kernel/kernel-images

Browsers-as-a-service for automations and web agents

What it solves

Kernel provides sandboxed, ready-to-use Chrome browsers in the cloud, eliminating the need for local browser management for developers building browser-based automations and AI agents. It allows users to connect to these remote browsers via the Chrome DevTools Protocol (CDP), which is compatible with frameworks like Playwright and Puppeteer.

How it works

The project provides Docker images and Unikraft unikernel implementations of headful Chromium. It exposes port 9222 for CDP connections, allowing external scripts to drive the browser. For visual monitoring, it includes a remote GUI (Live View) via NoVNC or WebRTC, enabling users to see and control the browser in real-time. It also includes a recording server to capture session videos.

Who it’s for

  • Developers building AI agents that interact with the web.
  • Engineers creating automated browser-based workflows.
  • Developers needing controlled, sandboxed browser environments for testing.

Highlights

  • Unikernel Support: Offers extremely fast cold restarts (<20ms) and a "sleep mode" that snapshots state (including cookies and zoom) to save resources.
  • Remote GUI: Live streaming of the browser window via WebRTC or NoVNC for visual monitoring and remote control.
  • CDP Compatibility: Seamlessly connects with Playwright, Puppeteer, and CDP-based SDKs like Browser Use.
  • Session Recording: Built-in ability to capture and download H.264/MPEG-4 AVC video replays of browser sessions.

Related

  • Project
    opensandbox-group/OpenSandbox

    A general-purpose sandbox platform for AI applications that provides secure, isolated environments for code execution, agent evaluation, and RL training.

  • Project
    Simpleyyt/ai-manus

    A general-purpose AI agent system that executes tasks in a secure Docker sandbox with capabilities for web browsing, code execution, and file management.

  • Project
    remorses/playwriter

    A browser automation tool that lets AI agents control your running Chrome browser, preserving logins, cookies, and extensions to bypass bot detection.

  • Project
    agent-infra/sandbox

    A unified agent sandbox environment that combines a browser, shell, and IDE tools in one Docker container with a shared filesystem for AI agents.

  • Project
    mvanhorn/agentcookie

    A tool that continuously synchronizes authenticated Chrome browser sessions from a Mac to a remote Linux server, allowing AI agents to act on the user's behalf without manual login.