Imported from tharunramagiri/tarunai-connect (skills/cli-anything-sbox/SKILL.md). Install upstream with npx skills add tharunramagiri/tarunai-connect --skill cli-anything-sbox. Copyright stays with the author.

s&box CLI

Agent-native CLI for the s&box game engine (Facepunch Studios, Source 2). 79+ commands across 14 groups. Manipulate .scene, .prefab, .vmat, .sound, Input.config, Collision.config JSON files directly, generate idiomatic C# components, and run a real-time asset graph over the project.

Installation

pip install git+https://github.com/tharunramagiri/tarunai-connect.git#subdirectory=sbox/agent-harness

Requirements

• Python 3.10+
• s&box installed via Steam - auto-detected, or set SBOX_PATH to a custom installation directory.
• Most commands work entirely on the project's JSON files - s&box does not need to be running.

Global Options

--json          Machine-readable JSON output (always pass for agent use)
--project PATH  Project directory (auto-detects from cwd .sbproj if omitted)

Command Groups

project - Manage s&box projects

tarunai-connect-sbox project new --name MyGame --output-dir ./MyGame
tarunai-connect-sbox --json project info
tarunai-connect-sbox project config --max-players 32 --tick-rate 64
tarunai-connect-sbox --json --project ./MyGame project add-package facepunch.libsdf
tarunai-connect-sbox --json --project ./MyGame project remove-package facepunch.libsdf
# Lint: broken asset refs, duplicate GUIDs, malformed Input.config
tarunai-connect-sbox --json --project ./MyGame project validate
tarunai-connect-sbox --project ./MyGame project validate --no-inputs --no-guids

scene - Manipulate .scene files

tarunai-connect-sbox scene new --name gameplay -o ./Assets/scenes/gameplay.scene
tarunai-connect-sbox --json scene info ./scene.scene
tarunai-connect-sbox --json scene list ./scene.scene
tarunai-connect-sbox scene add-object ./scene.scene Enemy --position "100,0,0" --components "model,box_collider,rigidbody" --tags "enemy"
tarunai-connect-sbox scene remove-object ./scene.scene --name Enemy
tarunai-connect-sbox scene add-component ./scene.scene <object-guid> Sandbox.PointLight
tarunai-connect-sbox scene remove-component ./scene.scene <object-guid> --component-type Sandbox.Rigidbody
tarunai-connect-sbox --json scene modify-object ./scene.scene --guid <guid> --name NewName --position "200,0,0"
tarunai-connect-sbox --json scene clone-object ./scene.scene --name Enemy --new-name EnemyCopy --position "300,0,0"
tarunai-connect-sbox --json scene get-object ./scene.scene --name Sun
tarunai-connect-sbox scene set-property ./scene.scene --fixed-update-freq 64 --timescale 0.5
tarunai-connect-sbox scene set-navmesh ./scene.scene --enabled --agent-height 72 --agent-radius 16
tarunai-connect-sbox --json scene list-presets
tarunai-connect-sbox --json scene modify-component ./scene.scene <object-guid> <component-guid> --properties '{"Damage":50}'

# Find objects matching one or more filters (AND-combined)
tarunai-connect-sbox --json scene query ./scene.scene --has-component rigidbody --has-tag tower
tarunai-connect-sbox --json scene query ./scene.scene --name-regex "^Tower\d$" --in-bounds "0,-500,-50,1000,500,50"

# Extract every asset reference (.vmdl, .vmat, .vsnd, .vtex, .vpcf, .prefab) from a scene
tarunai-connect-sbox --json scene refs ./scene.scene

# Apply the same modification to every object that matches a query
tarunai-connect-sbox --json scene bulk-modify ./scene.scene --has-tag tower --position "0,0,100" --enable

# Structural diff between two scenes (added/removed/modified GameObjects + SceneProperties)
tarunai-connect-sbox --json scene diff ./old.scene ./new.scene

