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Every box has a full Linux shell and runs on Alpine Linux by default.

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Run a shell command

A shell command resolves when the command finishes and gives you back the result and status. 
const run = await box.exec.command("echo hello")

console.log(run.result) // "hello"
console.log(run.status) // "completed"
If you need additional system tools, install them with Alpine’s package manager inside the box. 
await box.exec.command("sudo apk add <package>")

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Run a code snippet

You can execute code inside of a box: 
const run = await box.exec.code({
  code: "console.log('hello')",
  lang: "js",
  timeout: 10_000,
})

console.log(run.output) // "hello"
console.log(run.exit_code) // "0"

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Check exit status

If the command fails, the run status will be "failed" and its result contains the stderr output. 
const run = await box.exec.command("node -e 'process.exit(1)'")

console.log(run.status) // "failed"

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Chain commands

Pass a full shell expression. Pipes, redirects, and chained commands all work as expected. 
const run = await box.exec.command("cd /work && npm install && npm test")

console.log(run.result)

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Cancel a long-running command

You can cancel a run to abort it. The status becomes "cancelled". 
const run = await box.exec.command("sleep 10")
await run.cancel()

console.log(run.status) // "cancelled"

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Retrieve logs

After a command finishes, call logs() to get the full timestamped output for debugging or auditing. 
const run = await box.exec.command("npm test")
const logs = await run.logs()

console.log(logs)
// [
//   { timestamp: "2026-02-23T...", level: "info", message: "PASS src/auth.test.ts" },
//   { timestamp: "2026-02-23T...", level: "info", message: "Tests: 12 passed, 12 total" },
// ]

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Patterns

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Install dependencies before an agent run

Set up the environment with box.exec.command(), then hand off to the agent. 
import { Box, ClaudeCode } from "@upstash/box"

const box = await Box.create({
  runtime: "node",
  agent: { model: ClaudeCode.Opus_4_6, apiKey: process.env.ANTHROPIC_API_KEY },
  git: { token: process.env.GITHUB_TOKEN },
})

await box.git.clone({ repo: "github.com/your-org/your-api" })
await box.exec.command("npm install")

await box.agent.run({
  prompt: "Run the test suite and fix any failing tests",
})

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Run a build and extract artifacts

Execute a build command, then download the output. 
import { Box } from "@upstash/box"

const box = await Box.create({ runtime: "node" })

await box.files.upload([
  { path: "./src", destination: "/work/src" },
  { path: "./package.json", destination: "/work/package.json" },
])

await box.exec.command("cd /work && npm install && npm run build")
await box.files.download({ path: "/work/dist" })
await box.delete()

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Health-check before handing off

Verify the environment is usable before starting a longer agent task. 
import { Box, ClaudeCode } from "@upstash/box"

const box = await Box.create({
  runtime: "python",
  agent: { model: ClaudeCode.Opus_4_6, apiKey: process.env.ANTHROPIC_API_KEY },
})

const check = await box.exec.command("python3 --version && pip list")
console.log(check.result)

await box.agent.run({
  prompt: "Write a data pipeline that reads /work/raw.csv, cleans it, and saves /work/clean.parquet",
})