# Environments

> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://www.jetbrains.com/help/air/llms.txt).

A cloud environment is a Docker container that runs on a virtual machine in the cloud. Air Teams creates this environment for the task and runs the agent in it.

An environment configuration makes that container fit your project. Create configurations in Air Teams under `Settings | Environments`. A configuration sets:

* the [image](environment-images.html) and the [VM size](vm-resources.html) the environment is built from

* the [variables and secrets](environment-variables-and-secrets.html) the agent needs

* what the agent [can reach on the internet](environment-network-access.html), and which [ports](exposed-ports.html) are open to your browser

* what [commands run before the agent starts](startup-commands.html)

![The Environments page in Air Teams](images/airc-settings-environments.png)

When you [start a task](run-tasks-in-cloud.html#run_cloud_task), you select either an environment configuration or a repository. Selecting a repository uses the [default configuration](#cloud_default_image).

## Default environment

If you select only a repository when you create a cloud task – without choosing an environment configuration – Air Teams runs the task in the default environment.

The default configuration uses the default image and does not add any custom variables, secrets, or internet access rules. This is the simplest option and is enough for tasks that do not require project-specific setup.

The default image includes almost all common tools and frameworks.

## Personal and project environments

An environment configuration is either personal or owned within a project:

* Personal – you create it for yourself, and only you can use it until you [share it](share-an-environment.html#cloud_share_environment) with other users, service accounts, or user groups. You can also [move it into a project](manage-environments.html#move_environment_procedure) so the project owns it.

* Project – you create it from a [project](projects.html) page. It's automatically shared with every project member, and deleting the project deletes the configuration. [Learn about project environments](project-environments.html#share_project_environment).

## See also

### Learn how to

[Create an environment configuration](create-an-environment.html) [Images](environment-images.html) [Variables and secrets](environment-variables-and-secrets.html) [Network access](environment-network-access.html) [Exposed ports](exposed-ports.html) [Startup commands](startup-commands.html) [VM resources](vm-resources.html) [Share an environment configuration](share-an-environment.html) [Manage environments](manage-environments.html)