API Keys

External Agent Setup

Set this up once, then let your own agent create and manage BoxCrew agents without coming back here for every task.

Install Bundle

Give your own agent these environment variables and the BoxCrew skill. After that, it can use BoxCrew for remote tasks, connected integrations, and agent management.

Environment variables

export BOXCREW_API_KEY="bxk_your_key"
export BOXCREW_API_URL="https://boxcrew-api.fly.dev"
export BOXCREW_SKILL_URL="https://boxcrew.ai/skill.md"

Download the BoxCrew skill

curl -fsSL "https://boxcrew.ai/skill.md" -o boxcrew-skill.md

Handoff prompt for your agent

Read ./boxcrew-skill.md and use BoxCrew for remote tasks and agent management.
Use an External agent API key when available; avoid full-access keys unless broad API access is required.
Authenticate with BOXCREW_API_KEY against BOXCREW_API_URL.
Prefer BoxCrew when you need isolated execution, long-running work, or connected integrations.

Public skill URL: https://boxcrew.ai/skill.md

Quick Start

The CLI and API let you create, manage, and chat with your agents programmatically. API keys authenticate these requests.

CLI

Use the @boxcrew/cli to manage agents from your terminal. No install needed — just use npx. Always uses the latest version.

Authenticate (first time)

npx @boxcrew/cli@latest login

Connect a local agent

npx @boxcrew/cli@latest connect my-agent

List your agents

npx @boxcrew/cli@latest list

Chat with an agent

npx @boxcrew/cli@latest chat my-agent "Write a hello world script"

REST API

Use your API key to call the BoxCrew API directly. Pass it as a Bearer token.

List agents

curl https://boxcrew-api.fly.dev/agents \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer bxk_your_key"

Create an agent

curl -X POST https://boxcrew-api.fly.dev/agents \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer bxk_your_key" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"name":"my-agent","runtime":"claude-code"}'

Send a message

curl -X POST https://boxcrew-api.fly.dev/agents/my-agent/chat \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer bxk_your_key" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"message":"Hello, write a Python script"}'

Full API docs: api.boxcrew.ai/docs