Real AI agent use cases, with sources and setup prompts

Automate the desktop from a CLI your agents can call

Built Agent-desktop, a native desktop automation CLI meant for AI agents.

Free tier1-2 hoursIntermediateSource linked

Source

lahfir on Hacker News · 2026-05-02 · Project link

Written in our own words. Credit to the original author. Link checked 2026-10-15.

What they did

Built Agent-desktop, a native desktop automation CLI meant for AI agents.

Result (as claimed)

Open-sourced CLI on Show HN.

Tools they used

Claude CodeOpenAI CodexCursor

Cost: Claude Code: free plan, paid from $17/mo; OpenAI Codex: free plan, paid from $8/mo; Cursor: free plan, paid from $8/mo. Checked 2026-10-14.

Set it up

  1. Map the task

    Write the trigger, the inputs, the decisions and the output. Note which steps need a human yes.

  2. Connect the tools

    Set up Claude Code, OpenAI Codex, Cursor with the narrowest permissions that work. Use a test account or sandbox first.

  3. Build the workflow

    Create the steps in order. Add an approval step before anything sends, pays or deletes.

  4. Run it on real but low-stakes data

    Run a few times, read every output, and fix prompts or rules that misfire.

  5. Schedule and monitor

    Turn on the schedule or trigger, and add a daily summary or alert so you notice failures.

Copy the full setup prompt

Paste into your agent and it will walk you through the setup, asking before anything that sends, posts or spends.

You are helping me set up this AI use case end to end in Claude Code.

Goal: Automate the desktop from a CLI your agents can call
What the original author did: Built Agent-desktop, a native desktop automation CLI meant for AI agents.
Reported result (as claimed by the author): Open-sourced CLI on Show HN.
Source: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47982708
Tools they used: Claude Code, OpenAI Codex, Cursor
Category: Automation & business

Please:
1. Ask me 3 short questions about my situation (accounts I have, budget, what I want the output to look like).
2. Propose a step-by-step plan using these tools or cheaper alternatives, with the time and cost of each step. Use official pricing pages; say "check pricing" if unsure.
3. Then do the setup with me one step at a time, waiting for my OK before anything that sends messages, posts publicly, spends money or deletes data.
4. Finish with a checklist to run it again next time.

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