box by Simular MCP server
Commit Nov 13, 2026Provides AI agents with a cloud-based Linux desktop featuring Chrome and a shell to browse, type, and execute commands via MCP.
Also known as simular-ai/box-plugin, box-plugin, @simular-ai/box
- Stars
- 1
- Tools
- —
- Downloads, 30 days
- —
- Latest version
- 1.0.1
- Last commit
- Nov 13, 2026
- License
- MIT
What is box by Simular MCP?
box by Simular provides AI agents with a cloud-based Linux desktop featuring Chrome and a shell to browse, type, and execute commands via MCP.
Summary generated from the project's README
About box by Simular MCP server
Giving AI agents their own cloud-based Linux desktop is what box by Simular enables for developers. By providing a remote environment equipped with Chrome and a shell, agents can browse the web and execute commands through MCP without consuming local system resources. This setup allows users to watch the agent work live or take control of the session at any time.
Integration varies depending on the client being used. For Claude Code, users can install a specific plugin via the marketplace, while other tools like Cursor, VS Code, or Gemini CLI use the box CLI via npx. Authentication is handled through OAuth in a browser or by using a personal key starting with cb_ for agents like DeepSeek Harness or Hermes.
A unique feature is the offload capability. Developers can move a coding task from their local session to a fresh session in the cloud using the offload command, allowing the agent to continue working while the user is away. Once finished, the back command merges the resulting commits and handover notes back to the local environment.
What you can do with it
- 1Offload long-running coding tasksHand a complex programming task to a remote session so the agent keeps working while you are offline.
- 2Execute shell commands remotelyAllow an AI agent to run terminal commands in a cloud Linux environment instead of on your local machine.
- 3Merge remote work locallyBring completed code changes and handover documentation from the cloud desktop back to your local workspace.
- 4Monitor agent web browsingWatch an AI agent interact with Chrome in real time within a cloud-based desktop.
Written from the project's README. Every use case is checked against a quote from it.
How to install box by Simular MCP
Formats verified 10 Nov 2026Install box by Simular MCP in Claude Code
$ claude mcp add box-plugin -- npx -y @simular-ai/boxInstall box by Simular MCP in Cursor
~/.cursor/mcp.json
{
"mcpServers": {
"box-plugin": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@simular-ai/box"
]
}
}
}Install box by Simular MCP in VS Code
.vscode/mcp.json
{
"servers": {
"box-plugin": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@simular-ai/box"
]
}
}
}Install box by Simular MCP in Claude Desktop
claude_desktop_config.json
{
"mcpServers": {
"box-plugin": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@simular-ai/box"
]
}
}
}Install box by Simular MCP in Codex
~/.codex/config.toml
[mcp_servers.box-plugin] command = "npx" args = ["-y", "@simular-ai/box"]
Install box by Simular MCP in Gemini CLI
~/.gemini/settings.json
{
"mcpServers": {
"box-plugin": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@simular-ai/box"
]
}
}
}Automated checks
Ran Nov 14, 2026Full report →Not verified yet. A server needs a score of 80, no serious finding, and enough data for us to check. How checks work
- Source repository linked and reachablesimular-ai/box-plugin is public and reachablegithub.com/simular-ai/box-plugin ↗Pass
- Package names this repository as its sourceNot checked
- Build provenance (Sigstore attestation)No build attestation published for this releaseNot checked
- Open source license (OSI)MITspdx.org/licenses/MIT.html ↗Pass
- Commit or release in the last yearLast commit or release 2026-11-13github.com/simular-ai/box-plugin ↗Pass
- OpenSSF ScorecardNot checked
- Package name not close to a popular packageNo popular package one edit away from @simular-ai/boxPass
- No critical advisory in the package or its dependenciesNot checked
- No hidden instructions to the model0 tool descriptions and the README read; no override phrases, credential paths or hidden charactersPass
- Destructive tools are labelledNot checked
- Remote endpoint answers the MCP handshakeHTTPS endpoint answered 401 (sign-in required)Pass
README
View on GitHubbox by Simular: plugins
box gives your AI agent a computer of its own: a cloud Linux desktop with Chrome and a shell that it drives over MCP, while your own computer stays free. You can watch it live and take over at https://box.simular.ai/box.
