---
title: "Create a new microVM. Minimal example: {\"source\":{\"type\":\"image\",\"reference\":\"alpine:3.20\"},\"resources\":{\"cpus\":1,\"memoryMb\":512},\"ttlSeconds\":3600}. Poll GET /v1/machines/{id} until ready is true before running commands."
method: POST
path: "/smolmachines/v1/machines"
tags: ["Smol Machines"]
---

# Create a new microVM. Minimal example: {"source":{"type":"image","reference":"alpine:3.20"},"resources":{"cpus":1,"memoryMb":512},"ttlSeconds":3600}. Poll GET /v1/machines/{id} until ready is true before running commands.

`POST /smolmachines/v1/machines`

## Request

- Base URL: `https://api.orthogonal.com/mpp`
- URL: `https://api.orthogonal.com/mpp/smolmachines/v1/machines`
- Auth: none declared
- TypeScript: <https://skmtc.dev/orthogonal/apis/orthogonal-api-marketplace/docs/smolmachines/v1/machines/post.ts> (a function with typed inputs; its response is checked against the schema)

## Request body

- object
  - `source` object, required: Image source. Example: {"type":"image","reference":"alpine:3.20"}
  - `resources` object, required: CPU and memory allocation. Example: {"cpus":1,"memoryMb":512}
  - `ttlSeconds` number, required: Max machine lifetime in seconds (e.g. 3600 for 1 hour)
  - `name` string: Human-readable machine name
  - `network` object: Network policy. Example: {"mode":"open"} or {"mode":"blocked"}
  - `env` object: Environment variables as key-value pairs
  - `workdir` string: Working directory inside the VM
  - `autoStopSeconds` number: Seconds of inactivity before auto-stop
  - `ephemeral` boolean: If true, machine is automatically deleted when stopped. Machine boots into running state and is cleaned up after stop or TTL expiry.
  - `mounts` string[]: Volume mounts for persistent storage

## Response `200`

Successful response

## Other responses

- `402`: Payment Required (x402 / MPP / np)

## Changes

- **2026-11-08** `857e915717f4`: 1 breaking
  - added required request body
- **2026-08-21** `bf5b6f84d6e0`: 1 info
  - endpoint added

[Operation history](https://skmtc.dev/orthogonal/apis/orthogonal-api-marketplace/changes/smolmachines/v1/machines/post.md)

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/orthogonal/apis/orthogonal-api-marketplace.md) - [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/orthogonal/apis/orthogonal-api-marketplace/llms.txt) - [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc.dev/orthogonal/apis/orthogonal-api-marketplace/revisions/f89fb77710bc?raw)