ActionBoxVM
A temporary graphical Linux desktop powered by GitHub Actions.
ActionBoxVM provides an Ubuntu desktop environment running inside a GitHub Actions runner, with access through VNC and noVNC.
Every ActionBoxVM session starts from a clean GitHub-hosted environment and remains available while its workflow job is running.
Live Desktop (Screenshot updated every 5 minutes)
noVNC link Is inside the status.json file — Control ActionBoxVM from your Browser
The VNC link above is updated automatically whenever a new ActionBoxVM session starts.
«The access address is temporary and changes between sessions.»
Status
View the current ActionBoxVM status.
The status file is automatically updated with information about the current session, including its access address and environment.
Features
- Ubuntu-based environment
- Fluxbox desktop
- Xvfb virtual display
- Xterm terminal
- VNC access
- noVNC browser access
- Cloudflare Quick Tunnel
- Git and common command-line utilities
- Python 3
- Basic development utilities
- System monitoring tools
- Automatic desktop screenshots
- Automatic status updates
- Automatic repository updates
Included Software
ActionBoxVM includes a small collection of useful tools so the environment is ready to explore immediately.
Development
- Git
- Python 3
- pip
- GCC
- Make
- Build tools
- Python development headers
Command-line Utilities
- curl
- wget
- jq
- tree
- file
- tar
- gzip
- bzip2
- xz
- zip
- unzip
System Utilities
- htop
- btop
- procps
- psmisc
- pciutils
- usbutils
- iproute2
- iputils
- net-tools
- DNS utilities
Editors
- nano
- Vim
- less
Desktop
The graphical environment consists of:
Ubuntu │ ├── Xvfb │ ├── Fluxbox │ └── Xterm │ └── ActionBoxVM tools
The virtual display runs at:
1280 × 720
The same X display is exposed through VNC and used by the screenshot service.
Screenshots
"0.png" is automatically refreshed every 5 minutes while the ActionBoxVM session is running.
The screenshot service runs inside the same GitHub Actions runner as the desktop. This means the image represents the actual ActionBoxVM desktop rather than a separate screenshot environment.
Session Lifetime
ActionBoxVM runs on a GitHub-hosted Actions runner.
A new session is scheduled every 12 hours.
The desktop remains available for the lifetime of its workflow job, subject to GitHub Actions runner and workflow limits.
When the runner is terminated, the desktop and its temporary access address disappear with it.
Security
ActionBoxVM is intended for experimentation and demonstration.
The VNC service is configured without a password because access is provided through a temporary noVNC address.
Do not enter passwords, API keys, tokens, private files, or other sensitive information into ActionBoxVM.
Treat every session as disposable.
Repository Updates
ActionBoxVM automatically updates:
0.png STATUS.txt README.md
The workflow commits these changes back to the repository using the GitHub Actions bot account.
Running ActionBoxVM
- Open the Actions tab.
- Select ActionBoxVM.
- Start the workflow manually, or wait for its scheduled run.
- Open the generated VNC address from the workflow output or repository README.
- Use the desktop through your browser.
License
ActionBoxVM is released under CC0 1.0 Universal.
You can use, modify, copy, redistribute, and incorporate the project into other projects without permission.
ActionBoxVM
Ubuntu · Fluxbox · Xvfb · VNC · noVNC · GitHub Actions
Tips and Tricks
Free Hosting: You can use this to Host your own Web Server or Service. Read the other Tricks before doing that. Keep in Mind the earlier VM version you use the more likely there Is gonna be a cyberattack.
Personal Private Virtual Machine: You can get a private Virtual Machine by forking this Project and running the ActionBoxVM Actor. You can also give access to your Friends for fun.
Remove Limits: There are some limits that Will stop the machine approximately either every 5 hours or 12 hours. You can remove those to host your personal service.
The FogCam-style Preview: 0.png acts as a monitor. It Is at approximately 0.05 FPS. It also acts as a dynamically updating Screenshot, so whenever you want to show something cool, Download that Image. (If you don't like noVNC you can also code a minimal client to view the computer, as long as you consider 0.05 FPS hearable)
Customize to your liking: You can remove features like Preview and the dynamically opening XTerm Window.
Wayland: oh no. that's not Easy. if you Need wayland apps, run "sudo apt install weston" then run "weston" a small Window appears. when you open a wayland app, It Will automatically load inside the Weston Window. if you don't like doing It This way, making a Wayland version of This project Is gonna be a pain.