In earlier articles, we introduced how Sparse Agent schedules its work around a long-term goal and saves what it learns. This time, let’s look at where it works. What kind of computer does a digital assistant need to keep helping you over time? And who should control that computer?
We chose Omarchy and a cloud machine in your own DigitalOcean account. Omarchy is the Linux operating system created by DHH. DigitalOcean provides the cloud computer, and that computer lives in your cloud account. Sparse Agent prepares the working environment so you can start with a concrete goal.
These choices affect what the agent can do. They also determine whether you can enter the computer it works on, inspect files, resolve problems, and decide when to create or delete the machine.
Omarchy makes agents part of everyday computer use
David Heinemeier Hansson, known as DHH and the creator of Ruby on Rails, started Omarchy with a clear direction: making computers fit the way people work in the age of agents. The Omarchy website puts a system you can reshape, the participation of agents, and a ready-to-use working environment at the center of its introduction.
That direction matters to us. A digital assistant encounters many kinds of work: opening websites to research a topic, organizing downloaded files, running scripts, installing tools a task requires, or finding out why a program failed to start. Its work spans many ordinary, practical activities on a computer.
Omarchy is based on Arch Linux, uses the Hyprland desktop, and provides a browser, a terminal, and common work applications. Its official manual explains these components and how to use them. Linux packages, files, configuration, and command-line tools also let the working environment adapt as tasks change.
Omarchy also considers how agents participate at the operating-system level. Users can choose a default agent, ask it to help diagnose an application crash, or use the system’s skills to adjust configuration and create applications. These are Omarchy’s own capabilities, and they show its view of how we will use computers in the future.
For Sparse Agent, this makes a suitable working environment for a digital assistant. We prepare Sparse Agent and the browser software it needs on an Omarchy cloud computer, so it can work toward your goals. Underneath, it remains a complete Linux environment. When you need another tool, want to inspect files, or have a runtime problem to investigate, there is a system you can work with.
We chose this modern, open operating system with agents in mind so the assistant’s working capabilities can grow with the needs of its tasks.
The cloud computer lives in your own DigitalOcean account
User control matters just as much in our choice of cloud hosting.
Sparse Agent uses the DigitalOcean authorization you provide to create a cloud machine in your account. You can sign in to the DigitalOcean control panel, see the machine, inspect its status, resources, and bills, and decide whether to keep or delete it. It is a virtual machine with clear ownership and direct management access.
This has practical benefits. When you are ready to start some work, you can create a cloud environment in Sparse Agent. When you need to keep the environment, you can continue using it. When you finish, you can delete the cloud machine. New environments currently have no time limit by default and stay until you delete them manually. You can also set an automatic deletion time of 1–168 hours when you create one. The Sparse Agent settings guide describes the process.
You can also enter the computer through SSH, the standard way to log in to a remote Linux machine. Once connected, you can inspect files, run commands, and check programs. Sparse Agent’s cloud environment page also provides a terminal entry that connects once the environment is ready, giving you a way to look inside the computer your assistant uses.
For example, if an agent is continuously collecting material about a field and you need to inspect a downloaded file or script, you can enter the machine and check it. If you want to add a tool, you have a complete system to work with. The work you delegate and the computer you can manage yourself are in the same environment.
This makes resource use easier to understand. There are clear places to see where the machine is, which account pays for it, how to log in, and when to end its use.
DigitalOcean makes the environment straightforward to prepare and manage
DigitalOcean offers an Omarchy 1-Click image in its Marketplace and supports creating cloud machines through its API. Sparse Agent uses that image to connect the steps of preparing a cloud computer and installing the software it needs. Once you have set up your account, billing, and authorization, you can start creation from the workspace, follow the preparation progress, and wait for the environment to become ready.
DigitalOcean also supports Omarchy’s ongoing development. DHH announced that collaboration in an official post. For us, the available system image and cloud-service interfaces let these two choices fit together naturally.
For work that needs to continue over time, the cloud computer can remain running while the assistant schedules its next round of work according to its goal and progress. You can keep using your everyday computer as usual. You decide how long to retain the cloud environment based on the work you need done.
The costs should also be clear. DigitalOcean charges the cloud machine to your account, and your chosen model provider charges for model calls. Under DigitalOcean’s billing rules, a powered-off cloud machine still incurs charges. Deleting it ends billing for that machine. Save the files and deliverables you want to keep before deletion; any other resource charges follow your account’s bill.
We want Sparse Agent to be a digital assistant you can work with over the long term. An operating system suited to agents, together with a cloud computer in your own account, provides a foundation for that relationship. The assistant has a place to keep working, and you have a way to understand and manage that computer.
You can start with something you want to keep moving forward and explore the workspace and usage guides on the Sparse Agent website. Omarchy provides the working environment, DigitalOcean provides a cloud computer you can manage, and Sparse Agent works toward your goals within it.