# Quickstart

Install the Cua Spaces app and the cua CLI, run a local Space in Docker, and register it from code.

> Agent discovery: use [the Cua documentation index](https://cua.ai/docs/llms.txt) to find related pages and their Markdown URLs.





Install Cua, run a Linux desktop locally, and register it as your first Space.

## Prerequisites

- macOS, Linux or Windows. The Cua Spaces app for macOS needs macOS 26 or
  later.
- Docker, for the local Space.

## Run




**macOS and Linux**


```bash skip="host-install"
curl -fsSL https://cua.ai/install.sh | sh
```
  




**Windows**


```powershell skip="host-install"
irm https://cua.ai/install.ps1 | iex
```
  




In a terminal it first shows a checklist: the `cua` CLI, the Cua Spaces app
(on by default on macOS; pass `--select spaces` on Linux, `-Select spaces` on
Windows), the cua-driver MCP and skill for your agents, and hosting this
machine. Then it signs you in and offers to set up your AI coding agents.
Flags: `--select ITEMS`, `--only ITEMS`, `--cli-only`, `--app-only`,
`--mode host|client`, `--version X`, `--no-onboarding`, `--dry-run`, `--yes`
(`-Select`, `-CliOnly`, ... on Windows). GUI installers are on
[GitHub releases](https://github.com/trycua/cua/releases).

Start the canonical Linux image with a token:

```bash skip="no-runner"
TOKEN=$(openssl rand -hex 24)
docker run -d --name my-space -e CUA_ENV_TOKEN=$TOKEN -p 127.0.0.1:3211:3211 \
  ghcr.io/trycua/linux:24.04
```

Register it and run a command in it (use `http://127.0.0.1:3211` and your
`$TOKEN`):




**Python**


```python test="docs" id="add-direct" session="add-direct" prelude="space-url"
import asyncio
import cua

async def main():
    spaces = cua.embedded().spaces()      # or cua.connect().spaces()
    info = await spaces.add("http://10.0.0.5:3211", "TOKEN", "lab")
    space = await spaces.space(info.id)
    out = await space.bash("uname -a", None)
    print(info.id, out.stdout)

asyncio.run(main())
```
  




**TypeScript**


```ts test="docs" id="add-direct-ts" prelude="space-url"
import { embedded } from "@trycua/cua"

const spaces = embedded().spaces()        // or connect().spaces()
const info = await spaces.add("http://10.0.0.5:3211", "TOKEN", "lab")
const space = await spaces.space(info.id)
console.log(info.id, (await space.bash("uname -a", undefined)).stdout)
```
  




**Swift**


```swift test="swift" id="add-direct-space"
import Cua

let spaces = try Cua.embedded().spaces()  // or Cua.connect(address: nil, token: nil)
let info = try await spaces.add(url: "http://10.0.0.5:3211", token: "TOKEN", name: "lab")
let space = try await spaces.space(space: info.id)
print(try await space.bash(command: "uname -a", timeoutMs: nil).stdout)
```
  




## Result

The program prints the Space id (`direct:127.0.0.1:3211`) and the guest's
`uname -a`. The Space is now in the shared registry, so the app and the CLI see
it too:

```bash test="cli-shape" id="cua"
cua --version
cua auth status
cua spaces ls
```

## Clean up

```bash skip="no-runner"
docker rm -f my-space
```

## Next

- [Add a Space](</docs/spaces/guides/add-a-space>): create one locally or in the cloud, from any image.
- [Stream a desktop](</docs/spaces/guides/stream-a-desktop>).
- [Use Spaces from an agent](</docs/spaces/guides/use-from-an-agent>).
- [Cua Bots](</docs/spaces/examples/cua-bots>): an example app of persistent bots, each with its own Space.