Most agents need no plugin: add the MCP server https://mcp.box.simular.ai/mcp and sign in once (see https://box.simular.ai/install). This repository holds a package for each agent that installs box its own way. Each folder stands alone and is released through that agent's channel.
| Agent | Folder | Sign-in | Install |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Code and Cowork | claude/ |
OAuth, once in the browser | /plugin marketplace add simular-ai/box-plugin, then /plugin install simular-box@simular-box |
| DeepSeek Harness (dsh) | dsh/ |
Personal key (cb_...), pasted on the plugin's page in Plugins |
dsh/README.md |
| OpenClaw | openclaw/ |
OAuth, once from the plugin's page in Settings | openclaw plugins install @simular-ai/openclaw-box |
| Any of Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, OpenCode, Gemini CLI, Hermes, OpenClaw, VS Code (and steps for Claude Desktop) | @simular-ai/box (the box CLI, from simular-ai/box-cli) |
OAuth; personal key with --auth key for Hermes and OpenClaw |
npx @simular-ai/box connect (check with npx @simular-ai/box doctor) |
| Hermes Agent | hermes/ |
Personal key (cb_...) in MCP_BOX_API_KEY; OAuth optional |
hermes/README.md |
| ChatGPT and Codex (OpenAI plugin directory) | openai/ |
OAuth, once in the browser | Listed by OpenAI after review; build the upload with openai/build-zip.sh (openai/README.md) |
Offload: move a coding task into your box and back
Going offline in the middle of a task? In Claude Code with the plugin, /simular-box:offload hands the task to a fresh Claude Code (or Codex, Cursor) session in your box, which keeps working while you are away; /simular-box:back brings its commits and its written hand-over home and merges them. Any other agent or a plain terminal uses npx @simular-ai/box offload and npx @simular-ai/box back. Setup and details: the CLI's README.
Adding an agent
Add a folder named after the agent with its own manifest, MCP config and, where the agent supports skills, a copy of claude/skills/box/SKILL.md. Point it at https://mcp.box.simular.ai/mcp. Use OAuth sign-in where the agent supports it; otherwise read a personal key from an environment variable or the agent's own credentials store, never from a file in the package. Add a row above.
Releasing
claude/: bumpversioninclaude/.claude-plugin/plugin.json. Claude Code doesn't auto-update third-party marketplaces: users get it with/plugin marketplace update simular-boxand/plugin update simular-box@simular-box, or withnpx @simular-ai/box connect.openclaw/: bumpversioninopenclaw/package.jsonandopenclaw/openclaw.plugin.json, thennpm run buildandclawhub package publish .fromopenclaw/.dsh/: bumpversionindsh/package.json, then push a tagdsh-vX.Y.Z. The release workflow attachesdsh-box.tgz.openai/: bumpversioninopenai/plugin.jsonandpublication.release_notes, runopenai/build-zip.sh, upload the ZIP at platform.openai.com/plugins.hermes/: bumpversioninhermes/plugin.json. Users copy the folder by hand until box is in the Hermes plugin catalog.- The Claude plugin's CLI pin: since 1.0.0,
@simular-ai/boxon npm is the Rust CLI released from simular-ai/box-cli. To move the plugin to a new CLI release, change the exact pinnpx -y @simular-ai/box@X.Y.Zinclaude/skills/box-offload/SKILL.mdand bumpversioninclaude/.claude-plugin/plugin.jsonin one PR (CI fails unless every pin underclaude/names the same exact version and that version is on npm; never a range, because the Claude directory review requires that what runs is what it read). - The box CLI (
@simular-ai/boxon npm) is released from simular-ai/box-cli, not from here.e2e/tests the pinned version against each real client (versions ine2e/clients.json); see.github/workflows/ci.yml.
box by Simular MCP questions
How do I add box by Simular MCP to Claude Code?
Run claude mcp add box-plugin -- npx -y @simular-ai/box in your terminal. Add --scope user to make it available in every project.
How do I add box by Simular MCP to Cursor?
Open ~/.cursor/mcp.json and add the server under mcpServers, using the Cursor config shown in the install section above.
How can I watch the AI agent work?
You can monitor the agent's activity live and take control of the desktop through the Simular web interface.
Can I move a coding task to the cloud and bring it back later?
Yes, you can use the offload command to hand a task to a fresh session in your box while you are away, then use the back command to merge the commits and hand-over once you return.