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If you are already familiar with browser vendors and are looking to quickly switch to Kernel browsers, follow the instructions here.

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Getting started

This quickstart guide will help you deploy and invoke your first browser automation on Kernel. You’ll create a simple automation using Playwright, Computer Use, or a web agent framework like Browser Use.

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Prerequisites

Note: You can also deploy and invoke apps using the Kernel MCP server from AI assistants (Cursor, Goose, Claude, etc.).

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1. Install the Kernel CLI

# Using brew
brew install onkernel/tap/kernel

# Using pnpm
pnpm install -g @onkernel/cli

# Using npm
npm install -g @onkernel/cli
Verify the installation exists: 
which kernel

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2. Create a new Kernel app

kernel create

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3. Authenticate with Kernel

The easiest way to authenticate is using OAuth: 
kernel login
This will open your browser to complete the authentication flow. Your credentials will be securely stored and automatically refreshed.

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4. Deploy the sample app on Kernel

cd sample-app
kernel deploy index.ts # --env-file .env if environment variables are needed

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5. Invoke the app

# Sample app
kernel invoke ts-basic get-page-title --payload '{"url": "https://www.google.com"}'

# CAPTCHA Solver
kernel invoke ts-captcha-solver test-captcha-solver

# Stagehand
kernel invoke ts-stagehand teamsize-task --payload '{"company": "Kernel"}'

# Magnitude
kernel invoke ts-magnitude mag-url-extract --payload '{"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random"}'

# Anthropic Computer Use
kernel invoke ts-anthropic-cua cua-task --payload '{"query": "Return the first url of a search result for NYC restaurant reviews Pete Wells"}'

# OpenAI Computer Use
kernel invoke ts-openai-cua cua-task --payload '{"task": "Go to https://news.ycombinator.com and get the top 5 articles"}'

# Gemini Computer Use
kernel invoke ts-gemini-cua gemini-cua-task

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Next steps

Nice work! With Kernel, you:
  1. Developed an app that uses Playwright, Computer Use, or a web agent framework like Browser Use
  2. Deployed and invoked it in the cloud
You can now update your browser automation with your own logic and deploy it again. Install our MCP server to give your coding agent our search_docs tool.

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Sample apps reference

These are the sample apps currently available when you run kernel create:
TemplateDescriptionFramework
sample-appImplements a basic Kernel appPlaywright
captcha-solverDemo of Kernel’s auto-CAPTCHA solving capabilityPlaywright
browser-useImplements Browser Use SDKBrowser Use
stagehandImplements the Stagehand v3 SDKStagehand
anthropic-computer-useImplements an Anthropic computer use agentAnthropic Computer Use API
openai-computer-useImplements an OpenAI computer use agentOpenAI Computer Use API
gemini-computer-useImplements a Gemini computer use agentGemini Computer Use API
openagi-computer-useImplements an OpenAGI computer use agentOpenAGI Computer Use API
magnitudeImplements the Magnitude.run SDKMagnitude.run