# Local cloud API surface

> The set of cloud service endpoints, protocols, and operations a local runtime actually implements.
>
> Source: https://local.cloud/glossary/local-cloud-api-surface/

Glossary

The set of cloud service endpoints, protocols, and operations a local runtime actually implements. It is the practical definition of what you can test locally, and it is narrower than the managed cloud it imitates.

[Read docs](https://local.cloud/docs/) [Check compatibility](https://local.cloud/compatibility/) [SDK examples](https://local.cloud/docs/sdk-examples/)

In LocalCloud

## Local cloud API surface with LocalCloud

- 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.
- Unimplemented operations should fail loudly rather than silently reaching real Google Cloud.

Copy-ready setup

## Commands and prompts

### Copy a prompt for your coding agent

#### Start LocalCloud

Give an agent one URL and have it start the local GCP sandbox.

```
Fetch https://local.cloud/ai/agents.md and follow the instructions to start LocalCloud on my machine. Install the LocalCloud CLI if it is missing, verify Docker, start or reuse LocalCloud, export emulator environment variables, and run one local GCP SDK/API smoke check. Do not ask for or use real GCP credentials.
```

Production boundary

## Before production

Use LocalCloud for non-production development, testing, and CI under the [Public Preview License](https://local.cloud/license/), check [each service's local boundaries](https://local.cloud/compatibility/), and validate against real Google Cloud before you deploy.

Related

## Next steps

- [Compatibility matrix](https://local.cloud/compatibility/) — Per-operation LocalCloud status.
- [Agent setup guides](https://local.cloud/agents/) — Run coding agents against LocalCloud.