> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://opensandbox-oc-s-762ac928075c46d2828bcb22.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Running Commands

> Execute shell commands from the CLI

## Running a Command

Use `--wait` to run a command synchronously — output streams to your terminal and the CLI exits with the process exit code:

```bash theme={null}
oc exec sb-abc123 --wait -- echo "Hello, World!"
oc exec sb-abc123 --wait -- npm run build
```

Without `--wait`, `oc exec` creates an **exec session** and prints the session ID with attach instructions. This is useful for long-running commands:

```bash theme={null}
oc exec sb-abc123 -- node server.js
# → Session es-xyz created. Attach with: oc exec attach sb-abc es-xyz
```

## Working Directory & Environment

```bash theme={null}
oc exec sb-abc123 --wait --cwd /app --env NODE_ENV=production -- npm run build
oc exec sb-abc123 --wait --env API_KEY=xxx --env DEBUG=true -- ./run.sh
```

## Timeouts

Set a timeout with `--timeout` (in seconds). Default is 0 (no timeout). When exceeded, the command is killed:

```bash theme={null}
oc exec sb-abc123 --wait --timeout 30 -- npm test
```

## Creating an Exec Session

Plain `oc exec` (without `--wait`) creates a session for long-running commands. The command keeps running even after you disconnect:

```bash theme={null}
oc exec sb-abc123 -- python train.py
# Session es-abc created
```

## Capturing Output as JSON

Combine `--json` with `--wait` for scripting:

```bash theme={null}
RESULT=$(oc exec sb-abc123 --json --wait -- node -e 'console.log("hello")')
echo $RESULT | jq '.stdout'   # "hello\n"
echo $RESULT | jq '.exitCode' # 0
```

## Managing Exec Sessions

```bash theme={null}
# List active sessions
oc exec list sb-abc123

# Kill a session
oc exec kill sb-abc123 es-xyz
oc exec kill sb-abc123 es-xyz --signal 15  # SIGTERM
```

<Warning>
  `oc exec attach` exists as a command but is not yet implemented. It prints guidance to use the SDK or a WebSocket client. Use `oc exec list` and `oc exec kill` to manage sessions from the CLI.
</Warning>

## Shell vs Exec

| Use Case                           | Command                  |
| ---------------------------------- | ------------------------ |
| Single command, capture output     | `oc exec --wait`         |
| Scripting and automation           | `oc exec --wait --json`  |
| Long-running background process    | `oc exec` (no `--wait`)  |
| Interactive development, debugging | [`oc shell`](/cli/shell) |

<Tip>
  SDK usage: [Running Commands](/sandboxes/running-commands). Full flags: [CLI Reference](/reference/cli#oc-exec).
</Tip>