Intent map

Agentic Local GCP routes

Use this index to send agents and humans to the canonical LocalCloud page for each job: sandbox setup, service-local testing, workflow automation, comparisons, definitions, and demos. Thin duplicate variants are intentionally rejected.

AI onboarding Compatibility Docs

Intent-to-route map

Choose the canonical page, avoid thin variants

Agent sandbox

Agent wants a safe GCP sandbox for a specific coding surface.

Audience: Developers using Claude Code, Codex-style CLIs, Cursor, or Gemini CLI.

Canonical route: /agents/

Do not create one-page-per-prompt variants.
Do not duplicate the generic /ai/ onboarding page.

Service local testing

Agent needs to test one GCP service locally with SDKs and env vars.

Audience: Agents and maintainers validating BigQuery, Pub/Sub, Spanner, Cloud Storage, or Bigtable code.

Canonical route: /services/{service}/ai-agent-local-testing/

Do not split by programming language unless examples become materially different.
Do not claim production parity.

Workflow

An individual evaluator wants a repeatable local workflow for Terraform or integration tests; CI use requires a separate license grant.

Audience: Platform, DevOps, and test owners wiring LocalCloud into automation.

Canonical route: /workflows/{workflow}/

Do not publish separate pages for every CI vendor until the snippets diverge.
Do not imply real GCP validation is optional before production.

Comparison

Buyer or agent compares LocalCloud with another local or hosted sandbox option.

Audience: Developers choosing between Google emulators, hosted code sandboxes, and BigQuery emulator options.

Canonical route: /compare/{alternative}/

Do not publish attack pages.
Do not hide where the alternative is better.

Glossary

Researcher needs a precise definition for agentic local-cloud vocabulary.

Audience: Searchers, agents, and docs readers resolving terminology.

Canonical route: /glossary/{term}/

Do not create near-synonym pages with the same definition.
Do not turn glossary entries into product landing pages.

Blog and demo

Reader wants a narrative demo or launch explanation.

Audience: Developers evaluating practical agent workflows.

Canonical route: /blog/{post}/

Do not publish posts without commands, caveats, and internal next steps.
Do not repeat service pages without a story.

Published routes

Indexable pages with caveats

Claude Code sandbox

Claude Code local GCP sandbox

Give Claude Code a credentialless local Google Cloud sandbox with LocalCloud, Docker, localhost SDK endpoints, copyable prompts, and real-GCP validation caveats.

Terminal-first setup using Docker and localhost endpoints.
Docker image: jaysen2apache/localcloud:latest.

Codex-style CLI sandbox

Codex CLI local GCP sandbox

Use LocalCloud as a local GCP target for Codex-style terminal agents, with platform caveats, safe prompts, and localhost SDK validation.

Works with terminal agents that can run Docker and project tests.
Keep setup instructions in prompt text because Codex-style CLIs differ by distribution.

Cursor sandbox

Cursor local GCP sandbox

Point Cursor agent workflows at LocalCloud for local GCP testing with Docker, repo-aware prompts, terminal caveats, and production validation boundaries.

Best for workspace-aware edits plus an integrated terminal test loop.
Keep emulator env vars in the terminal/session running tests.

Gemini CLI sandbox

Gemini CLI local GCP sandbox

Use LocalCloud with Gemini CLI-style terminal workflows for local Google Cloud SDK tests, with setup caveats and no-credential guardrails.

Use shell-visible emulator variables for SDK tests.
Model or CLI login is separate from GCP runtime credentials.

Cloud Storage agent testing

Cloud Storage local testing for AI agents

Test Cloud Storage code locally with AI agents using LocalCloud, STORAGE_EMULATOR_HOST=http://localhost:24081, standard SDKs, compatibility caveats, and real-GCP validation boundaries.

Endpoint: STORAGE_EMULATOR_HOST=http://localhost:24081.
Endpoints: HTTP/REST :24081.

Pub/Sub agent testing

Pub/Sub local testing for AI agents

Test Pub/Sub code locally with AI agents using LocalCloud, PUBSUB_EMULATOR_HOST=localhost:24082, standard SDKs, compatibility caveats, and real-GCP validation boundaries.

Endpoint: PUBSUB_EMULATOR_HOST=localhost:24082.
Endpoints: gRPC :24082.

Firestore agent testing

Firestore local testing for AI agents

Test Firestore code locally with AI agents using LocalCloud, FIRESTORE_EMULATOR_HOST=localhost:24083, standard SDKs, compatibility caveats, and real-GCP validation boundaries.

