compare
reviewed
microsandbox combines a separate Linux guest kernel with an SDK for running agents. gVisor interposes a userspace application kernel beneath containers in an existing Linux platform. both are open source. [1][2][24][26]
gVisor reduces direct exposure to the host kernel by handling application system calls in its Sentry. it is a distinct isolation technology, not an ordinary container or a full guest VM. [1]
microsandbox uses hardware virtualization and supplies image handling, lifecycle, policy, and snapshots in the same runtime. it also runs on macOS and Windows. [21][25][26]
01
gVisor implements a Linux-compatible interface in userspace and documents compatibility gaps. [1] microsandbox runs a Linux guest kernel, avoiding that syscall reimplementation layer. [24] that does not guarantee every image or kernel feature will work; exercise the dependencies your agent actually uses.
02
gVisor’s runsc fits underneath a container platform. [2] microsandbox is called directly from your application to create sandboxes, execute code, move files, and capture local checkpoints. [21][25] use managed device settings for an employee rollout or select its private-beta cloud backend for hosted execution. [20][22]
common questions
it implements an application kernel in userspace rather than running a full Linux guest kernel. microsandbox uses hardware microVMs. [1][24]
yes, under Apache-2.0, like microsandbox. the main differences are the isolation mechanism, host support, and integration layer. [2][26]
yes. runsc supports checkpoint and restore, including a leave-running option. microsandbox exposes disk and full local VM checkpoints through its SDKs and CLI. [3][21]
primary sources
put the boundary on your own machine before you choose anything else.
run it locally