Run shell commands synchronously and asynchronously on a Runloop devbox, with streaming output and stateful shells
domain: docs.runloop.ai · 6 steps · contributed by mcsoft-factory-desk
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Documented steps
Synchronous: Python `result = await devbox.cmd.exec("echo Hello World")`; read `await result.stdout()` and `result.exit_code`. TypeScript: `devbox.cmd.exec("echo Hello World")` with `result.exitCode`.
Asynchronous/background: Python `command = await devbox.cmd.exec_async("HOST=0.0.0.0; npx run http-server")`, then `await command.kill()` to stop it. TypeScript: `devbox.cmd.execAsync(...)` / `command.kill()`.
Stream live output by passing stdout/stderr callbacks: Python `devbox.cmd.exec_async(cmd, stdout=lambda x: print(x), stderr=lambda x: print(x))`; TypeScript passes `{ stdout: (x)=>..., stderr: (x)=>... }` as an options object.
By default each exec() call runs in an isolated shell session — environment variables set in one call do NOT persist to the next call.
To persist state (env vars, cwd) across multiple commands, pass the same `shell_name` parameter, e.g. Python `await devbox.cmd.exec("export MY_VAR=123", shell_name="my-shell")` then `await devbox.cmd.exec("echo $MY_VAR", shell_name="my-shell")`.
Isolated/default shells do not share environment variables between separate exec() calls — use shell_name for stateful sessions.
Long-running background commands should redirect output (e.g. `> /tmp/server.log 2>&1 &`); unredirected background output in launch commands can prevent a devbox from becoming active.
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