> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.microsandbox.dev/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Overview

> Run the same sandboxes on hosted infrastructure with an API key

<Note>
  microsandbox cloud is in **private beta**, and currently requires you to explicitly [request access](https://dashboard.microsandbox.dev/signup). If you already have access, you can get your API key from the [dashboard](https://dashboard.microsandbox.dev/access/api-keys).
</Note>

microsandbox cloud runs your sandboxes on hosted infrastructure. The SDKs and the `msb` CLI are the same ones you use locally: the same builders, the same commands, the same code. An API key is the only thing that changes; there is no URL, daemon, or extra configuration.

```bash theme={null}
export MSB_API_KEY="msb_..."
```

## Same code, different backend

Everything from the [quickstart](/getting-started/quickstart) works unchanged. With the API key exported, this creates a sandbox on cloud instead of your machine:

<CodeGroup>
  ```rust Rust theme={null}
  use microsandbox::Sandbox;

  let sb = Sandbox::builder("hello")
      .image("python")
      .memory(512)
      .create()
      .await?;

  let output = sb.exec("python", ["-c", "print('Hello from the cloud!')"]).await?;
  println!("{}", output.stdout()?);

  sb.stop().await?;
  ```

  ```typescript TypeScript theme={null}
  import { Sandbox } from "microsandbox";

  await using sb = await Sandbox.builder("hello")
      .image("python")
      .memory(512)
      .create();

  const output = await sb.exec("python", ["-c", "print('Hello from the cloud!')"]);
  console.log(output.stdout());
  ```

  ```python Python theme={null}
  from microsandbox import Sandbox

  sb = await Sandbox.create("hello", image="python", memory=512)

  output = await sb.exec("python", ["-c", "print('Hello from the cloud!')"])
  print(output.stdout_text)

  await sb.stop()
  ```

  ```go Go theme={null}
  sb, err := m.CreateSandbox(ctx, "hello",
      m.WithImage("python"),
      m.WithMemory(512),
  )
  if err != nil {
      return err
  }
  defer sb.Stop(ctx)

  output, err := sb.Exec(ctx, "python", []string{"-c", "print('Hello from the cloud!')"})
  fmt.Println(output.Stdout())
  ```

  ```bash CLI theme={null}
  msb run python -- python3 -c "print('Hello from the cloud!')"
  ```
</CodeGroup>

Hardware virtualization support on your machine is not needed for cloud sandboxes; `msb doctor` checks apply to the local runtime only.

## REST API

The same key also authenticates the [REST API](/api-reference/overview) directly, so you can manage sandboxes, volumes, and usage over plain HTTPS without an SDK. Command execution, file transfer, and SSH ride the sandbox command channel, which the SDKs and CLI handle for you.

## What to know

* **Backend selection.** The API key alone selects the cloud. For explicit control (forcing local, choosing in code, per-project profiles), see [Backends](/getting-started/backends).
* **Compatibility.** Almost the entire SDK and CLI surface behaves identically. The exceptions and their alternatives are listed on the [compatibility page](/cloud/compatibility).
* **Networking.** Cloud sandboxes get a cloud-assigned hostname. SSH works through the same `msb ssh` and SDK SSH clients you use locally.
* **Images.** Specify any OCI image on create; the cloud resolves and pulls it for you. Local image-cache commands don't apply.
* **Keys and billing.** API keys, usage, and invoices live in the [dashboard](https://dashboard.microsandbox.dev).

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Cloud compatibility" icon="table-list" href="/cloud/compatibility">
    What works today, what's limited, and what to use instead.
  </Card>

  <Card title="API reference" icon="brackets-curly" href="/api-reference/overview">
    The REST API behind the SDKs, authenticated with your API key.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Backends" icon="route" href="/getting-started/backends">
    Force local, select in code, or switch with profiles.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Quickstart" icon="bolt" href="/getting-started/quickstart">
    New to microsandbox? Start here; everything carries over.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>