.

## Path mappings

The sandbox uses path mappings to bridge the host filesystem and the container's virtual filesystem. Two key mappings are always configured:

| Host path                                   | Container path                               | Access     |
| ------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- | ---------- |
| `skills/` (from `skills.path`)              | `/mnt/skills` (from `skills.container_path`) | Read-only  |
| `.deer-flow/threads/{thread_id}/user-data/` | `/mnt/user-data/`                            | Read-write |

The skills directory is always mounted read-only. Threads write their working data (uploads, outputs, intermediate files) to `/mnt/user-data/`.

### Custom mounts

You can add additional mounts for the local sandbox using the `mounts:` configuration:

```yaml
sandbox:
  use: deerflow.sandbox.local:LocalSandboxProvider
  mounts:
    - host_path: /home/user/my-project
      container_path: /mnt/my-project
      read_only: true
```

<Callout type="warning">
  Custom mount `container_path` values must not conflict with reserved prefixes:
  `/mnt/skills`, `/mnt/acp-workspace`, or `/mnt/user-data`.
</Callout>

## Output truncation

The sandbox tools limit output size to keep the agent's context manageable. These limits are configurable:

```yaml
sandbox:
  use: deerflow.sandbox.local:LocalSandboxProvider

  # bash uses middle-truncation (head + tail)
  bash_output_max_chars: 20000

  # read_file uses head-truncation
  read_file_output_max_chars: 50000

  # ls uses head-truncation
  ls_output_max_chars: 20000
```

Set to `0` to disable truncation.

## Security

### LocalSandbox

The `LocalSandbox` runs commands directly on the host. By default, the `bash` tool is **disabled** to prevent arbitrary host command execution. Enable it only for fully trusted, single-user workflows:

```yaml
sandbox:
  allow_host_bash: true # Dangerous: grants the agent shell access to your machine
```

Even without `bash`, the agent can still read and write files through the dedicated file tools.

### Container sandbox

Container-based sandboxes provide filesystem and process isolation. The agent cannot see or modify the host filesystem except through explicit mounts. The provisioner-managed mode adds a further layer: each thread gets its own isolated Pod.

### Audit middleware

`SandboxAuditMiddleware` runs on every agent turn and records all sandbox operations. This provides an audit trail of what files were accessed and what commands were run during a session.

<Cards num={2}>
  <Cards.Card title="Tools" href="/docs/harness/tools" />
  <Cards.Card title="Subagents" href="/docs/harness/subagents" />
</Cards>
