Show HN: Smol machines – subsecond coldstart, portable virtual machines
by binsquare on 4/17/2026, 5:18:58 PM
https://github.com/smol-machines/smolvm
Comments
by: gavinray
The feature that lets you create self-contained binaries seems like a potentially simpler way to package JVM apps than GraalVM Native.<p>Probably a lot of other neat usecases for this, too<p><pre><code> smolvm pack create --image python:3.12-alpine -o ./python312 ./python312 run -- python3 --version # Python 3.12.x — isolated, no pyenv/venv/conda needed</code></pre>
4/17/2026, 7:13:53 PM
by: binsquare
Hello, I'm building a replacement for docker containers with a virtual machine with the ergonomics of containers + subsecond start times.<p>I worked in AWS previously in the container space + with firecracker. I realized the container is an unnecessary layer that slowed things down + firecracker was a technology designed for AWS org structure + usecase.<p>So I ended up building a hybrid taking the best of containers with the best of firecracker.<p>Let me know your thoughts, thanks!
4/17/2026, 5:22:59 PM
by: isterin
We’re using smolmachines to create environments for our agents to execute code. It’s been great so far and the team is super responsive. The dev ergonomics are also great.
4/17/2026, 7:43:36 PM
by: ukuina
Doesn't Docker's sbx do this?<p><a href="https://docs.docker.com/reference/cli/sbx/" rel="nofollow">https://docs.docker.com/reference/cli/sbx/</a>
4/17/2026, 7:29:37 PM
by: messh
<a href="https://shellbox.dev" rel="nofollow">https://shellbox.dev</a> is a hosted version of something very similar
4/17/2026, 7:35:47 PM
by: lambdanodecore
Basically any open source project nowadays run their software stack in containers often requiring docker compose. Unfortunatley Smol machines do not support Docker inside the microvms and they also do not support nested VMs for things that use Vagrant. I think this is a big drawback.
4/17/2026, 7:20:18 PM
by: cr125rider
Great job with the comparison table. Immediately I was like “neat sounds like firecracker” then saw your table to see where it was similar and different. Easy!<p>Nice job! This looks really cool
4/17/2026, 6:00:59 PM
by: 0cf8612b2e1e
This looks very cool. Does the VM machinery still work if I run it in a bubblewrap? Can it talk to a GPU?<p>Can you pipe into one? It would be cute if I could wget in machine 1 and send that result to offline machine 2 for processing.
4/17/2026, 6:40:39 PM
by: bch
see too[0][1] for projects of a similar* vein, incl historical account.<p>*yes, FreeBSD is specifically developed against Firecracker which is specifically avoided w "Smol machines", but interesting nonetheless<p>[0] <a href="https://github.com/NetBSDfr/smolBSD" rel="nofollow">https://github.com/NetBSDfr/smolBSD</a><p>[1] <a href="https://www.usenix.org/publications/loginonline/freebsd-firecracker" rel="nofollow">https://www.usenix.org/publications/loginonline/freebsd-fire...</a>
4/17/2026, 6:45:15 PM
by: fqiao
Give it a try folks. Would really love to hear all the feedbacks!<p>Cheers!
4/17/2026, 5:42:03 PM
by: harshdoesdev
its a really innovative idea! very interested in the subsecond coldstart claim, how does it achieve that?
4/17/2026, 5:55:07 PM
by: volume_tech
[dead]
4/17/2026, 6:09:59 PM