The bot's computer
Every thread runs on its own computer in the cloud. What that means, how to open the computer panel, what its tabs do, and how to unstick a bot.
What it is
Every thread with a bot runs on its own computer in the cloud: a real computer that Machine runs for you, with files, programs, and an internet connection. When you ask a bot to do something, it does the work there.
Think of it as the bot's desk. Everything it makes for that thread, like reports, spreadsheets, code, images, and websites, is on that computer.
| Fact | Means for you |
|---|---|
| Each thread gets its own computer. | Work for one task never gets mixed up with another. |
| It sleeps when idle, and wakes when needed. | Waking usually takes a few seconds. |
| Files are kept while it sleeps. | Nothing is lost when you come back later. |
| It costs money only while awake. | See Cost and sleep. |
| Deleting the thread deletes the computer. | Download what you want to keep first. |
| It's separate from your own computer. | A bot can't see your files unless you attach them or use This PC. |
The bot's main folder is called the workspace. Files you attach are copied
into a folder called uploads inside it.
Open the computer panel
Click the monitor icon in the chat header (Bot's computer). A panel opens on the right.
- Resize it: drag its left edge. It can be quite wide, which helps when previewing websites.
- Bot settings: the gear icon opens the bot's settings.
- On a phone: open the chat's … menu and choose Bot's computer.
The sidebar collapses to avatars while the panel is open, to make room.
The tabs
| Tab | Use it to | More |
|---|---|---|
| Live | Watch the bot work on its computer as a desktop, with windows, a dock and its mascot. | The Live view |
| Computer | See the computer's status, start and stop it, and browse, view, and download files. | Files |
| Routines | See and create this bot's scheduled jobs. | Automations |
| Terminal | Type commands on the computer yourself. | Preview and terminal |
To preview a website the bot is running, use the Browser window in the Live view. On Machine Desktop, a separate Browser tab appears only while it's open (choose Go → Real Browser in the Live view's menu bar). On phones it's always there. See Preview and terminal.
Status and power
At the top of the Computer tab:
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Running | Awake and ready. |
| Waking up | Starting. Give it a few seconds. |
| Asleep | Stopped to save money. Files are kept. |
| Connecting | Machine Desktop is reaching the computer. |
| Button | What it does |
|---|---|
| Wake | Starts a sleeping computer. |
| Stop | Puts it to sleep now. Stops billing for it. |
| Restart | Turns it off and on again. Files are kept. Use it if things seem broken. |
| Refresh | Reloads the file list. |
Opening the Computer or Terminal tab wakes a sleeping computer automatically. So does sending a message.
When a bot is stuck
Sometimes a bot seems frozen: the timer keeps counting but nothing happens.
Try Stop
Click Stop in the chat header, or send stop.
Use Kick
If a turn has been running for a while, a Kick button appears in the chat header. Kick is also always in two other places:
- click the bot's face in the chat header to open its profile card, and choose Kick ("Unstick a turn that seems frozen"),
- right-click the bot in the sidebar and choose Kick.
Kick stops the turn, reconnects to the bot's computer, and reloads the thread. If reconnecting fails, it restarts the computer. The button shows Kicking…, then Reconnected or Computer restarting. Files are kept.
Restart the computer
Still stuck? Open the computer panel and click Restart on the Computer tab.
More in Troubleshooting.
Common questions
Can I install software on it? Yes. Ask the bot, for example "install ffmpeg", or use the Terminal. It's only installed on that thread's computer.
Is the computer still there next week? Yes, as long as the thread exists. It sleeps in between, with files kept.
Can two threads share files? No. Each thread's computer is separate. Download from one and attach to the other.