Three new cloud-based developer environments gained attention on Hacker News: Sprites, exe.dev, and shellbox.dev. Each offers access to Linux virtual machines, but their appeal lies not in revolutionary technology. Instead, they capitalize on the current demand for secure, efficient prototyping environments, especially in the age of AI. Traditional VPS providers like DigitalOcean offer more powerful specs at similar prices, yet these services manage to attract interest with their user experience and speed. The excitement stems from two main factors: effective sandboxing and rapid setup. Sandboxing is crucial for developers utilizing AI coding tools, as it mitigates security risks linked to private data exposure. The new services also facilitate quick experimentation; developers can spin up environments in minutes, a stark contrast to the longer setup times with traditional VPSs. exe.dev stands out for its user-friendly experience, recognizing users’ GitHub accounts and providing a modern Ubuntu environment with useful tools pre-installed. In comparison, shellbox offers a unique SSH-based interface but falls short with an outdated OS and a cumbersome payment process. Sprites requires a CLI installation, but it delivers a relatively straightforward setup. Each service has its strengths and weaknesses, but exe.dev appears to provide the most comprehensive user experience, blending speed with modern features.