Open Agents is an open-source template for building cloud agents that run as durable workflows on Vercel.
The project addresses the challenge of building coding agents that can execute multi-step tasks without tying execution to a single request lifecycle. Its core architectural insight separates the agent from the sandbox: the agent runs outside the isolated execution environment and interacts with it through discrete tools like file operations, shell commands, and search. This separation allows agent execution to persist across multiple workflow steps, sandboxes to hibernate and resume independently, and the underlying infrastructure to evolve without constraining model choices or sandbox implementation.
Open Agents is designed to be forked and adapted rather than used as a black box. It suits teams building internal coding agents on Vercel who want control over the system's components: the web UI for authentication and chat, the agent runtime backed by Vercel's Workflow SDK, and the sandbox orchestration. The tool includes GitHub integration for creating pull requests from agent-generated code changes, optional voice input via ElevenLabs, and session sharing through read-only links. Deployments can be tuned for resource constraints using a hobby profile, and sandboxes can be initialized from custom snapshots.
The project maintains active engagement with its user base. Almost all open issues are raised by outside users rather than the core team, reflecting a substantial base of adopters reporting real-world use. Maintainers typically respond to new issues and pull requests within a day.
