Vibe provides a zero-configuration Linux virtual machine on macOS for securely sandboxing LLM agents. It allows users to run agents with elevated permissions without risking their host system, offering fine-grained control over shared resources.

How It Works

Vibe utilizes Apple's virtualization framework for enhanced security over containers or macOS's sandbox-exec. It boots a minimal Debian Linux image rapidly (~10 seconds on M1 Macs) via a single, lightweight Rust binary. The system employs virtiofs for efficient host-guest file sharing, a key advantage over slower alternatives like QEMU's 9p protocol.

Quick Start & Requirements

• Install: Download the vibe-macos-arm64.zip binary from GitHub releases, unzip, and add to your $PATH (e.g., ~/.local/bin). Alternatively, use mise use github:lynaghk/vibe@latest or cargo install --locked --git ssh://git@github.com/lynaghk/vibe.git.
• Prerequisites: An ARM-based Mac running macOS 13 (Ventura) or higher. A network connection is required on the first run to download the base Debian image.
• Setup Time: Approximately 10 seconds to boot the VM after initial setup.
• Links: GitHub releases page (implied by download URL).

Highlighted Details

• Designed for secure LLM agent sandboxing, preventing host system compromise.
• Prioritizes virtualization for security, citing its advantages over containers and macOS sandbox-exec.
• Features a fast boot time (~10 seconds on M1 MBA) and efficient disk usage via copy-on-write.
• Implemented as a single, small (<1MB) Rust binary with minimal dependencies.
• Leverages virtiofs for high-performance host/guest file system sharing.

Maintenance & Community

The project was developed for personal use, with the author open to pull requests for features they would also use. There are no formal releases or change logs; users are advised to pin to specific commits. Collaboration is encouraged via GitHub issues.

Licensing & Compatibility

The repository is licensed under the MIT license. Compatibility is restricted to ARM-based Macs running macOS 13 (Ventura) or higher.

Limitations & Caveats

Vibe is macOS-only. The lack of formal releases and change logs necessitates pinning to specific commits for stability. Some LLM integrations, like Claude Code, may require additional configuration or present setup challenges. The author explicitly states no interest in Docker, Kubernetes, or distributed systems.