Coop – Isolated VM Environments for Running Claude Code and Codex
Coop is a new Rust CLI tool that creates isolated virtual machine environments for safely executing code generated by AI models like Claude Code and Codex. It provides developers with a secure sandbox, offering full tool access without risking the host machine. This project is popular on HN because it directly addresses the critical security and trust concerns arising from AI code generation.
The Lowdown
Coop (pronounced 'coop' like a chicken coop) is an open-source Rust command-line interface designed to provide isolated, disposable virtual machine environments for safely running code generated by large language models like Claude Code and Codex. This tool allows developers to leverage AI assistance without fear of malicious or buggy code affecting their host system.
- Secure Isolation: Creates dedicated, disposable VMs, ensuring AI-generated code runs in an isolated sandbox, protecting the host machine from potential risks.
- Full Tool Access: Within these VMs, AI models and developers have access to essential development tools, including Docker, Git, compilers, and package managers.
- Reproducible & Efficient: Each VM environment is designed to be reproducible and is cheap to create and destroy, facilitating rapid experimentation.
- Rust-Powered CLI: Built as a Rust CLI, offering performance and system-level control.
- Cross-Platform Support: Tested on macOS (Apple Silicon) and Linux (x86_64), with support for Firecracker on Linux and Lima on macOS.
- Easy Workflow Integration: Simple commands allow users to spin up a VM (
coop up) and integrate directly with Claude or Codex agents (coop claude/coop codex).
By offering a secure and controlled environment, Coop empowers developers to confidently explore and utilize the capabilities of AI code generation, mitigating inherent security risks and streamlining their development workflows.