Endpoint: FIRESTORE_EMULATOR_HOST=localhost:24083.
Endpoints: gRPC :24083.

Bigtable agent testing

Bigtable local testing for AI agents

Test Bigtable code locally with AI agents using LocalCloud, BIGTABLE_EMULATOR_HOST=localhost:24084, standard SDKs, compatibility caveats, and real-GCP validation boundaries.

Endpoint: BIGTABLE_EMULATOR_HOST=localhost:24084.
Endpoints: gRPC :24084.

Spanner agent testing

Spanner local testing for AI agents

Test Spanner code locally with AI agents using LocalCloud, SPANNER_EMULATOR_HOST=localhost:24085, standard SDKs, compatibility caveats, and real-GCP validation boundaries.

Endpoint: SPANNER_EMULATOR_HOST=localhost:24085.
Endpoints: gRPC :24085 · HTTP/REST :24086.

BigQuery agent testing

BigQuery local testing for AI agents

Test BigQuery code locally with AI agents using LocalCloud, BIGQUERY_EMULATOR_HOST=http://localhost:24087, standard SDKs, compatibility caveats, and real-GCP validation boundaries.

Endpoint: BIGQUERY_EMULATOR_HOST=http://localhost:24087.
Endpoints: HTTP/REST :24087 · gRPC :24088.

Google Sheets agent testing

Google Sheets local testing for AI agents

Test Google Sheets code locally with AI agents using LocalCloud, SHEETS_EMULATOR_HOST=http://localhost:24080, standard SDKs, compatibility caveats, and real-GCP validation boundaries.

Endpoint: SHEETS_EMULATOR_HOST=http://localhost:24080.
Endpoints: HTTP/REST :24080.

Secret Manager agent testing

Secret Manager local testing for AI agents

Test Secret Manager code locally with AI agents using LocalCloud, SECRET_MANAGER_EMULATOR_HOST=localhost:24080, standard SDKs, compatibility caveats, and real-GCP validation boundaries.

Endpoint: SECRET_MANAGER_EMULATOR_HOST=localhost:24080.
Endpoints: gRPC :24080.

Cloud Tasks agent testing

Cloud Tasks local testing for AI agents

Test Cloud Tasks code locally with AI agents using LocalCloud, CLOUD_TASKS_EMULATOR_HOST=localhost:24080, standard SDKs, compatibility caveats, and real-GCP validation boundaries.

Endpoint: CLOUD_TASKS_EMULATOR_HOST=localhost:24080.
Endpoints: gRPC :24080.

Cloud Scheduler agent testing

Cloud Scheduler local testing for AI agents

Test Cloud Scheduler code locally with AI agents using LocalCloud, CLOUD_SCHEDULER_EMULATOR_HOST=localhost:24080, standard SDKs, compatibility caveats, and real-GCP validation boundaries.

Endpoint: CLOUD_SCHEDULER_EMULATOR_HOST=localhost:24080.
Endpoints: gRPC :24080.

Cloud Functions (2nd Gen) agent testing

Cloud Functions (2nd Gen) local testing for AI agents

Test Cloud Functions (2nd Gen) code locally with AI agents using LocalCloud, CLOUD_FUNCTIONS_EMULATOR_HOST=localhost:24080, standard SDKs, compatibility caveats, and real-GCP validation boundaries.

Endpoint: CLOUD_FUNCTIONS_EMULATOR_HOST=localhost:24080.
Endpoints: gRPC :24080.

AlloyDB agent testing

AlloyDB local testing for AI agents

Test AlloyDB code locally with AI agents using LocalCloud, ALLOYDB_EMULATOR_HOST=localhost:24080, standard SDKs, compatibility caveats, and real-GCP validation boundaries.

Endpoint: ALLOYDB_EMULATOR_HOST=localhost:24080.
Endpoints: gRPC :24080.

Dataproc agent testing

Dataproc local testing for AI agents

Test Dataproc code locally with AI agents using LocalCloud, DATAPROC_EMULATOR_HOST=localhost:24080, standard SDKs, compatibility caveats, and real-GCP validation boundaries.

Endpoint: DATAPROC_EMULATOR_HOST=localhost:24080.
Endpoints: gRPC :24080.

