llmx/docs/sandbox.md

## Sandbox & approvals

What LLMX is allowed to do is governed by a combination of **sandbox modes** (what LLMX is allowed to do without supervision) and **approval policies** (when you must confirm an action). This page explains the options, how they interact, and how the sandbox behaves on each platform.

### Approval policies

LLMX starts conservatively. Until you explicitly tell it a workspace is trusted, the CLI defaults to **read-only sandboxing** with the `read-only` approval preset. LLMX can inspect files and answer questions, but every edit or command requires approval.

When you mark a workspace as trusted (for example via the onboarding prompt or `/approvals` → “Trust this directory”), LLMX upgrades the default preset to **Auto**: sandboxed writes inside the workspace with `AskForApproval::OnRequest`. LLMX only interrupts you when it needs to leave the workspace or rerun something outside the sandbox.

If you want maximum guardrails for a trusted repo, switch back to Read Only from the `/approvals` picker. If you truly need hands-off automation, use `Full Access`—but be deliberate, because that skips both the sandbox and approvals.

#### Defaults and recommendations

- Every session starts in a sandbox. Until a repo is trusted, LLMX enforces read-only access and will prompt before any write or command.
- Marking a repo as trusted switches the default preset to Auto (`workspace-write` + `ask-for-approval on-request`) so LLMX can keep iterating locally without nagging you.
- The workspace always includes the current directory plus temporary directories like `/tmp`. Use `/status` to confirm the exact writable roots.
- You can override the defaults from the command line at any time:
  - `llmx --sandbox read-only --ask-for-approval on-request`
  - `llmx --sandbox workspace-write --ask-for-approval on-request`

### Can I run without ANY approvals?

Yes, you can disable all approval prompts with `--ask-for-approval never`. This option works with all `--sandbox` modes, so you still have full control over LLMX's level of autonomy. It will make its best attempt with whatever constraints you provide.

### Common sandbox + approvals combinations

| Intent                             | Flags                                                                                       | Effect                                                                                                                                              |
| ---------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Safe read-only browsing            | `--sandbox read-only --ask-for-approval on-request`                                         | LLMX can read files and answer questions. LLMX requires approval to make edits, run commands, or access network.                                    |
| Read-only non-interactive (CI)     | `--sandbox read-only --ask-for-approval never`                                              | Reads only; never escalates                                                                                                                         |
| Let it edit the repo, ask if risky | `--sandbox workspace-write --ask-for-approval on-request`                                   | LLMX can read files, make edits, and run commands in the workspace. LLMX requires approval for actions outside the workspace or for network access. |
| Auto (preset; trusted repos)       | `--full-auto` (equivalent to `--sandbox workspace-write` + `--ask-for-approval on-request`) | LLMX runs sandboxed commands that can write inside the workspace without prompting. Escalates only when it must leave the sandbox.                  |
| YOLO (not recommended)             | `--dangerously-bypass-approvals-and-sandbox` (alias: `--yolo`)                              | No sandbox; no prompts                                                                                                                              |

> Note: In `workspace-write`, network is disabled by default unless enabled in config (`[sandbox_workspace_write].network_access = true`).

#### Fine-tuning in `config.toml`

```toml
# approval mode
approval_policy = "untrusted"
sandbox_mode    = "read-only"

# full-auto mode
approval_policy = "on-request"
sandbox_mode    = "workspace-write"

# Optional: allow network in workspace-write mode
[sandbox_workspace_write]
network_access = true
```

You can also save presets as **profiles**:

```toml
[profiles.full_auto]
approval_policy = "on-request"
sandbox_mode    = "workspace-write"

[profiles.readonly_quiet]
approval_policy = "never"
sandbox_mode    = "read-only"
```

### Sandbox mechanics by platform {#platform-sandboxing-details}

The mechanism LLMX uses to enforce the sandbox policy depends on your OS:

- **macOS 12+** uses **Apple Seatbelt**. LLMX invokes `sandbox-exec` with a profile that corresponds to the selected `--sandbox` mode, constraining filesystem and network access at the OS level.
- **Linux** combines **Landlock** and **seccomp** APIs to approximate the same guarantees. Kernel support is required; older kernels may not expose the necessary features.
- **Windows (experimental)**:
  - Launches commands inside a restricted token derived from an AppContainer profile.
  - Grants only specifically requested filesystem capabilities by attaching capability SIDs to that profile.
  - Disables outbound network access by overriding proxy-related environment variables and inserting stub executables for common network tools.

Windows sandbox support remains highly experimental. It cannot prevent file writes, deletions, or creations in any directory where the Everyone SID already has write permissions (for example, world-writable folders).

In containerized Linux environments (for example Docker), sandboxing may not work when the host or container configuration does not expose Landlock/seccomp. In those cases, configure the container to provide the isolation you need and run LLMX with `--sandbox danger-full-access` (or the shorthand `--dangerously-bypass-approvals-and-sandbox`) inside that container.

### Experimenting with the LLMX Sandbox

To test how commands behave under LLMX's sandbox, use the CLI helpers:

```
# macOS
llmx sandbox macos [--full-auto] [COMMAND]...

# Linux
llmx sandbox linux [--full-auto] [COMMAND]...

# Legacy aliases
llmx debug seatbelt [--full-auto] [COMMAND]...
llmx debug landlock [--full-auto] [COMMAND]...
```