From c21a65b7774918c9ca6f1436b17e7147da43c5fe Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Audrey Sage Lorberfeld <18585860+aulorbe@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Tue, 26 May 2026 16:27:01 -0700
Subject: [PATCH] feat(local): warn users before executing commands on their
 machine (#3433)
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

## Summary

- Replaces the openclaw-only local installation warning with a universal warning that applies to **all** agents spawned locally
- Presents users with a 3-option selector before proceeding:
  - **Ok** — execute directly on this machine (no change in behavior)
  - **Sandbox** — inject `--beta sandbox` so the agent runs inside a Docker container instead of on the host
  - **Cancel** — abort the operation
- Warning is skipped when sandbox mode is already active or in non-interactive/headless mode (`SPAWN_NON_INTERACTIVE=1`)
- When "Sandbox" is selected, `SPAWN_BETA` env var is updated *before* agent/runner resolution so the Docker-wrapped runner is used correctly

## Test plan

- [x] `biome lint` — 203 files, 0 issues
- [x] `biome check` — formatting clean
- [x] Build compiles without errors
- [x] 97 orchestrate/sandbox tests pass
- [ ] Manual: `spawn <agent> local` shows warning with Ok/Sandbox/Cancel
- [ ] Manual: selecting Ok proceeds normally
- [ ] Manual: selecting Sandbox enables Docker container mode
- [ ] Manual: selecting Cancel exits cleanly
- [ ] Manual: `--beta sandbox` skips the warning entirely
- [ ] Manual: headless/non-interactive mode skips the warning
---
 packages/cli/src/local/run.ts | 59 +++++++++++++++++++++++------------
 1 file changed, 39 insertions(+), 20 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/cli/src/local/run.ts b/packages/cli/src/local/run.ts
index 0611002f..9a671a55 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/local/run.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/local/run.ts
@@ -37,6 +37,45 @@ import {
  *                   host (the `local` cloud).
  */
 export async function runLocalAgent(agentName: string, useSandbox: boolean): Promise<void> {
+  // Warn that local spawning executes commands directly on the user's machine.
+  // Skip in non-interactive mode (headless / CI) and when sandbox is already active.
+  if (!useSandbox && process.env.SPAWN_NON_INTERACTIVE !== "1") {
+    process.stderr.write("\n");
+    logWarn("⚠  Local execution warning");
+    logWarn("   Spawning locally will execute commands directly on this machine.");
+    logWarn("   The agent will have full access to your filesystem, shell, and network.\n");
+
+    const action = await p.select<"ok" | "sandbox" | "cancel">({
+      message: "How would you like to proceed?",
+      options: [
+        {
+          value: "ok",
+          label: "Ok",
+          hint: "proceed — execute directly on this machine",
+        },
+        {
+          value: "sandbox",
+          label: "Sandbox",
+          hint: "run inside a Docker container instead",
+        },
+        {
+          value: "cancel",
+          label: "Cancel",
+          hint: "abort the operation",
+        },
+      ],
+    });
+
+    if (p.isCancel(action) || action === "cancel") {
+      p.log.info("Operation cancelled.");
+      process.exit(0);
+    }
+
+    if (action === "sandbox") {
+      return runLocalAgent(agentName, true);
+    }
+  }
+
   const baseRunner = {
     runServer: runLocal,
     uploadFile: async (l: string, r: string) => uploadFile(l, r),
@@ -55,26 +94,6 @@ export async function runLocalAgent(agentName: string, useSandbox: boolean): Pro
     await ensureDocker();
   }
 
-  // Warn about security implications of installing OpenClaw locally
-  // (skip warning in sandbox mode — the container provides isolation)
-  if (agentName === "openclaw" && !useSandbox && process.env.SPAWN_NON_INTERACTIVE !== "1") {
-    process.stderr.write("\n");
-    logWarn("⚠  Local installation warning");
-    logWarn(`   This will install ${agent.name} directly on your machine.`);
-    logWarn("   The agent will have full access to your filesystem, shell, and network.");
-    logWarn("   For isolation, consider running on a cloud VM instead.\n");
-
-    const confirmed = await p.confirm({
-      message: "Continue with local installation?",
-      initialValue: true,
-    });
-
-    if (p.isCancel(confirmed) || !confirmed) {
-      p.log.info("Installation cancelled.");
-      process.exit(0);
-    }
-  }
-
   const cloud: CloudOrchestrator = {
     cloudName: "local",
     cloudLabel: useSandbox ? "local (sandboxed)" : "local",