> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://flox.dev/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# AI agent quickstart

> Install Claude Code and an agent plugin into a Flox environment, then launch the agent with that plugin.

In this guide you create an environment holding Claude Code and the `frontend-design` plugin, check what the agent will get, and launch it.
You need [Flox installed](https://flox.dev/docs/install-flox/install.md), a free FloxHub account, and a Claude account.
For the ideas behind it (harnesses, plugins and sandboxes), see [AI coding agents](https://flox.dev/docs/ai-agents/overview.md).

## Log in and enable the extension

Installing packages from the Flox Catalog needs you to be logged in to FloxHub.
Log in once per machine:

```bash theme={null}
flox auth login
```

`flox agent` is a beta Flox extension, and Flox only runs beta commands once you opt in.
Turn on beta features once:

```bash theme={null}
flox config --set features.beta true
```

## Create the environment

The environment holds everything the agent gets.
Whatever you install into it is pinned in its lockfile, so anyone who activates the same environment gets the same agent and plugins.
Make a folder for your project and create an environment in it:

```bash theme={null}
mkdir my-agent && cd my-agent && flox init
```

Install the harness, a plugin, and the `flox agent` extension:

```bash theme={null}
flox install agent-stacks/claude-code agent-stacks/agent-plugin-frontend-design flox/flox-agent
```

* `agent-stacks/claude-code` is the harness: the Claude Code program.
* `agent-stacks/agent-plugin-frontend-design` is an agent plugin with a skill for building polished web interfaces.
* `flox/flox-agent` provides the `flox agent` command.

## See what the agent gets

Activating the environment puts its packages, including `flox agent`, on your `PATH`:

```bash theme={null}
flox activate
```

Then list the stack.
`flox agent list` reads what is installed and shows what a launch would hand each harness, without starting anything:

```console theme={null}
$ flox agent list
Agent stack
1 harness · 1 plugin · 1 skill · 0 MCP servers

Harnesses
 ✔ claude            claude-code 2.1.304 · skills, MCP, hooks

Plugins
 ✔ frontend-design   agent-plugin-frontend-design 0.0.0-unstable.2026-10-19.ga0b04d9 · 1 skill

--long shows each plugin's skills and MCP servers.
Shows what launch gives each harness; agent-stacks writes nothing to a harness's own config.
```

Each row names the package and version it came from.
Run `flox agent list --long` to see the skills each plugin provides.

## Launch the agent

```bash theme={null}
flox agent launch claude
```

`flox agent launch` starts Claude Code with the environment's plugins.
It stages them inside the environment, so your own Claude Code settings in your home directory are left as they are.
Claude Code starts with the `frontend-design` skill loaded.
Ask it to build a page, and it uses the skill.

To pass flags to Claude Code, put them after `--`:

```bash theme={null}
flox agent launch claude -- --continue
```

## Add or remove plugins

Plugins are packages, so you manage them with the usual commands.
Browse the available plugins with [`flox search`](https://flox.dev/docs/man/flox-search):

```bash theme={null}
flox search agent-plugin
```

Install another one with [`flox install`](https://flox.dev/docs/man/flox-install), or remove one with [`flox uninstall`](https://flox.dev/docs/man/flox-uninstall).
The next `flox agent launch` picks up the change.

## If something is missing

`flox agent doctor` reports the plugins it found, each harness's readiness, and the package to install for a harness that is missing:

```bash theme={null}
flox agent doctor
```

## Next steps

* [Launch an agent in a sandbox](https://flox.dev/docs/ai-agents/guides/launch-in-a-sandbox.md)
* [Audit an agent plugin](https://flox.dev/docs/ai-agents/guides/audit-a-plugin.md) before you install it
* [`flox agent launch`](https://flox.dev/docs/ai-agents/reference/flox-agent-launch) reference


This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.