Cloud IAM agent testing

Cloud IAM local testing for AI agents

Test Cloud IAM code locally with AI agents using LocalCloud, IAM_EMULATOR_HOST=localhost:24080, standard SDKs, compatibility caveats, and real-GCP validation boundaries.

Endpoint: IAM_EMULATOR_HOST=localhost:24080.
Endpoints: gRPC :24080.

Cloud Resource Manager agent testing

Cloud Resource Manager local testing for AI agents

Test Cloud Resource Manager code locally with AI agents using LocalCloud, CLOUD_RESOURCE_MANAGER_EMULATOR_HOST=http://localhost:24080, standard SDKs, compatibility caveats, and real-GCP validation boundaries.

Endpoint: CLOUD_RESOURCE_MANAGER_EMULATOR_HOST=http://localhost:24080.
Endpoints: HTTP/REST :24080.

Service Usage agent testing

Service Usage local testing for AI agents

Test Service Usage code locally with AI agents using LocalCloud, SERVICE_USAGE_EMULATOR_HOST=http://localhost:24080, standard SDKs, compatibility caveats, and real-GCP validation boundaries.

Endpoint: SERVICE_USAGE_EMULATOR_HOST=http://localhost:24080.
Endpoints: HTTP/REST :24080.

Cloud Billing agent testing

Cloud Billing local testing for AI agents

Test Cloud Billing code locally with AI agents using LocalCloud, CLOUD_BILLING_EMULATOR_HOST=http://localhost:24080, standard SDKs, compatibility caveats, and real-GCP validation boundaries.

Endpoint: CLOUD_BILLING_EMULATOR_HOST=http://localhost:24080.
Endpoints: HTTP/REST :24080.

Cloud Logging agent testing

Cloud Logging local testing for AI agents

Test Cloud Logging code locally with AI agents using LocalCloud, CLOUD_LOGGING_EMULATOR_HOST=localhost:24080, standard SDKs, compatibility caveats, and real-GCP validation boundaries.

Endpoint: CLOUD_LOGGING_EMULATOR_HOST=localhost:24080.
Endpoints: gRPC :24080.

Cloud Monitoring agent testing

Cloud Monitoring local testing for AI agents

Test Cloud Monitoring code locally with AI agents using LocalCloud, CLOUD_MONITORING_EMULATOR_HOST=localhost:24080, standard SDKs, compatibility caveats, and real-GCP validation boundaries.

Endpoint: CLOUD_MONITORING_EMULATOR_HOST=localhost:24080.
Endpoints: gRPC :24080.

GKE agent testing

GKE local testing for AI agents

Test GKE code locally with AI agents using LocalCloud, GKE_EMULATOR_HOST=localhost:24080, standard SDKs, compatibility caveats, and real-GCP validation boundaries.

Endpoint: GKE_EMULATOR_HOST=localhost:24080.
Endpoints: gRPC :24080 · k3d :24092.

Compute Engine agent testing

Compute Engine local testing for AI agents

Test Compute Engine code locally with AI agents using LocalCloud, COMPUTE_EMULATOR_HOST=http://localhost:24080, standard SDKs, compatibility caveats, and real-GCP validation boundaries.

Endpoint: COMPUTE_EMULATOR_HOST=http://localhost:24080.
Endpoints: HTTP/REST :24080.

Cloud Run agent testing

Cloud Run local testing for AI agents

Test Cloud Run code locally with AI agents using LocalCloud, CLOUD_RUN_EMULATOR_HOST=localhost:24080, standard SDKs, compatibility caveats, and real-GCP validation boundaries.

Endpoint: CLOUD_RUN_EMULATOR_HOST=localhost:24080.
Endpoints: gRPC :24080.

Memorystore (Redis/Valkey) agent testing

Memorystore (Redis/Valkey) local testing for AI agents

Test Memorystore (Redis/Valkey) code locally with AI agents using LocalCloud, REDIS_HOST=localhost:24089, standard SDKs, compatibility caveats, and real-GCP validation boundaries.

Endpoint: REDIS_HOST=localhost:24089.
Endpoints: RESP :24089.

Cloud Workflows agent testing

Cloud Workflows local testing for AI agents

Test Cloud Workflows code locally with AI agents using LocalCloud, WORKFLOWS_EMULATOR_HOST=localhost:24080, standard SDKs, compatibility caveats, and real-GCP validation boundaries.

Endpoint: WORKFLOWS_EMULATOR_HOST=localhost:24080.
Endpoints: gRPC :24080.

