trycua GUI Automation
CUA gives you eyes and hands on a real computer: see the screen, move the mouse, click, type, drag, and manage windows — like a human at the keyboard.
Use this skill for visual interaction that can't be done via shell or API.
Setup
cua --version # check install; if missing: pip install cua
# Connect to target (pick one)
cua do switch cloud my-vm
cua do switch docker my-container
cua do-host-consent && cua do switch host # local machine (one-time consent)
ANTHROPIC_API_KEYis optional. With it,cua do snapshotreturns an AI-annotated screen with element coordinates. Without it, usescreenshotand read the image yourself.
Workflow
Look → Act → Verify — repeat until done, then share:
cua do screenshot # look
cua do click 450 280 # act
cua do screenshot # verify
cua trajectory share # share replay link with user
Re-screenshot after every UI change — coordinates go stale when the screen changes.
Scenarios
Click a button
cua do screenshot
cua do click 450 280
cua do screenshot
Fill a form
cua do screenshot
cua do click 400 200 && cua do type "Jane Doe"
cua do key tab && cua do type "jane@example.com"
cua do key tab && cua do type "SecureP@ss123"
cua do click 400 500
cua do screenshot
File upload dialog
cua do click 350 400 # "Choose File"
cua do type "/home/user/report.pdf"
cua do key enter
cua do screenshot
Zoom in for precision clicks (host or small targets)
When clicking small or dense UI elements — especially on the host machine — zoom into the target window first. Coordinates become window-relative and screenshots show only that window, giving you higher effective resolution.
cua do zoom "Google Chrome" # crop to Chrome window; coords are now window-relative
cua do screenshot # zoomed view — easier to locate small elements
cua do click 112 44 # precise click on a small tab or button
cua do screenshot # verify
cua do unzoom # restore full-screen coords when done
cua do screenshot # back to full desktop view
Use
zoomany time click accuracy is uncertain.unzoombefore switching windows or when you need to see the full desktop again.
Drag and drop
cua do window ls # list open windows
cua do drag 150 300 650 400 # source → destination
cua do screenshot
Fuzz a form
cua do screenshot
cua do click 400 200
cua do type "<script>alert(1)</script>"
cua do key tab && cua do type "'; DROP TABLE users; --"
cua do key tab && cua do type "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"
cua do click 400 500
cua do screenshot # check for errors, crashes, unexpected behavior
Trajectory
Every action is auto-recorded to ~/.cua/trajectories/{machine}/{session}/.
cua trajectory share # upload and get shareable HTTPS link (always do this at end)
cua trajectory ls # list sessions
cua trajectory export # generate HTML report
cua do --no-record click 100 200 # disable recording for a single action
Tell the user: "Here is the trajectory of my session: {url}"
Quick Reference
| Action | Command |
|---|---|
| Connect to target | cua do switch <provider> [name] |
| Screenshot | cua do screenshot |
| AI-annotated screen | cua do snapshot ["instructions"] |
| Click | cua do click <x> <y> [left|right|middle] |
| Double-click | cua do dclick <x> <y> |
| Type text | cua do type "text" |
| Press key | cua do key <key> |
| Hotkey | cua do hotkey <combo> (e.g. ctrl+c) |
| Scroll | cua do scroll <direction> [amount] |
| Drag | cua do drag <x1> <y1> <x2> <y2> |
| Move cursor | cua do move <x> <y> |
| Shell command | cua do shell "command" |
| Open URL/file | cua do open <url|path> |
| List windows | cua do window ls [app] |
| Focus window | cua do window focus <id> |
| Zoom to window | cua do zoom "App Name" |
| Unzoom | cua do unzoom |
| Share trajectory | cua trajectory share |
Providers
| Provider | Example |
|---|---|
cloud |
cua do switch cloud my-vm |
cloudv2 |
cua do switch cloudv2 my-vm |
docker |
cua do switch docker my-container |
lume |
cua do switch lume my-vm |
lumier |
cua do switch lumier my-vm |
winsandbox |
cua do switch winsandbox |
host |
cua do switch host |
See references/command-reference.md for full argument syntax.