Tutorial

Provision Cloud Machines on Demand with the /v1/machines API

Marcus Sterling||5 min
+B

You need a real desktop, browser, or terminal for an AI agent to click, type, and navigate. Browser automation via selectors breaks when UI changes. API-only tools cannot handle alerts or rich desktop apps. The /v1/machines endpoint lets you provision cloud machines on demand so your computer use agent can drive real user interfaces.

How /v1/machines works

POST /v1/machines creates a cloud VM with your chosen OS. The request accepts machine_id, OS type, and optional configuration. The agent then starts, stops, and snapshots the machine. You can pass the machine_id to a task run so the agent connects to the real desktop.

bash
curl -X POST https://coasty.ai/v1/machines \
  -H "X-API-Key: $COASTY_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "machine_id": "my-mac-pro-01",
    "os": "macos",
    "description": "Development workstation"
  }'

Key fields

  • machine_id: unique identifier for the machine
  • os: OS type (e.g. macos, windows, linux)
  • description: optional human-readable label
  • The response includes machine_id, os, status, and connection details

You can start, stop, and snapshot machines using the /v1/machines endpoint, then pass the machine_id to a task run.

Where this beats brittle automation

Selector-based tools fail when elements move or change class names. API-only tools cannot handle alerts, dialogs, or rich desktop apps. A computer use agent that sees the screen and acts like a human can handle any UI. The /v1/machines endpoint gives your agent a real desktop to interact with, enabling robust automation across browsers, native apps, and terminals.

Provision cloud machines on demand with the /v1/machines endpoint and let your computer use agent drive real UIs. Try the API at https://coasty.ai/developers to get your key.

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