Sandbox Mode

Execute code safely in an isolated environment.

What is Sandbox Mode?

Sandbox mode allows Gemini to write and test code in a secure, isolated environment without affecting your system.

Basic Usage

/gemini-cli:sandbox create a Python script that sorts a list

How It Works

1. Request → You ask for code to be created/tested
2. Generation → Gemini writes the code
3. Execution → Code runs in isolated environment
4. Results → Output returned safely

Use Cases

Algorithm Testing

/gemini-cli:sandbox implement and test quicksort in JavaScript

Data Processing

/gemini-cli:sandbox parse this CSV and show statistics: [data]

Proof of Concepts

/gemini-cli:sandbox create a working web scraper example

Safety Features

• Isolated Execution: No access to your file system
• Resource Limits: CPU and memory constraints
• Time Limits: Prevents infinite loops
• No Network: Cannot make external requests

Supported Languages

• Python
• JavaScript/Node.js
• Ruby
• Go
• Java
• C++
• More coming soon!

Best Practices

1. Be Specific

// Good
create a function that validates email addresses with tests

// Vague
make something that checks emails

2. Include Test Cases

implement binary search with edge case handling and show test results

3. Iterative Development

// First iteration
create a basic REST API

// Refine
add authentication to the API

// Test
show example requests and responses

Limitations

• No file system access
• No network requests
• Limited execution time (30s)
• Memory limit (512MB)

Examples

Testing Algorithms

/gemini-cli:sandbox benchmark bubble sort vs quick sort with 1000 items

Learning Code

/gemini-cli:sandbox show me how promises work in JavaScript with examples

Debugging

/gemini-cli:sandbox why does this code fail: [paste code]