E2B Desktop Skill
Control a headless Linux desktop (Ubuntu + XFCE) via the e2b-desktop Python SDK.
All scripts live in scripts/ and wrap the SDK in bash for easy agent use.
Prerequisites
pip install e2b-desktop
export E2B_API_KEY=e2b_***
State Management
start_sandbox.shsaves the sandbox ID to~/.e2b_state- All other scripts auto-load it from there
- Override anytime with
export E2B_SANDBOX_ID=<id> - Sandboxes survive script exit — reconnect with
Sandbox.connect(sandbox_id)
Scripts
| Script | Usage | Description |
|---|---|---|
start_sandbox.sh | [--resolution 1280x800] [--timeout 300] [--stream] | Create sandbox; optionally start VNC stream |
kill_sandbox.sh | [SANDBOX_ID] | Kill sandbox and remove state |
screenshot.sh | [OUTPUT_FILE] | Take screenshot → PNG (default: /tmp/e2b_screenshot.png) |
click.sh | X Y | Left click at coordinates |
right_click.sh | X Y | Right click |
double_click.sh | X Y | Double click |
middle_click.sh | X Y | Middle click |
move_mouse.sh | X Y | Move cursor (no click) |
drag.sh | X1 Y1 X2 Y2 | Click-drag between two points |
scroll.sh | AMOUNT | Scroll (positive=up, negative=down) |
type_text.sh | "text" | Type text at current cursor |
press_key.sh | KEY [KEY2...] | Press key or combo (e.g. ctrl c) |
run_command.sh | "cmd" | Run shell command inside sandbox |
open_url.sh | URL_OR_PATH | Open URL or file in default app |
launch_app.sh | APP_NAME | Launch app (e.g. firefox, vscode) |
stream_start.sh | [--auth] | Start VNC stream; --auth for password-protected |
stream_stop.sh | (none) | Stop VNC stream |
get_cursor.sh | (none) | Print CURSOR_X and CURSOR_Y |
get_screen_size.sh | (none) | Print SCREEN_WIDTH and SCREEN_HEIGHT |
list_windows.sh | [APP_NAME] | List app windows or show active window |
wait.sh | MILLISECONDS | Wait N ms (sandbox-side) |
Computer-Use Agent Loop Pattern
SCRIPTS="skills/e2b-desktop/scripts"
# 1. Start sandbox
source <($SCRIPTS/start_sandbox.sh --resolution 1280x800 --stream)
echo "Sandbox: $SANDBOX_ID"
echo "View at: $STREAM_URL"
# 2. Agent loop
while true; do
# Capture screen
$SCRIPTS/screenshot.sh /tmp/screen.png
# Send to LLM, parse action... (your code)
ACTION=$(llm_decide /tmp/screen.png)
case "$ACTION" in
click:*) IFS=: read -r _ x y <<< "$ACTION"; $SCRIPTS/click.sh $x $y ;;
type:*) $SCRIPTS/type_text.sh "${ACTION#type:}" ;;
key:*) $SCRIPTS/press_key.sh ${ACTION#key:} ;;
done) break ;;
esac
done
# 3. Clean up
$SCRIPTS/kill_sandbox.sh
Key Notes
scroll.sh AMOUNT: positive = scroll up, negative = scroll down (matchesdesktop.scroll(amount)API)press_key.sh ctrl c: multiple args become a key combo viadesktop.press(["ctrl", "c"])run_command.shexits with the sandbox command's exit code- All mouse coordinate scripts accept integer pixel coordinates matching sandbox resolution
- VNC stream: only one active stream at a time; stop before switching windows