18 Matching Annotations
  1. Jul 2025
    1. Full Python environment in contai

      Having a full Python environment in a container is one of the most compelling features. It allows for data analysis, plotting, and document generation using familiar libraries. The isolation protects the host system, and the ability to import packages like pandas or matplotlib makes this much more powerful than simple macro-level automation.

    2. move – Move mouse to new position based

      The move function simply relocates the cursor without clicking, which is useful for positioning before a drag or click. But again, it's coordinate‑based, so any UI shift can cause misalignment. Without a way to target elements semantically (e.g., by label), these pointer movements require constant recalibration.

    3. keypress – Press keyboard keys with modifiers (e.g., CTRL+A,

      Sending keystrokes with modifiers is crucial for tasks like selecting all (Ctrl+A) or undoing (Ctrl+Z). As with other low‑level actions, reliability depends on the UI state: if the wrong window has focus, keystrokes may go astray. It would be helpful to have functions that operate on elements or text fields explicitly rather than by coordinates and focus.

    4. drag – Drag mouse alo

      The drag function is powerful for interactions like selecting text or moving items but further increases complexity: you must define the coordinate path precisely and account for scrolling or responsive layouts. It's easy for slight UI changes to cause misalignment. Higher-level primitives like 'select text matching string' would be more reliable than manual coordinate paths.

    5. double_click – Double-click at coordinates

      Having explicit double_click and click functions acknowledges that some UI elements respond differently to single and double clicks. However, this low‑level approach means you have to know the exact pixel coordinates of the element; any changes in layout or screen resolution can break the automation. Higher‑level element selection or DOM-based actions would be more robust.

    6. computer.switch_app(app_name) – Switches

      Switching between applications is a simple concept, but the current implementation is restrictive. Only two apps—Chromium and LibreOffice—are supported, so tasks requiring other tools (e.g., image editors, IDEs) cannot be executed. Expanding this list or allowing installation of custom apps would significantly increase the agent’s versatility.

    7. computer.sync_file – Transfers files from virtual

      Using computer.sync_file is the agent’s lifeline for extracting files created or downloaded in the virtual environment. Without it you’d be stuck inside the sandbox. It’s somewhat asymmetrical, though: there’s no complementary API for uploading local files into the VM, which means tasks requiring local input data need alternative methods (like using the browser to download). Support for bi‑directional file transfer would make the tool more flexible.

    8. computer.get – Captures screenshot of current desktop state

      The computer.get function is essentially a screen grab — it lets you capture the current state of the virtual desktop so you can refer to it later or include it in a report. It's straightforward but limited to still images; to communicate dynamic interactions or errors, you may need multiple successive captures or video-level features.

    9. computer.initialize – Launches virtual desktop session

      The computer.initialize function is the foundation for tasks that require a GUI environment. Spinning up a virtual desktop session ensures the agent operates in an isolated environment, which protects the host system and allows tasks like browsing or office work. However, starting a virtual machine adds latency and may limit access to hardware features compared to native applications.

    10. LibreOffice Suite including: Writer (word processor) Calc (spreadsheets) Impress (presentations) Draw (drawing application) Base (database)

      It's useful to know which applications are available through the agent. Leveraging LibreOffice and a Chromium browser makes sense for an open-source environment, although support for more widely used office tools would broaden appeal. Future iterations may add more applications as the platform matures.

    11. age Generation Tool – Calls ImageGen to generate an image Memento Tool – Internal utility for saving and recalling summaries of work across sessions. Rather hilariously, this tool is actually a hallucination! It appears (as far

      This summary of the core tools is helpful. However, calling Memento a "hallucination" might be misleading. Internal memory functions are often part of agent frameworks; their presence or absence depends on implementation details. It's better to treat the list as dynamic rather than assume a tool is imaginary.

    12. Following the video, scroll down for my observations and everything I’ve learned so far about agents. If you think I’ve missed any of the tools, commands, or limitations let me know

      I appreciate that you're inviting readers to point out any overlooked tools or limitations. Collaborative testing and sharing of experiences can help the community better understand what works well and where the gaps are.

    13. ow that it will get better. I’ve been saying since 2024 that “computer using agents” are absolutely the future of this technology, and absolutely will be pushed into the market by

      It's reasonable to expect rapid improvement as companies iterate on agents. However, predictions about adoption and market forces should be tempered by real-world utility and user trust. The vision of 'computer‑using agents' will only become mainstream if they consistently deliver value and safety.

    14. The following video is a full, uncut (but sped up) recording of th

      Sharing an uncut video of your experiment is helpful for transparency—it allows others to see exactly how the agent behaved and draw their own conclusions. These limitations you document should help set realistic expectations for early adopters.

    15. In a last ditch attempt to get Agent to produce something remotely useful, I decided to just… ask what it could do. This

      Testing an AI agent by asking it to describe its own capabilities is a sensible diagnostic step. Different models have different tool awareness—it's good to see you comparing Agents with other models like Claude. It's also important to remember that the list of available tools is controlled by the platform and can change over time.

    16. in JSON. Large Language Model chatbots can write and read JSON very well, and using the structured data format is a proven way to get consistent

      Using structured prompts, such as JSON, can indeed help models produce more consistent output. However, the complexity of the task and the model's underlying capabilities still influence the quality of results. It's worth experimenting with different prompt structures and refining instructions.

    17. So I tried, and tried, and tried again. I wanted desperately to see in Agents what others were seeing: some sort of glorious techno-optimistic future where we’re all freed from the burden of things like… online shopping and… making PowerPoints.

      Your persistence in testing different approaches is commendable. Early-stage AI features often have rough edges, and it's important to match tasks to the tool's capabilities. Agents aren't likely to replace all of our mundane tasks overnight, but they can still augment workflows when used appropriately.

    18. The hype train has fully left the station, and every AI punter on every social media channel is going wild about OpenAI’s new “Agents”. Unfortunately, most of the commentators haven’t actually tried the product – they’re relying on OpenAI’s promo video. Even those who have tried Agents seem to have

      This paragraph highlights how the hype around OpenAI's new Agents is driven by promotional materials rather than hands-on experience. It's a good reminder that we should test the technology ourselves before making sweeping claims.