bytebot
Bytebot is a self-hosted AI desktop agent that automates computer tasks through natural language commands, operating within a containerized Linux desktop environment.
Install / Use
claude mcp add bytebot-ai -- npx -y github:bytebot-ai/bytebotIf the server publishes to npm under a different name, use that package instead — check the repo README.
MCP Server
Model Context Protocol server
Quality Score
Category
AutomationSupported Platforms
Our assessment of bytebot
bytebot scores 86/100 on our quality scale, 1788th of 2,863 Automation skills we index.
Its MCP Server is 9.7 KB long, well organised into 43 sections with 7 code examples: a thorough specification that gives an agent plenty to work with.
With 11,068 GitHub stars, it is one of the more widely adopted skills in the catalogue.
Maintenance, license and trust
- The repository was last updated about 14 months ago. Expect some instructions to reference tool versions or APIs that have since changed.
- Our last check on 2026-10-20 found the source still online.
- It is released under the Apache-2.0 license, a permissive license that allows use, modification and commercial use with attribution.
- Its trust signals score 88/100, with 1 caution from licensing, adoption, age or documentation. These come from repository metadata, not a code audit — read the skill file before letting an agent act on it.
Safety scan
No issues foundOur scan of the whole file found no instruction hijacking, hidden characters, credential access, data exfiltration or destructive commands. An AI review of the same text found nothing harmful.
AI review by kimi-k2.7-code on 2026-09-24. Automated pattern scan on 2026-09-24. It catches known dangerous patterns, not every risk — read a skill before letting an agent act on it.
bytebot compared with similar skills
All 4 of these similar skills score higher than bytebot; compare them before choosing.
| Skill | Score | Stars | Updated | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| bytebot (this skill)by bytebot-ai | 86 | 11.1k | 14mo ago | MCP Server |
| Agent-Reachby Panniantong | 100 | 109.2k | today | CLAUDE.md |
| headroomby headroomlabs-ai | 100 | 78.9k | today | CLAUDE.md |
| CowAgentby zhayujie | 100 | 47.8k | today | CLAUDE.md |
| Scraplingby D4Vinci | 100 | 97.9k | today | MCP Server |
Frequently asked questions
- How do I install bytebot?
- Run
claude mcp add bytebot-ai -- npx -y github:bytebot-ai/bytebot. The install tabs above show the steps for each supported agent. - Which AI agents does bytebot work with?
- It is written for Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Zed and Gemini CLI, as a MCP Server file. Other agents that read the same format can often use it too.
- Is bytebot safe to use?
- Our scan of the whole file found no instruction hijacking, hidden characters, credential access, data exfiltration or destructive commands. An AI review of the same text found nothing harmful. It is Apache-2.0-licensed and scores 88/100 on trust signals. Skills are instructions an agent will follow, so read the file before installing it and do not approve commands you do not understand.
- Is bytebot still maintained?
- The repository was last updated about 14 months ago. Expect some instructions to reference tool versions or APIs that have since changed.
Skill content
View source on GitHubBytebot: Open-Source AI Desktop Agent
<a href="https://trendshift.io/repositories/14624" target="_blank"><img src="https://trendshift.io/api/badge/repositories/14624" alt="bytebot-ai%2Fbytebot | Trendshift" style="width: 250px; height: 55px;" width="250" height="55"/></a>
An AI that has its own computer to complete tasks for you
🌐 Website • 📚 Documentation • 💬 Discord • 𝕏 Twitter
<!-- Keep these links. Translations will automatically update with the README. -->Deutsch | Español | français | 日本語 | 한국어 | Português | Русский | 中文
</div>https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/f271282a-27a3-43f3-9b99-b34007fdd169
https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/72a43cf2-bd87-44c5-a582-e7cbe176f37f
What is a Desktop Agent?
A desktop agent is an AI that has its own computer. Unlike browser-only agents or traditional RPA tools, Bytebot comes with a full virtual desktop where it can:
- Use any application (browsers, email clients, office tools, IDEs)
- Download and organize files with its own file system
- Log into websites and applications using password managers
- Read and process documents, PDFs, and spreadsheets
- Complete complex multi-step workflows across different programs
Think of it as a virtual employee with their own computer who can see the screen, move the mouse, type on the keyboard, and complete tasks just like a human would.
Why Give AI Its Own Computer?
When AI has access to a complete desktop environment, it unlocks capabilities that aren't possible with browser-only agents or API integrations:
Complete Task Autonomy
Give Bytebot a task like "Download all invoices from our vendor portals and organize them into a folder" and it will:
- Open the browser
- Navigate to each portal
- Handle authentication (including 2FA via password managers)
- Download the files to its local file system
- Organize them into a folder
Process Documents
Upload files directly to Bytebot's desktop and it can:
- Read entire PDFs into its context
- Extract data from complex documents
- Cross-reference information across multiple files
- Create new documents based on analysis
- Handle formats that APIs can't access
Use Real Applications
Bytebot isn't limited to web interfaces. It can:
- Use desktop applications like text editors, VS Code, or email clients
- Run scripts and command-line tools
- Install new software as needed
- Configure applications for specific workflows
Quick Start
Deploy in 2 Minutes
Just click and add your AI provider API key.
