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Using computer use in Node.js

Why Use Computer Use in Node.js?

Unlike browser-based computer use which focuses on GUI automation, Node.js computer use primarily deals with command-line interface (CLI) operations and file system management. This makes it particularly suitable for:

  • DevOps automation and system administration
  • Bulk file processing and organization
  • Server maintenance and monitoring
  • Build process automation
  • Automated testing and deployment

How Node.js Computer Use Works

In the Node.js environment, Eko provides a set of tools designed specifically for server-side and CLI automation:

  1. Command Execution: Safely run shell commands with confirmation
  2. File System Operations: Read and write files with built-in safeguards
  3. Process Management: Control system processes and background tasks

The execution model ensures safety through:

  • Explicit confirmation for destructive operations
  • Sandboxed execution environments
  • Clear audit trails of all operations

Key Tools for Node.js

CommandExecute

Executes shell commands with safety controls:

import { tools } from "@eko-ai/eko/nodejs";


const tool = new tools.CommandExecute();
await tool.execute(context, {
  command: "ls -la",
  // Will prompt for confirmation before executing
});

FileRead

Safely read file contents:

import { tools } from "@eko-ai/eko/nodejs";


const tool = new tools.FileRead();
const content = await tool.execute(context, {
  path: "/path/to/file.txt",
  encoding: "utf8",
});

FileWrite

Write content to files with confirmation:

import { tools } from "@eko-ai/eko/nodejs";


const tool = new tools.FileWrite();
await tool.execute(context, {
  path: "/path/to/output.txt",
  content: "Hello World",
  append: false,
});

See the Available Tools section for complete documentation of all Node.js tools.

Example: File Cleanup Workflow

Prompt: Clean up all files in the current directory larger than 1MB.

Let’s examine how Eko can automate a file cleanup task:

import { config } from "dotenv";
import { Eko, WorkflowParser } from "@eko-ai/eko";
import { loadTools } from "@eko-ai/eko/nodejs";


// Initialize environment variables
config();


// Load Node.js environment available tools
Eko.tools = loadTools();


async function main() {
  // Initialize Eko
  const eko = new Eko({
    llm: "claude", // Explicitly choose Claude as our LLM
    apiKey: process.env.ANTHROPIC_API_KEY,
  });


  try {
    // Create and execute a simple workflow
    const workflow = await eko.generate(`
      Clean up all files in the current directory larger than 1MB
    `);


    const workflowJson = WorkflowParser.serialize(workflow);
    console.log("Generated workflow:");
    console.log(workflowJson);


    console.log("Executing workflow...");
    await eko.execute(workflow);
    console.log("Done!");
  } catch (error) {
    console.error("Error:", error);
  }
}


await main().catch(console.error);

This workflow will:

  1. Use CommandExecute to list files and their sizes
  2. Filter files larger than 1MB
  3. Request confirmation before deletion
  4. Execute the cleanup operation
  5. Generate a report of actions taken

[Video: Demo of the file cleanup workflow in action]

Typical Use Cases

Note: The following code is untested and may require further development to achieve the desired functionality. This code is provided for illustrative purposes only.

1. DevOps Automation

const workflow = await eko.generate(`
  Deploy the application:
  1. Run unit tests
  2. Build the project
  3. Deploy to staging
  4. Run integration tests
  5. If successful, deploy to production
`);

2. File Management

const workflow = await eko.generate(`
  Organize photos:
  1. Find all image files
  2. Group by date taken
  3. Move to year/month folders
  4. Generate thumbnail previews
`);

3. System Maintenance

const workflow = await eko.generate(`
  Daily system maintenance:
  1. Check disk usage
  2. Remove temp files
  3. Backup databases
  4. Update system packages
`);

Next Steps