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arcboxlabs

arcboxlabs/arcbox

Open-source container and VM runtime for macOS in Rust, offering a drop-in Docker engine, microVM sandboxes for AI agents, native Kubernetes and Linux VMs.

Open-source alternative to:Docker DesktopOrbStack

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What is it?

ArcBox is a local runtime for Apple Silicon Macs that runs Docker-compatible containers, disposable microVM sandboxes, full Linux machines and macOS guests from one daemon and one CLI. The Docker socket is compatible with the Docker CLI, Compose and BuildKit, and a local k3s cluster can be started for Kubernetes. Users can also migrate images, volumes and networks from Docker Desktop or OrbStack.

The sandbox tier is aimed at AI coding agents and untrusted code. Each sandbox boots its own kernel under Firecracker nested in the guest, and nothing from the host is mounted by default. Sandboxes can be built from templates, images or Dockerfiles, checkpointed and restored, and driven through a gRPC API. Sandboxes require M3 or newer chips on macOS 15+.

The project is written from scratch in Rust, including its own VMM on Hypervisor.framework, VirtIO devices and a userspace network datapath. It is in public beta and licensed under MIT or Apache-2.0.

Key features

  • 01Docker-compatible engine that works with the existing Docker CLI, Compose and BuildKit.
  • 02Disposable microVM sandboxes with their own kernel for AI agents and untrusted code.
  • 03Managed local Kubernetes cluster based on k3s.
  • 04Full Linux VMs with persistent disks and selectable distros.
  • 05Migration of images, volumes and networks from Docker Desktop or OrbStack.
  • 06Host file access to container volumes and machine root filesystems in Finder.

Use cases

  • Replacing Docker Desktop or OrbStack for daily container work on an Apple Silicon Mac.
  • Running coding agents such as Claude Code in isolated sandboxes without mounting host files.
  • Running linux/amd64 images on Apple Silicon machines.
  • Creating disposable Linux or macOS guests for CI-style test runs.

Quick start

  1. 1

    Install with Homebrew

    brew install --cask arcboxlabs/tap/arcbox
  2. 2

    Start the daemon

    abctl daemon start
  3. 3

    Enable Docker compatibility

    abctl docker enable
  4. 4

    Run a container

    docker run -d -p 8080:80 nginx

Things to know

  • Runs only on macOS, on top of Apple's virtualization frameworks.
  • Public beta, so expect rough edges and possible changes.
  • Sandboxes require Apple Silicon M3 or newer with macOS 15+.
  • macOS guests are capped at 2 per host by Apple's license and need Apple Silicon.

In collections

Open-source AI agent frameworks & appsOpen-source Mac apps

Topics

#containers#docker#virtual-machine#sandbox#ai-agents#microvm#kubernetes#macos#computer-use#firecracker

FAQ

What is arcbox?
Open-source container and VM runtime for macOS in Rust, offering a drop-in Docker engine, microVM sandboxes for AI agents, native Kubernetes and Linux VMs. ArcBox is a local runtime for Apple Silicon Macs that runs Docker-compatible containers, disposable microVM sandboxes, full Linux machines and macOS guests from one daemon and one CLI. The Docker socket is compatible with the Docker CLI, Compose and BuildKit, and a local k3s cluster can be started for Kubernetes. Users can also migrate images, volumes and networks from Docker Desktop or OrbStack.
Is arcbox free to use? What license does it have?
arcbox is open source under the Apache-2.0 license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is arcbox still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to arcbox was on Nov 5, 2026.
What can I use arcbox for?
Replacing Docker Desktop or OrbStack for daily container work on an Apple Silicon Mac. Running coding agents such as Claude Code in isolated sandboxes without mounting host files. Running linux/amd64 images on Apple Silicon machines. Creating disposable Linux or macOS guests for CI-style test runs.
How do I install arcbox?
Install with Homebrew: brew install --cask arcboxlabs/tap/arcbox Start the daemon: abctl daemon start Enable Docker compatibility: abctl docker enable Run a container: docker run -d -p 8080:80 nginx
Where can I get arcbox?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/arcboxlabs/arcbox

Summary generated by AI from the project's README. GitHub stats refresh daily.

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