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Install and verify smolvm

Install the smolvm microVM tool and confirm the machine can actually boot a VM

Source Download skill
Repository
smol-machines/smolvm
Stars
6,901
Licence
Apache-2.0
Files
8 files

What it does

When installed, the agent follows a checked procedure to set up smolvm, a tool that runs small virtual machines on your computer. It checks whether your host can support it, installs the latest release into your home folder, and boots a throwaway test VM to prove it works. It also runs a cleanup step to remove the test machines it created.

Great for

  • Developers setting up smolvm on a new Mac or Linux machine
  • CI runners or agent environments that need a private, removable smolvm install
  • People debugging first-boot failures such as KVM access errors

Skip it if

  • Removing an existing smolvm install, which the skill says belongs to a separate teardown packet
  • Work after smolvm already boots successfully, since the skill is scoped to first boot
  • Windows users, because the skill notes the installer does not apply there and points to a separate guide

Try asking

  • “Set up smolvm on this new Mac and check that a test VM boots”
  • “My smolvm first boot fails with agent did not become ready, help me diagnose it”
  • “Install smolvm into a scratch HOME so it does not touch my existing install”
Step-by-step guide: how to use Install and verify smolvmInstall, first run, examples, tips and FAQs

Install in 3 steps

  1. 1

    Download the skill

    The ZIP contains the 8 original files, the Apache-2.0 licence and an attribution note.

    install.zip
  2. 2

    Add it to your agent

    Claude Code (all projects)

    mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && unzip install.zip -d ~/.claude/skills/

    Claude Code / Agent SDK (this project only)

    mkdir -p .claude/skills && unzip install.zip -d .claude/skills/

    Claude apps (web/desktop): Settings → Capabilities → Skills → Upload skill, and choose the ZIP.

  3. 3

    Ask for the task

    No special command needed — the agent reads the skill's description and loads it when your request matches. Try one of the prompts above.

Get better results

  • Run scripts/preflight.sh first and read any note= lines before trusting its result
  • Use --image with a mirror registry if Docker Hub returns TOOMANYREQUESTS, and review cleanup.sh output before using --reap, since it kills all VM processes under HOME

What's inside

  • README.md
  • references/layout.md
  • references/traps.md
  • references/windows.md
  • scripts/cleanup.sh
  • scripts/preflight.sh
  • scripts/verify-boot.sh
  • SKILL.md

Redistributed unmodified from smol-machines/smolvm under the Apache-2.0 licence. The assessment was drafted with AI from the skill's files on 2026-11-02. Skills can instruct your agent to run code — read SKILL.md and any scripts before installing.