The outcome

Produce a verified repository diff without giving the agent unnecessary access to the host, secrets, or release process.

OpenHands is a open-source AI software development agent with cloud, terminal, IDE, and local interfaces. Delegating bounded repository tasks to an agent that can inspect code, edit files, run commands, and test changes inside a controlled execution environment. This guide narrows that broad capability into one repeatable outcome, with checkpoints that keep the source material and your judgment in the loop.

Before you begin

Set the boundary before the tool starts.

Choose one real task, identify who will use the result, and decide what evidence or test will make the result acceptable. Gather only the source material needed for that task. If the work contains confidential, personal, regulated, or client-owned information, confirm that the platform and account are approved before sharing it.

Troiana principle

AI should make the work easier to inspect. If the workflow removes the source, the owner, or the review step, redesign the workflow.

Step by step

A workflow you can repeat.

  1. 01

    Create a clean branch and sandbox, mount only the target repository, remove secrets, and record the starting status and test baseline.

  2. 02

    Give OpenHands the issue, acceptance criteria, relevant architecture, prohibited changes, validation commands, and a clear stop condition.

  3. 03

    Ask it to inspect the repository and propose a minimal plan before editing, correcting assumptions and narrowing any unnecessary work.

  4. 04

    Allow bounded actions with confirmations enabled for risky operations, then inspect commands, network use, changed files, and test evidence as it works.

  5. 05

    Run the trusted checks independently, review the complete diff and dependency changes, and merge or deploy only through the normal human-approved process.

Working standard

What good use looks like.

  • Use a disposable or isolated sandbox.
  • Mount only the required workspace.
  • Verify tests outside the agent narrative.

OpenHands can execute commands, access the network, use supplied credentials, and modify or delete mounted files. Prefer an isolated sandbox, mount only the intended workspace, keep secrets out of prompts and repositories, enable confirmations for risky actions, constrain network and tool access, review every diff and test result, and never let an agent merge or deploy without the authorization your workflow requires.

Official references

Check the current product documentation.

Features, plan limits, availability, and data controls change. These official pages are the starting points used for this collection.