Option 2: Docker Compose
git clone https://github.com/bytebot-ai/bytebot.git
cd bytebot
# Add your AI provider key (choose one)
echo "ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-..." > docker/.env
# Or: echo "OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-..." > docker/.env
# Or: echo "GEMINI_API_KEY=..." > docker/.env
docker-compose -f docker/docker-compose.yml up -d
# Open http://localhost:9992
How It Works
Bytebot consists of four integrated components:
- Virtual Desktop: A complete Ubuntu Linux environment with pre-installed applications
- AI Agent: Understands your tasks and controls the desktop to complete them
- Task Interface: Web UI where you create tasks and watch Bytebot work
- APIs: REST endpoints for programmatic task creation and desktop control
Key Features
- Natural Language Tasks: Just describe what you need done
- File Uploads: Drop files onto tasks for Bytebot to process
- Live Desktop View: Watch Bytebot work in real-time
- Takeover Mode: Take control when you need to help or configure something
- Password Manager Support: Install 1Password, Bitwarden, etc. for automatic authentication
- Persistent Environment: Install programs and they stay available for future tasks
Example Tasks
Basic Examples
"Go to Wikipedia and create a summary of quantum computing"
"Research flights from NYC to London and create a comparison document"
"Take screenshots of the top 5 news websites"
Document Processing
"Read the uploaded contracts.pdf and extract all payment terms and deadlines"
"Process these 5 invoice PDFs and create a summary report"
"Download and analyze the latest financial report and answer: What were the key risks mentioned?"
Multi-Application Workflows
"Download last month's bank statements from our three banks and consolidate them"
"Check all our vendor portals for new invoices and create a summary report"
"Log into our CRM, export the customer list, and update records in the ERP system"
Programmatic Control
Create Tasks via API
import requests
# Simple task
response = requests.post('http://localhost:9991/tasks', json={
'description': 'Download the latest sales report and create a summary'
})
# Task with file upload
files = {'files': open('contracts.pdf', 'rb')}
response = requests.post('http://localhost:9991/tasks',
data={'description': 'Review these contracts for important dates'},
files=files
)
Direct Desktop Control
# Take a screenshot
curl -X POST http://localhost:9990/computer-use \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"action": "screenshot"}'
# Click at specific coordinates
curl -X POST http://localhost:9990/computer-use \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"action": "click_mouse", "coordinate": [500, 300]}'
Setting Up Your Desktop Agent
1. Deploy Bytebot
Use one of the deployment methods above to get Bytebot running.
2. Configure the Desktop
Use the Desktop tab in the UI to:
- Install additional programs you need
- Set up password managers for authentication
- Configure applications with your preferences
- Log into websites you want Bytebot to access
3. Start Giving Tasks
Create tasks in natural language and watch Bytebot complete them using the configured desktop.
Use Cases
Business Process Automation
- Invoice processing and data extraction
- Multi-system data synchronization
- Report generation from multiple sources
- Compliance checking across platforms
Development & Testing
- Automated UI testing
- Cross-browser compatibility checks
- Documentation generation with screenshots
- Code deployment verification
Research & Analysis
- Competitive analysis across websites
- Data gathering from multiple sources
- Document analysis and summarization
- Market research compilation
Architecture
Bytebot is built with:
- Desktop: Ubuntu 22.04 with XFCE, Firefox, VS Code, and other tools
- Agent: NestJS service that coordinates AI and desktop actions
- UI: Next.js application for task management
- AI Support: Works with Anthropic Claude, OpenAI GPT, Google Gemini
- Deployment: Docker containers for easy self-hosting
Why Self-Host?
- Data Privacy: Everything runs on your infrastructure
- Full Control: Customize the desktop environment as needed
- No Limits: Use your own AI API keys without platform restrictions
- Flexibility: Install any software, access any systems
Advanced Features
Multiple AI Providers
Use any AI provider through our LiteLLM integration:
- Azure OpenAI
- AWS Bedrock
- Local models via Ollama
- 100+ other providers
Enterprise Deployment
Deploy on Kubernetes with Helm:
# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/bytebot-ai/bytebot.git
cd bytebot
# Install with Helm
helm install bytebot ./helm \
--set agent.env.ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-...
Community & Support
- Discord: Join our community for help and discussions
- Documentation: Comprehensive guides at docs.bytebot.ai
- GitHub Issues: Report bugs and request features
Contributing
We welcome contributions! Whether it's:
- 🐛 Bug fixes
- ✨ New features
- 📚 Documentation improvements
- 🌐 Translations
Please:
- Check existing issues first
- Open an issue to discuss major changes
- Submit PRs with clear descriptions
- Join our Discord to discuss ideas
License
Bytebot is open source under the Apache 2.0 license.
<div align="center">
Give your AI its own computer. See what it can do.
<sub>Built by Tantl Labs and the open source community</sub>
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Languages
Trust signals
From repository metadata: license, adoption, age and documentation. Not a code audit — see the Safety scan above for what the skill file itself contains.