Vertex AI agent testing

Vertex AI local testing for AI agents

Test Vertex AI code locally with AI agents using LocalCloud, AIPLATFORM_EMULATOR_HOST=http://localhost:24080, standard SDKs, compatibility caveats, and real-GCP validation boundaries.

Endpoint: AIPLATFORM_EMULATOR_HOST=http://localhost:24080.
Endpoints: HTTP/REST :24080.

Cloud KMS agent testing

Cloud KMS local testing for AI agents

Test Cloud KMS code locally with AI agents using LocalCloud, CLOUD_KMS_EMULATOR_HOST=http://localhost:24080, standard SDKs, compatibility caveats, and real-GCP validation boundaries.

Endpoint: CLOUD_KMS_EMULATOR_HOST=http://localhost:24080.
Endpoints: HTTP/REST :24080.

Cloud SQL agent testing

Cloud SQL local testing for AI agents

Test Cloud SQL code locally with AI agents using LocalCloud, CLOUD_SQL_EMULATOR_HOST=http://localhost:24080, standard SDKs, compatibility caveats, and real-GCP validation boundaries.

Endpoint: CLOUD_SQL_EMULATOR_HOST=http://localhost:24080.
Endpoints: HTTP/REST :24080 · PostgreSQL :24090 · MySQL :24091.

GitHub Actions

LocalCloud in GitHub Actions

Run LocalCloud in a GitHub Actions workflow with readiness checks, pinned image identity, and localhost SDK endpoints.

No GCP secrets are required for the bounded local job.
Readiness gate: http://localhost:24080/health.

Terraform

Terraform GCP emulator workflow

Validate Terraform against LocalCloud GCP emulator endpoints before production, without default GCP credentials or cloud billing.

Use the Terraform env export endpoint.
Keep real provider credentials out of local validation.

Integration tests

Local GCP integration tests for agents

Run agent-written GCP integration tests locally with LocalCloud, SDK env vars, deterministic seed data, and real-GCP release caveats.

Use real SDK clients; avoid mocks for service behavior.
Seed fixtures locally for repeatable runs.

Internal automation

LocalCloud automation for internal projects

Have coding agents prepare a non-production LocalCloud automation workflow with health gates and local endpoints.

Agents must keep automation inside the Public Preview License boundary.
Automation jobs must print active emulator endpoints before tests.

Comparison

LocalCloud vs Google emulators for agents

Balanced comparison of LocalCloud and Google official emulators for agentic local GCP workflows, with sources, caveats, and where Google emulators are better.

Google gcloud emulators include service-specific emulator groups.
LocalCloud currently lists 27 available services in one Docker image; Firestore is available but disabled by default.

Comparison

LocalCloud vs hosted agent sandboxes

Compare LocalCloud with hosted code sandboxes such as E2B and Vercel Sandbox for agent workflows, including where each alternative is better.

E2B and Vercel focus on isolated code execution environments.
LocalCloud focuses on local Google Cloud APIs and SDK endpoints.

Comparison

BigQuery emulator alternatives for agents

Compare LocalCloud BigQuery with standalone BigQuery emulator options and real BigQuery for agent-written pipelines, including caveats and better-fit scenarios.

LocalCloud BigQuery runs beside Pub/Sub, Storage, Firestore, Spanner, and other available services.
Standalone bigquery-emulator is a focused open-source BigQuery-compatible server.

Comparison

LocalCloud vs LocalStack

Compare LocalCloud and LocalStack for local cloud development and AI agent sandboxes. LocalStack emulates AWS; LocalCloud emulates Google Cloud. Includes where LocalStack is the better choice.

LocalStack targets AWS service APIs; LocalCloud targets Google Cloud service APIs.
LocalCloud currently lists 27 available Google Cloud service guides in one Docker image.

Comparison

LocalCloud vs localgcp

Compare LocalCloud and localgcp for running Google Cloud services locally, including packaging, service coverage, licensing, and where localgcp is the better choice.

Both projects target the same problem: Google Cloud APIs without a cloud project.
LocalCloud currently lists 27 available service guides with per-operation compatibility status.

Glossary

GCP emulator

GCP emulator definition for local Google Cloud, AI agent, and LocalCloud workflows, with examples, caveats, and related resources.

Can be official, third-party, custom, or a local facade.
Usually requires SDK endpoint overrides.

