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

  • brew for the Kernel CLI
  • npm or pnpm to generate a sample Kernel app
  • A Kernel account
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. Download the sample app

npx @onkernel/create-kernel-app sample-app

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2. 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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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 ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=XXX if Stagehand or Computer Use

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5. Invoke the app

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

# Stagehand
kernel invoke ts-stagehand stagehand-task --payload '{"query": "Best wired earbuds"}'

# Computer Use
kernel invoke ts-cu cu-task --payload '{"query": "Search for the top 3 restaurants in NYC according to Pete Wells"}'

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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

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Sample apps reference

These are the sample apps currently available when you run npx @onkernel/create-kernel-app:
TemplateDescriptionFrameworkQuery Parameters
sample-appReturns the page title of a specified URLPlaywright{ url }
browser-useCompletes a specified taskBrowser Use{ task }
stagehandReturns the first result of a specified Google searchStagehand{ query }
advanced-sampleImplements sample apps using advanced Kernel configsPlaywrightn/a
computer-useImplements an Anthropic Computer Use prompt loopAnthropic Computer Use API{ query }
cuaImplements an OpenAI CUA prompt loopOpenAI CUA API{ task }