# Insert a prefab as a GameObject in a scene
tarunai-connect-sbox --json scene instantiate-prefab ./level.scene ./Assets/prefabs/bullet.prefab --position "10,0,0"

prefab - Manage .prefab files

tarunai-connect-sbox prefab new --name Bullet -o ./Assets/prefabs/bullet.prefab --components "model,sphere_collider,rigidbody"
tarunai-connect-sbox --json prefab info ./Assets/prefabs/bullet.prefab
tarunai-connect-sbox prefab from-scene ./scene.scene <object-guid> -o ./Assets/prefabs/extracted.prefab
tarunai-connect-sbox --json prefab add-component ./prefab.prefab rigidbody
tarunai-connect-sbox prefab remove-component ./prefab.prefab --component-type Sandbox.Rigidbody
tarunai-connect-sbox --json prefab list

# Asset references inside a prefab
tarunai-connect-sbox --json prefab refs ./prefab.prefab

# Modify component properties on a prefab (by component type or component GUID)
tarunai-connect-sbox --json prefab modify-component ./prefab.prefab --component-type Sandbox.Rigidbody --properties '{"Gravity":false,"MassOverride":50}'

# Structural diff between two prefabs (root + named children)
tarunai-connect-sbox --json prefab diff ./old.prefab ./new.prefab

codegen - Generate C# code

# Plain Component
tarunai-connect-sbox codegen component --name PlayerController --methods OnUpdate,OnFixedUpdate -o ./Code/PlayerController.cs

# Component with [Property] fields
tarunai-connect-sbox --json codegen component --name Tower --properties '[{"name":"Damage","type":"float","default":"25f"},{"name":"Range","type":"float","default":"500f"}]'

# Networked component (partial class) with RPC method stubs
tarunai-connect-sbox codegen component --name NetPlayer --networked --methods OnUpdate,OnFixedUpdate --rpc-methods "Fire:Broadcast,TakeDamage:Host" -o ./Code/NetPlayer.cs

# GameResource
tarunai-connect-sbox codegen gameresource --name TowerData --display-name "Tower Data" --extension tower -o ./Code/TowerData.cs

# Editor menu (Editor/ assembly)
tarunai-connect-sbox codegen editor-menu --name MyTools --menu-path "Editor/My Tools/Open" -o ./Editor/MyTools.cs

# Plain Razor UI component (.razor + .razor.scss)
tarunai-connect-sbox codegen razor --name HudPanel --properties '[{"name":"Score","type":"int","default":"0"}]' -o ./UI/HudPanel.razor

# Static or base-derived class
tarunai-connect-sbox codegen class --name Math2 --static -o ./Code/Math2.cs

# PanelComponent + sibling ScreenPanel scaffold (handles the s&box quirk where
# PanelComponent input only works when both are on the same GameObject).
# Emits .razor + .razor.scss + a paste-ready GameObject snippet, or appends
# directly to a scene with --scene.
tarunai-connect-sbox --json codegen panel-component --name HudBar -o ./UI/HudBar.razor
tarunai-connect-sbox codegen panel-component --name Crosshair -o ./UI/Crosshair.razor --scene ./Assets/scenes/game.scene

input - Manage Input.config

tarunai-connect-sbox --json input list
tarunai-connect-sbox input add --name PlaceTower --group Gameplay --keyboard mouse1 --gamepad RightTrigger
tarunai-connect-sbox input remove --name PlaceTower
tarunai-connect-sbox input set --name Attack1 --keyboard mouse1

collision - Manage Collision.config

tarunai-connect-sbox --json collision list
tarunai-connect-sbox collision add-layer --name projectile --default Collide
tarunai-connect-sbox collision add-rule --layer-a projectile --layer-b solid --result Collide
tarunai-connect-sbox collision remove-rule --layer-a projectile --layer-b solid
tarunai-connect-sbox collision remove-layer --name projectile

material - Manage .vmat materials

tarunai-connect-sbox --json material new --name floor --shader complex --color-texture "textures/floor.tga" --metalness 0.3 -o ./Assets/materials/floor.vmat
tarunai-connect-sbox --json material info ./Assets/materials/floor.vmat
tarunai-connect-sbox --json material list
tarunai-connect-sbox --json material set ./Assets/materials/floor.vmat --metalness 0.8

