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Forkbench vs Sculptor
Sculptor (by Imbue) runs each AI coding agent in its own Docker container for execution isolation.
Updated
Sculptor puts each agent in a Docker container. Forkbench locks each job to its folders with the macOS kernel sandbox, so there is no Docker to install and your builds run natively, then adds a Vault for API keys, a live view of every agent, a needs-you flag, human sign-off and sharing one job with anyone.
A container is a heavy answer to a simple question: what may this agent touch? Forkbench answers it natively, in one click.
| Forkbench | Sculptor | |
|---|---|---|
| Agents locked to your project folders | Yes. The macOS kernel seals off the rest of your home folder, per Thread | Docker container per agent |
| API keys the agent never sees | Yes. The Vault runs the command and the agent only gets the result | No secrets handling |
| Every agent at a glance | Yes. A live pulse on every tab and the task each agent claimed | Yes |
| Know when an agent is stuck | Instantly. It turns red and the Thread counts who needs you | Yes |
| Share one job with a teammate or client | Yes. Invite them to one Thread, never your machine | No |
| Human sign-off before work counts as done | Always. Agents report, only you accept | Review the diff |
| Works with | Any CLI agent: Claude Code, Codex, Cursor CLI, Gemini CLI, Aider, your own scripts | Claude Code and Codex |
| Needs Docker | No | Yes |
| Price | Free | Free beta |
Why developers pick Forkbench
- No Docker: the macOS kernel enforces the folder boundary.
- Native builds and tools, at full speed.
- Vault, live supervision and sign-off on top.
- Any CLI agent, not one vendor.
What Sculptor does well
- Containers isolate execution as well as files, which is stronger for untrusted code.
The verdict
A Docker container is the heavier boundary, and it earns that weight for code that is genuinely untrusted, which is the job Sculptor is built for. Your own agents on your own projects rarely need a container at all: Forkbench's kernel folder lock gets there with nothing to build or run, plus the Vault, the live view and the sign-off Sculptor leaves out.
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Comparison based on publicly available information, checked on the date above. Spot something out of date? Tell us.