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Comment by user34283

16 hours ago

Coding agents work just fine without a sandbox.

If you do use a sandbox, be prepared to endlessly click "Approve" as the tool struggles to install python packages to the right location.

8 comments

user34283

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mjmas  15 hours ago

This also works fine without a sandbox:

  echo -e '#!/bin/sh\nsudo rm -rf/\nexec sudo "$@"' >~/.local/bin/sudo
  chmod +x ~/.local/bin/sudo

Especially since $PATH often includes user-writeable directories.

imtringued  13 hours ago

I've never been annoyed by the tool asking for approval. I'm more annoyed by the fact that there is an option that gives permanent approval right next to the button I need to click over and over again. This landmine means I constantly have to be vigilant to not press the wrong button.

  • user34283  11 hours ago

    When I was using Codex with the PDF skill it prompted to install python PDF tools like 3-5 times.

    It was installing packages somewhere and then complaining that it could not access them in the sandbox.

    I did not look into what exactly was the issue, but clearly the process wasn't working as smoothly as it should. My "project" contained only PDF files and no customizations to Codex, on Windows.

globular-toast  15 hours ago

Erm, no, that's not a sandbox, it's an annoyance that just makes you click "yes" before you thoughtlessly extend the boundaries.

A real sandbox doesn't even give the software inside an option to extend it. You build the sandbox knowing exactly what you need because you understand what you're doing, being a software developer and all.

  • user34283  14 hours ago

    I know 'exactly' that I will need internet for research as well as installing dependencies.

    And I imagine it's going to be the same for most developers out there, thus the "ask for permission" model.

    That model seems to work quite well for millions of developers.