Glossary

AI agent sandbox

AI agent sandbox definition for local Google Cloud, AI agent, and LocalCloud workflows, with examples, caveats, and related resources.

LocalCloud is a GCP API sandbox, not a universal shell sandbox.
Hosted sandboxes and LocalCloud can be complementary.

Glossary

MCP server

MCP server definition for local Google Cloud, AI agent, and LocalCloud workflows, with examples, caveats, and related resources.

LocalCloud exposes its runtime-owned MCP server at the canonical /mcp endpoint.
Use the localcloud mcp stdio bridge when an MCP client cannot connect with Streamable HTTP.

Glossary

Agentic CI

Agentic CI definition for local Google Cloud, AI agent, and LocalCloud workflows, with examples, caveats, and related resources.

LocalCloud jobs should fail closed on missing health or env vars.
Do not mix local emulator checks with deployment secrets.

Glossary

Credentialless cloud development

Credentialless cloud development definition for local Google Cloud, AI agent, and LocalCloud workflows, with examples, caveats, and related resources.

Useful for inner-loop tests and demos.
Not a replacement for production authorization tests.

Glossary

BigQuery emulator

BigQuery emulator definition for local Google Cloud, AI agent, and LocalCloud workflows, with examples, caveats, and related resources.

Coverage varies by emulator.
Use real BigQuery for full production semantics.

Glossary

Service emulator

Service emulator definition for local Google Cloud, AI agent, and LocalCloud workflows, with examples, caveats, and related resources.

Emulators trade managed-cloud behavior for speed and safety.
Document supported and unsupported calls.

Glossary

Localhost cloud API

Localhost cloud API definition for local Google Cloud, AI agent, and LocalCloud workflows, with examples, caveats, and related resources.

Environment variables are the usual routing mechanism.
Unset overrides before real-cloud validation.

Glossary

Agent environment

Agent environment definition for local Google Cloud, AI agent, and LocalCloud workflows, with examples, caveats, and related resources.

An agent environment has two halves: an execution boundary and a dependency boundary.
Code sandboxes such as E2B, Modal, or Docker sandboxes provide the execution boundary.

Glossary

Agent sandbox vs cloud emulator

Agent sandbox vs cloud emulator definition for local Google Cloud, AI agent, and LocalCloud workflows, with examples, caveats, and related resources.

A sandbox with real cloud credentials can still create real cloud resources and real charges.
An emulator without a sandbox still lets generated shell commands touch the host.

Glossary

Credentialless agent testing

Credentialless agent testing definition for local Google Cloud, AI agent, and LocalCloud workflows, with examples, caveats, and related resources.

Removes the blast radius of an agent calling a destructive cloud API.
Does not remove the need to validate the same code against real Google Cloud before release.

Glossary

Local cloud API surface

Local cloud API surface definition for local Google Cloud, AI agent, and LocalCloud workflows, with examples, caveats, and related resources.

Measure a local runtime by its operation-level surface, not by a service count.
LocalCloud publishes per-operation status on each service page and the compatibility matrix.

Glossary

Sandboxed cloud SDK

Sandboxed cloud SDK definition for local Google Cloud, AI agent, and LocalCloud workflows, with examples, caveats, and related resources.

Routing is normally done with emulator environment variables loaded into the process.
Some clients ignore those variables and need explicit endpoint configuration.

Glossary

Cloud emulator

Cloud emulator definition for local Google Cloud, AI agent, and LocalCloud workflows, with examples, caveats, and related resources.

In this documentation, cloud emulator always means an emulator of cloud service APIs.
Emulators trade managed-cloud fidelity for speed, isolation, and zero cloud cost.

Demo post

Claude Code local GCP sandbox demo

A practical Claude Code workflow for starting LocalCloud, routing Google Cloud SDKs to localhost, and validating agent-written code before real GCP.

Demo target: one repo, one local service check, one production caveat.
Avoid credentials in the prompt and commands.

Demo post

Google emulators vs LocalCloud for agents

How to decide between official Google emulators and LocalCloud when AI agents need local GCP validation.

Use official emulators for single-service fidelity when they fit.
Use LocalCloud for multi-service local-cloud workflows.

Demo post

BigQuery locally for agent-written pipelines

Use LocalCloud BigQuery to test agent-written datasets, SQL, and pipeline checks locally before validating in real BigQuery.

Use BIGQUERY_EMULATOR_HOST for local SDK routing.
Test representative query paths, not production scale.