Settings & Configuration

OutcomeDev gives you granular control over your environment. This guide explains the Task Settings (Gear Icon) and API Key management.

Task Options (Gear Icon)

Before you launch a task, you can configure how the sandbox behaves by clicking the Gear Icon in the task form.

1. Install Dependencies

• Default: Checked (Enabled)
• What it does: Runs npm install (or equivalent) before starting the dev server.
• When to uncheck:
  • You are making a simple change (e.g., editing a Markdown file) and don't need the app to run.
  • You want the task to start faster (skips the 30-60s install process).
  • Note: If you uncheck this, the Preview might not work until dependencies are installed.

2. Maximum Duration

• Default: 60 minutes
• Range: 5 minutes to 5 hours.
• What it does: Defines the hard limit for the lifespan of the cloud sandbox.
• Understanding the values:
  • 120m: 2 hours (120 minutes)
  • 300m: 5 hours (300 minutes)
• Implications:
  • Short (5-15m): Good for quick fixes. The environment shuts down quickly to save resources.
  • Long (2-5h): Essential for complex tasks. If you are building a full app from scratch, you need time for the agent to iterate, debug, and for you to test.
  • Warning: Once the duration expires, the sandbox is terminated immediately. Ensure you have merged your PR or saved your work before time runs out.

3. Keep Alive

• Default: Unchecked
• What it does: Determines whether the sandbox shuts down immediately after the agent finishes its work, or stays running until the Maximum Duration is reached.

Keep Alive OFF (Default)

The sandbox shuts down immediately after the task completes to save resources.

• Timeline: Task starts -> Agent works -> Task completes -> Sandbox Destroys.
• Use when: You don't need to manually interact with the preview or terminal after the task is done.

Keep Alive ON

The sandbox stays alive after task completion for the remaining time defined by Maximum Duration.

• Timeline: Task starts (e.g., 60m limit) -> Agent works (10m) -> Task completes -> Sandbox stays running for the remaining 50 minutes.
• Use when:
  • You want to see the live Preview of the app.
  • You want to run terminal commands manually.
  • You want to send follow-up messages to the agent to refine the result.

Important Note: The Maximum Duration always takes precedence. If you set a 60-minute duration, the sandbox will expire after 60 minutes regardless of whether Keep Alive is ON or OFF. Keep Alive only prevents early shutdown.

API Keys (Bring Your Own Key)

OutcomeDev supports a "Bring Your Own Key" (BYOK) model for certain premium agents.

Why use your own key?

1. Uncapped Model Usage: You are not bound by the platform's daily model usage limits. While we still safeguard our infrastructure (sandbox duration), your ability to generate code with the AI is controlled by your own provider limits.
2. Privacy: Your usage is billed directly to your account with the provider (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google etc).

How to add keys

1. Click your User Avatar in the top right.
2. Select API Keys from the dropdown menu.
3. Enter your key for the specific provider:
   • OpenAI: For GPT-4o, GPT-5, O1 models.
   • Anthropic: For Claude 3.5 Sonnet, Opus.
   • Gemini: For Google's models.
4. Click Save.

Security Note: Your keys are stored securely in your browser's local storage or encrypted in your session. They are never logged or used for anything other than your requested tasks.

Theme Preferences

Customize your visual experience.

1. Click your User Avatar.
2. Select Theme.
   • Light: Classic, high-contrast look.
   • Dark: Easier on the eyes for night coding.
   • System: Automatically syncs with your OS settings.