nixfredEXE.DEVFIELD GUIDE · BY NIX UNOFFICIAL
EXECUTE / POC AND DEMO SCRIPTS

POC and demo scripts

Five demos run in under 15 minutes. Each one is copied from exe.dev’s docs, so the commands are the real syntax. Do a dry run the day before, because names and flags can change.

Sources: https://exe.dev/docs/what-is-exe, https://exe.dev/docs/api, https://exe.dev/docs/proxy, https://exe.dev/docs/sharing, https://exe.dev/docs/login-with-exe, https://exe.dev/docs/cnames, https://exe.dev/docs/customization, https://exe.dev/docs/faq/copy-files, https://exe.dev/docs/https-api, https://exe.dev/docs/integrations-github, https://exe.dev/docs/integrations-http-proxy, https://exe.dev/docs/internet-access, https://exe.dev/docs/standalone-vms, https://exe.dev/docs/pools, https://exe.dev/docs/repo-buttons.

POC success criteria (agree on these first)

#CriterionHow to show it
1A new VM is reachable over HTTPS and SSH in minutesDemo 1
2The app is private by default and shared on purposeDemo 2
3Automation works without a human (HTTPS API)Demo 3
4An agent uses GitHub without holding a tokenDemo 4
5Cost is predictableDemo 5 + Economics

Demo 1: zero to HTTPS (3 minutes)

ssh exe.dev                       # first time: registration; check host key
ssh exe.dev new --name=demo       # ~2 seconds to create
ssh demo.exe.xyz 'python3 -m http.server 8000 >/dev/null 2>&1 &'
ssh exe.dev share port demo 8000  # tell the proxy which port
open https://demo.exe.xyz/        # TLS done, auth done

Demo 2: private by default, shared on purpose (3 minutes)

ssh exe.dev share show demo
ssh exe.dev share add demo colleague@example.com      # Web access
ssh exe.dev share add-link demo                        # link for anyone you send it to
ssh exe.dev share set-public demo                      # whole internet
ssh exe.dev share set-private demo                     # back to private
  • Show identity: in the app, read the X-ExeDev-Email header. To force a login, visit https://demo.exe.xyz/__exe.dev/login?redirect=/ (https://exe.dev/docs/login-with-exe).
  • Custom domain (optional): CNAME app.example.com to demo.exe.xyz, then run ssh exe.dev domain add demo app.example.com. Until it’s registered, requests get 421 Misdirected Request (https://exe.dev/docs/cnames).

Demo 3: the HTTPS API (2 minutes)

ssh exe.dev ssh-key generate-api-key --exp=1d    # copy the exe1... token it prints
TOKEN=exe1.PASTE_HERE
curl -s -X POST https://exe.dev/exec -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" -d 'ls --json'
curl -s -X POST https://exe.dev/exec -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" -d 'whoami'
  • Say: “It’s the SSH API in a POST body. Scope a token with cmds and always set exp” (https://exe.dev/docs/https-api).
  • Mention the limits: a 30 s timeout, a 64 KB body, no stdin, and no pty.

Demo 4: an agent with GitHub but no token (4 minutes)

Prerequisite: the exe.dev GitHub App is installed on the account or org (https://exe.dev/docs/integrations-github).

ssh exe.dev new --sandbox --name=agent-1 --egress=integrations
ssh exe.dev integrations add github --name repo --repository OWNER/REPO --attach vm:agent-1
ssh agent-1.exe.xyz 'git clone https://github.int.exe.xyz/OWNER/REPO.git && ls REPO'
ssh agent-1.exe.xyz 'env | grep -i token || echo "no token on the VM"'
ssh exe.dev rm agent-1

Demo 5: capacity you can see (Work accounts, 3 minutes)

ssh exe.dev pool new build --cpus=4 --region=lax
ssh exe.dev new --pool=build
ssh exe.dev pool resize build --cpus=8     # grows now; >32 vCPU needs approval
ssh exe.dev pool resize build --cpus=4     # shrinking is immediate
ssh exe.dev team usage

Customizing the image (bonus)

ssh exe.dev new --image=myorg/my-custom-image:latest
cat setup.sh | ssh exe.dev new --setup-script /dev/stdin

Private registry images need --registry-auth (https://exe.dev/docs/customization, https://exe.dev/docs/private-image).

POC close-out checklist

  • All five criteria shown, with screenshots
  • team usage or billing usage output captured for the cost discussion
  • Limits discussed (see Competitive: honest limits)
  • Next step: Personal, Work, or an Enterprise POC (the minimum is one host, and a POC first is welcome) (https://exe.dev/docs/enterprise)
  • Demo VMs and pools deleted (rm <vm>, then pool delete <pool>, which refuses while VMs remain)

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