Provision Cloud Machines on Demand with the /v1/machines Computer Use API
Most automation stacks rely on pre-provisioned machines or fragile CSS selectors. If the UI changes, the script breaks. The /v1/machines endpoint removes that friction. You provision a cloud VM on demand, then hand it to a computer use agent that sees the screen and clicks like a human. This lets you build automated workflows that survive UI changes and work on real browsers, terminals, and desktop apps.
How provisioning works
Provisioning is a two-step process. First, create a cloud machine with POST /v1/machines. The request includes a machine_id, a task (the agent's objective), and a cua_version string like "v3" or "v4". The response gives you the machine id, its current state, and any ephemeral credentials or URLs. Once the machine is running, you can start a task run with POST /v1/runs, which bills $0.05 per agent step. The server drives the agent to completion or until it hits a timeout or budget.
curl -X POST https://coasty.ai/v1/machines \
-H "X-API-Key: $COASTY_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"machine_id": "demo-machine",
"task": "Open https://example.com and take a screenshot of the page",
"cua_version": "v3"
}'
# Response (simplified)
# {
# "machine_id": "demo-machine",
# "state": "running",
# "url": "https://coasty.ai/cloud/desktop/demo-machine",
# "ephemeral_credentials": {"username": "agent", "password": "****"}
# }Key fields and billing
- ●machine_id: a unique identifier for your cloud VM.
- ●task: the agent's objective, expressed in plain English.
- ●cua_version: "v3" for guided mode, "v4" for autonomous mode with a pass/fail verifier.
- ●POST /v1/runs bills $0.05 per agent step.
- ●POST /v1/machines does not generate a direct charge in the facts provided.
- ●States include queued, running, awaiting_human, succeeded, failed, cancelled, timed_out.
Provision a cloud VM and hand it to a computer use agent. Each agent step costs $0.05.
Where this beats brittle automation
CSS selectors break when layouts shift or frameworks change. API-only tools miss hidden or dynamically rendered elements. A computer use agent sees the screen, interprets instructions, and clicks or types like a human. This makes workflows resilient to UI changes. You can drive real browsers, terminals, and desktop apps instead of mocking them. The /v1/machines endpoint ensures you always have a fresh, secure environment for every run.
Start provisioning cloud machines on demand with the /v1/machines endpoint. Build end-to-end workflows that work on real browsers, terminals, and desktops. Get your API key at https://coasty.ai/developers.