Virtual device
A virtual device is a cloud-hosted machine your workspace agents share — always on, with a pre-configured environment for code, browsing, and file work.
A virtual device is a cloud-hosted machine that lives in Nebula's infrastructure and stays on around the clock. It comes pre-configured with the tools your agents need — a filesystem, common runtimes, a browser, and the ability to host a live server.
What it can do
Read, write, and organize files that persist between conversations. Everyone in the workspace sees the same filesystem; everyone's work lands in the same place.
Run Python, Bash, or TypeScript with real package managers. Common data libraries like pandas, numpy, matplotlib, and requests come pre-installed.
Control a full browser to interact with websites and web apps — fill forms, click buttons, extract data, log in to dashboards.
Spin up a web server, get a public URL, and share it for review or testing. Useful for prototypes, previews, and internal tools.
Always on
A virtual device runs continuously. It doesn't sleep between conversations, doesn't reset when someone closes the app, and doesn't lose state when members switch devices of their own.
| Typical AI chat | Virtual device | |
|---|---|---|
| Files between sessions | Lost | Persisted |
| Background tasks | Not possible | Runs continuously |
| Scheduled automations | Not possible | Fires on schedule |
| Shared across members | No | Yes — everyone sees the same files |
What it makes possible
Long-running jobs
Kick off a scrape, leave it for hours, come back to the results. The device keeps running.
Multi-step workflows
Download → process → store → query. State lives between conversations.
Custom tools
Install your own scripts and binaries. Agents in the workspace can use them in any thread or automation.
Shared drop zone
Upload a file in one thread; another agent in another thread can read it from the same filesystem.
Live previews
Build a test site or app and get a real URL to share with teammates for feedback.
Multi-agent handoff
Multiple agents share the same files, reading each other's outputs without manual passing.
Adding a virtual device
One device per workspace is marked Primary — agents reach for it by default. The first virtual device you create becomes the primary; you can switch later from any device card.
Related
Devices
Devices are the machines your workspace agents use to do real work. Choose a virtual device in the cloud, a local device on your own computer, or both.
Local device
Connect your own computer as a Nebula device. Install the desktop app and your agents can work with your files, your software, and your network.