Silo is a desktop app for running Linux sandboxes on your own computers. Each sandbox is a virtual machine powered by MicroSandbox, with its own files, tools, and processes. Work locally on macOS or Linux, or connect to another computer over SSH.
Use your usual editor and terminal, give an AI agent a Linux desktop, and choose which repositories and credentials each sandbox can access.
Download · Website and demo · Build from source · Documentation
- Work across computers. Create, start, stop, and monitor local and remote sandboxes in one app.
- Use familiar tools. Open projects in your editor or terminal, browse files, and connect to development servers through local addresses.
- Give agents a desktop. Add an interactive Linux desktop with Luda tools for supported agents, including Codex, Claude Code, and Cursor. Install and sign in to the agents inside the sandbox yourself.
- Control GitHub access. Connect through OAuth and select repositories for each sandbox, with read-only access by default. Alternatively, use a personal token, which grants the token's full permissions.
- Scope API credentials. Store credentials in your computer's credential store and choose the sandboxes and HTTPS domains that can use them. See how secrets work.
- Back up and troubleshoot. Export local sandbox disks, restore backups as new sandboxes, and search or export logs alongside activity history.
The VM runtime, base Linux image, and Git tools are bundled. Optional desktop packages download when you add a desktop.
| Platform | Requirements | Download |
|---|---|---|
| macOS | Apple Silicon, macOS 14+ | DMG |
| Linux x86-64 | Ubuntu 24.04-compatible system | DEB · AppImage |
| Linux ARM64 | Ubuntu 24.04-compatible system | DEB · AppImage |
macOS: open the DMG and drag Silo to Applications. The app is not notarized; first launch may require System Settings → Privacy & Security → Open Anyway.
Linux: in the download directory, run sudo apt install ./Silo-linux-x64.deb (use Silo-linux-arm64.deb for ARM64). Accept the update-source prompt to receive releases through Software Updater. For AppImage, enable Allow executing file as program in its file properties, then launch it. Local VMs require KVM access; GitHub and secrets require a working Secret Service credential store, such as GNOME Keyring.
Upgrading an older installation? Read the release notes for required migration steps.
- Create a sandbox. Follow setup to choose its name, CPU, memory, and disk size. GitHub is optional. Select Linux desktop if you want graphical apps or agent computer use. Use Add → New sandbox to create more later.
- Open your project. Start the sandbox and open its terminal. Create or clone your project in
/workspace; use HTTPS URLs for Silo's GitHub integration. In Files, open a folder in your preferred editor. - Open a development server. Run it inside the sandbox, listening on
0.0.0.0. In Network, connect a discovered port or choose Add port, then open the displayed address on your computer. - Open the desktop, if installed. Choose Open Linux desktop from the sandbox's actions. You can add one later with Add Linux desktop. Closing the viewer leaves its graphical apps running.
Stopping a sandbox ends its running programs and preserves its files. Names and disk sizes are fixed after creation; changing CPU or memory stops the sandbox and applies on its next start. Quitting Silo stops local sandboxes; sandboxes on other computers keep running.
Install Silo on both computers. You can connect during setup without creating a local sandbox.
- On the computer that will run the VMs, enable SSH access (Remote Login on macOS). In Settings → Computers, enable Allow remote management and copy the address.
- On your computer, choose Add → Connect computer…, paste the address, and follow the SSH setup prompts.
- Use its sandboxes alongside your local ones. Choose Run on when creating a sandbox to select its computer.
Keep Silo running on the computer hosting the VMs. Manage its GitHub account, secrets, and backups there. See remote computer setup for details.
The app uses React/TypeScript and Rust/Tauri in app/SiloUI. Follow the source-build guide to install prerequisites and configure your own GitHub App, then run from the repository root:
npm --prefix app/SiloUI ci
npm --prefix app/SiloUI run desktopFor checks and release procedures, see the development and release guide. For the browser demo, see the website README.
Check Logs and Activity for errors. Report an issue with your app version, OS, and reproduction steps; remove private data from shared logs.
Silo is MIT licensed. Bundled dependencies have their own licenses and notices.