Introduction

SkyBox is a CLI tool for local-first development containers with remote sync. It provides the best of both worlds: run your containers locally for speed and full resource access while automatically syncing your code to a remote server for backup and multi-machine workflows.

What is SkyBox?

SkyBox manages the complete lifecycle of containerized development environments:

• Local Development - Run containers on your machine with native performance
• Remote Sync - Automatically backup code to a remote server using Mutagen
• Multi-Machine Workflow - Seamlessly switch between machines with session-based coordination
• Editor Integration - Open projects directly in Cursor, VS Code, or your preferred editor

How It Works

Your Machine                     Remote Server
┌─────────────────────┐         ┌─────────────────────┐
│  ~/.skybox/Projects │◄───────►│    ~/code/          │
│  ├── project-a/     │  Sync   │    ├── project-a/   │
│  └── project-b/     │         │    └── project-b/   │
└─────────────────────┘         └─────────────────────┘
         │
         ▼
┌─────────────────────┐
│  Docker Container   │
│  (devcontainer)     │
└─────────────────────┘

1. Projects are stored locally in ~/.skybox/Projects/
2. Mutagen syncs files bidirectionally to your remote server
3. Docker containers run locally using devcontainer configurations
4. Session files prevent conflicts when switching between machines

Why SkyBox?

Local-First Performance

Unlike cloud-based development environments, SkyBox runs containers on your machine. This means:

• No network latency for file operations
• Full access to local resources (CPU, memory, GPU)
• Works offline after initial setup
• No per-minute cloud billing

Seamless Remote Backup

Your code is automatically synced to remote servers:

• Never lose work due to local machine issues
• Easy to switch between work laptop and home desktop
• Built-in session system warns when a project is active on another machine
• Multi-remote support for organizing projects across different servers

Developer Experience

SkyBox is designed for developers who want minimal friction:

• Interactive setup wizard (skybox init)
• Smart project detection when running commands
• Direct editor integration with devcontainer support
• Clean status views showing all your projects at a glance

Next Steps

• Installation - Install SkyBox on your system
• Quick Start - Get your first project running
• Concepts - Understand how SkyBox works under the hood