Show HN: Fence – Sandbox CLI commands with network/filesystem restrictions (github.com)

Fence wraps any command in a sandbox that blocks network by default and restricts filesystem writes. Useful for running semi-trusted code (package installs, build scripts, unfamiliar repos) with controlled side effects, or even just blocking tools that phone home.

> fence curl https://example.com # -> blocked

> fence -t code -- npm install # -> template with registries allowed

> fence -m -- npm install # -> monitor mode: see what gets blocked

One use-case is to use it with AI coding agents to reduce the risk of running agents with fewer interactive permission prompts:

> fence -t code -- claude --dangerously-skip-permissions

You can import existing Claude Code permissions with `fence import --claude`.

Fence uses OS-native sandboxing (macOS sandbox-exec, Linux bubblewrap) + local HTTP/SOCKS proxies for domain filtering.

Why I built this: I work on Tusk Drift, a system to record and replay real traffic as API tests (https://github.com/Use-Tusk/tusk-drift-cli). I needed a way to sandbox the service under test during replays to block localhost outbound connections (Postgres, Redis) and force the app to use mocks instead of real services. I quickly realized that this could be a general purpose tool that would also be useful as a permission manager across CLI agents.

Limitations: Not strong containment against malware. Proxy-based filtering requires programs to respect `HTTP_PROXY`.

Curious if others have run into similar needs, and happy to answer any questions!