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Overview

Get Container Use running with your coding agent in just a few minutes. This guide will walk you through installation, agent setup, and creating your first environment.
Make sure you have Docker and Git installed before starting.

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Installation

Choose your preferred installation method:
Recommended for macOS users - Homebrew will automatically install shell completions for you.
brew install dagger/tap/container-use
This will:
  • Install the latest cu binary
  • Add it to your $PATH
  • Install shell completions automatically

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Verify Installation

cu version

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Agent Setup

Configure Container Use with your coding agent. Choose your agent below:
All agents use the same MCP server command: cu stdio

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Add MCP Configuration

cd /path/to/repository
claude mcp add container-use -- <full path to cu command> stdio

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Add Agent Rules (Optional)

Save the CLAUDE.md file at the root of your repository:
curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/dagger/container-use/main/rules/agent.md >> CLAUDE.md

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Trust Only Container Use Tools (Optional)

For maximum security, restrict Claude Code to only use Container Use tools:
claude --allowedTools mcp__container-use__environment_checkpoint,mcp__container-use__environment_create,mcp__container-use__environment_add_service,mcp__container-use__environment_file_delete,mcp__container-use__environment_file_list,mcp__container-use__environment_file_read,mcp__container-use__environment_file_write,mcp__container-use__environment_open,mcp__container-use__environment_run_cmd,mcp__container-use__environment_update
Learn more: Claude Code MCP Documentation

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Your First Environment

Now let’s create your first containerized environment and see Container Use in action!

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Setting Up a Demo Project

Let’s start with a fresh repository: 
mkdir hello
cd hello
git init
touch README.md
git add README.md
git commit -m "initial commit"

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Creating Your First Environment

Ask your agent to create something simple:
Create a hello world app in python using flask
Your agent will work in an isolated environment and respond with something like: 
[agent creates the Flask app with styling and templates]

✅ The application is now running and accessible at: http://127.0.0.1:58455
🔍 You can view all the files using: `cu checkout fancy-mallard`
📋 You can view the development log using: `cu log fancy-mallard`
Navigate to the provided URL to see your app running!

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Understanding What Happened

Notice that your local directory is still empty: 
$ ls
README.md
This is because the agent worked in an isolated environment. Your local files are untouched.

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Exploring Environments

List all environments: 
$ cu list
ID                 TITLE                               CREATED        UPDATED
fancy-mallard      Flask Hello World with Blue Design  2 minutes ago  1 minute ago

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Viewing the Development Log

See exactly what your agent did with cu log: 
$ cu log fancy-mallard
9e3a5c9d  Write templates/index.html (2 minutes ago)
$ python app.py &

d94b6ab8  Write app.py (3 minutes ago)
$ mkdir -p templates

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Reviewing the Code

See exactly what files were created with cu diff: 
$ cu diff fancy-mallard
diff --git a/app.py b/app.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f88d1fb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app.py
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+from flask import Flask, render_template
+
+app = Flask(__name__)
+
+@app.route('/')
+def hello_world():
+    return render_template('index.html')
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    app.run(host='0.0.0.0', port=5000)
...

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Exploring the Environment

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Option 1: Check Out Locally

Bring the environment’s work into your local Git workspace: 
$ cu checkout fancy-mallard
Switched to branch 'cu-fancy-mallard'

$ ls
README.md  app.py  templates/
Now you can explore the files in your IDE, make changes, or continue development.

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Option 2: Drop Into the Container

Get a terminal inside the exact environment your agent used: 
$ cu terminal fancy-mallard

● Attaching terminal
cu /workdir $ ls
app.py  templates/

cu /workdir $ python app.py
 * Running on all addresses (0.0.0.0)
 * Running on http://127.0.0.1:5000
This gives you the same Python environment, dependencies, and setup your agent used.

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Merging the Work

Once you’re satisfied with the agent’s work, merge it into your main branch: 
$ git checkout main
$ cu merge fancy-mallard
Updating 95bb17b..9e3a5c9
Fast-forward
 app.py           | 10 ++++++++++
 templates/index.html | 20 ++++++++++++++++++++
 2 files changed, 30 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 app.py
 create mode 100644 templates/index.html

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Essential Commands

Here are the key commands you’ll use regularly: 
# List all environments
cu list

# View what an agent did
cu log <environment-id>

# See the code changes
cu diff <environment-id>

# Check out the environment locally
cu checkout <environment-id>

# Get a terminal in the container
cu terminal <environment-id>

# Merge the work into your branch
cu merge <environment-id>

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Success! 🎉

You’ve successfully:
  • ✅ Installed Container Use
  • ✅ Configured your agent
  • ✅ Created your first environment
  • ✅ Explored the development process
  • ✅ Learned the essential commands
Your coding agent now has its own containerized playground. No more babysitting - let your agents work safely and independently!

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Next Steps

Multiple Agents

Try running multiple agents simultaneously on different tasks

Complete Agent List

See setup guides for all supported agents

Join Community

Share your experience and get help in #container-use