sound - Manage .sound events

tarunai-connect-sbox --json sound new --name gunshot --sounds "sounds/gun1.vsnd,sounds/gun2.vsnd" --volume 0.8 -o ./Assets/sounds/gunshot.sound
tarunai-connect-sbox --json sound info ./Assets/sounds/gunshot.sound
tarunai-connect-sbox --json sound list
tarunai-connect-sbox --json sound set ./Assets/sounds/gunshot.sound --volume 0.5

localization - Manage translations

tarunai-connect-sbox localization new --lang en -o ./Localization/en.json
tarunai-connect-sbox localization set ./Localization/en.json --key "game.title" --value "My Game"
tarunai-connect-sbox --json localization list ./Localization/en.json
tarunai-connect-sbox localization get ./Localization/en.json --key "game.title"
tarunai-connect-sbox localization remove ./Localization/en.json --key "game.title"
tarunai-connect-sbox localization bulk-set ./Localization/en.json --keys '{"ui.start":"Start","ui.quit":"Quit"}'

server - Dedicated server

tarunai-connect-sbox server info
tarunai-connect-sbox server start --game my_game --map facepunch.flatgrass

asset - Asset management & reverse lookups

tarunai-connect-sbox --json asset list --type scene
tarunai-connect-sbox --json asset info ./Assets/scenes/minimal.scene
tarunai-connect-sbox asset compile ./Assets/materials/floor.vmat

# Which scenes/prefabs reference this asset?
tarunai-connect-sbox --json --project ./MyGame asset find-refs models/myteam/widget.vmdl

# Find unreferenced assets (per type, or across all referenceable types)
tarunai-connect-sbox --json --project ./MyGame asset find-unused
tarunai-connect-sbox --json --project ./MyGame asset find-unused --type model --type material

# Rename an asset and update every scene/prefab reference (extension preserved if omitted)
tarunai-connect-sbox --json --project ./MyGame asset rename models/team/widget.vmdl gizmo
tarunai-connect-sbox --project ./MyGame asset rename models/team/widget.vmdl gizmo --dry-run

# Move an asset across directories and update every reference
tarunai-connect-sbox --json --project ./MyGame asset move models/team/widget.vmdl models/shared/widget.vmdl

session - State management

tarunai-connect-sbox session status
tarunai-connect-sbox session undo
tarunai-connect-sbox session redo

test - Automated map/scene generation harness

tarunai-connect-sbox test setup
tarunai-connect-sbox --json test run

launch - Open project in s&box editor

tarunai-connect-sbox launch

Component Presets

29 short names usable with --components on scene add-object, prefab new, etc. Each maps to a Sandbox.* component type.

scene list-presets returns the live preset registry as JSON.

Agent Usage Pattern

Pass --json for every agent-driven invocation. Pipe through jq to thread GUIDs and paths between commands:

# Bootstrap a project
sbproj=$(tarunai-connect-sbox --json project new --name MyGame --output-dir /tmp/MyGame | jq -r '.sbproj')
cd /tmp/MyGame

# Add a tower with a specific component layout, capture its GUID
guid=$(tarunai-connect-sbox --json scene add-object ./Assets/scenes/main.scene Tower \
    --components "model,box_collider,rigidbody" --tags "tower" \
    | jq -r '.guid')

# Generate the corresponding C# component, networked
tarunai-connect-sbox --json codegen component --name Tower --networked \
    --rpc-methods "Fire:Host" --properties '[{"name":"Damage","type":"float","default":"25f"}]' \
    -o ./Code/Tower.cs

# Bulk-tweak every tower in the scene
tarunai-connect-sbox --json scene bulk-modify ./Assets/scenes/main.scene \
    --has-tag tower --enable --position-y-add 50

# Validate before committing
tarunai-connect-sbox --json project validate

REPL Mode

tarunai-connect-sbox with no arguments enters an interactive REPL with a styled prompt:

$ tarunai-connect-sbox
tarunai-connect-sbox> project info
tarunai-connect-sbox> scene list ./Assets/scenes/main.scene
tarunai-connect-sbox> codegen component --name Foo -o ./Code/Foo.cs
tarunai-connect-sbox> quit

Environment Variables