diff --git a/bot_bottle/backend/__init__.py b/bot_bottle/backend/__init__.py
index aea3343..835b6ec 100644
--- a/bot_bottle/backend/__init__.py
+++ b/bot_bottle/backend/__init__.py
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ class ActiveAgent:
     of sidecar daemons currently up for this bottle (`egress`,
     `git-gate`, `supervise`); the dashboard uses it to
     gate edit verbs. `backend_name` is the matching key in
-    `_BACKENDS` (`docker` / `smolmachines`) — used by the active-
+    `_BACKENDS` (`docker` / `smolmachines` / `macos-container`) — used by the active-
     list rendering to disambiguate and by the dashboard's
     re-attach path."""
 
@@ -530,6 +530,7 @@ class BottleBackend(ABC, Generic[PlanT, CleanupT]):
 # each backend module can pull BottleSpec / BottlePlan / BottleBackend
 # via `from . import ...` without hitting a partially-initialized module.
 from .docker import DockerBottleBackend  # noqa: E402  # pylint: disable=wrong-import-position
+from .macos_container import MacosContainerBottleBackend  # noqa: E402  # pylint: disable=wrong-import-position
 from .smolmachines import SmolmachinesBottleBackend  # noqa: E402  # pylint: disable=wrong-import-position
 
 
@@ -539,6 +540,7 @@ from .smolmachines import SmolmachinesBottleBackend  # noqa: E402  # pylint: dis
 # unparameterized methods (prepare → plan → launch(plan), cleanup, etc.).
 _BACKENDS: dict[str, BottleBackend[Any, Any]] = {
     "docker": DockerBottleBackend(),
+    "macos-container": MacosContainerBottleBackend(),
     "smolmachines": SmolmachinesBottleBackend(),
 }
 
diff --git a/bot_bottle/backend/macos_container/__init__.py b/bot_bottle/backend/macos_container/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8a7e222
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bot_bottle/backend/macos_container/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+"""macOS Apple Container backend.
+
+Selectable via `BOT_BOTTLE_BACKEND=macos-container`. This package owns
+the Apple `container` CLI integration; launch remains gated until the
+sidecar network enforcement shape is implemented.
+"""
+
+from .backend import MacosContainerBottleBackend
+
+__all__ = ["MacosContainerBottleBackend"]
diff --git a/bot_bottle/backend/macos_container/backend.py b/bot_bottle/backend/macos_container/backend.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1f6423b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bot_bottle/backend/macos_container/backend.py
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+"""MacosContainerBottleBackend — Apple Container implementation."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from contextlib import contextmanager
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Generator, Sequence
+
+from ...agent_provider import AgentProvisionPlan
+from ...egress import EgressPlan
+from ...env import ResolvedEnv
+from ...git_gate import GitGatePlan
+from ...supervise import SupervisePlan
+from .. import ActiveAgent, BottleBackend, BottleSpec
+from . import cleanup as _cleanup
+from . import enumerate as _enumerate
+from . import launch as _launch
+from . import resolve_plan as _resolve_plan
+from . import util as _container
+from .bottle import MacosContainerBottle
+from .bottle_cleanup_plan import MacosContainerBottleCleanupPlan
+from .bottle_plan import MacosContainerBottlePlan
+
+
+class MacosContainerBottleBackend(
+    BottleBackend["MacosContainerBottlePlan", "MacosContainerBottleCleanupPlan"]
+):
+    """Experimental Apple Container backend. Selected by
+    `BOT_BOTTLE_BACKEND=macos-container` or
+    `--backend=macos-container`."""
+
+    name = "macos-container"
+
+    @classmethod
+    def is_available(cls) -> bool:
+        return _container.is_available()
+
+    def _preflight(self) -> None:
+        _resolve_plan.preflight()
+
+    def _build_guest_env(self, resolved_env: ResolvedEnv) -> dict[str, str]:
+        return _resolve_plan.build_guest_env(resolved_env)
+
+    def _resolve_plan(
+        self,
+        spec: BottleSpec,
+        *,
+        slug: str,
+        resolved_env: ResolvedEnv,
+        agent_provision_plan: AgentProvisionPlan,
+        egress_plan: EgressPlan,
+        git_gate_plan: GitGatePlan,
+        supervise_plan: SupervisePlan | None,
+        stage_dir: Path,
+    ) -> MacosContainerBottlePlan:
+        return _resolve_plan.resolve_plan(
+            spec,
+            slug=slug,
+            resolved_env=resolved_env,
+            agent_provision_plan=agent_provision_plan,
+            egress_plan=egress_plan,
+            supervise_plan=supervise_plan,
+            git_gate_plan=git_gate_plan,
+            stage_dir=stage_dir,
+        )
+
+    @contextmanager
+    def launch(
+        self, plan: MacosContainerBottlePlan
+    ) -> Generator[MacosContainerBottle, None, None]:
+        with _launch.launch(plan, provision=self.provision) as bottle:
+            yield bottle
+
+    def prepare_cleanup(self) -> MacosContainerBottleCleanupPlan:
+        return _cleanup.prepare_cleanup()
+
+    def cleanup(self, plan: MacosContainerBottleCleanupPlan) -> None:
+        _cleanup.cleanup(plan)
+
+    def enumerate_active(self) -> Sequence[ActiveAgent]:
+        return _enumerate.enumerate_active()
diff --git a/bot_bottle/backend/macos_container/bottle.py b/bot_bottle/backend/macos_container/bottle.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6919046
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bot_bottle/backend/macos_container/bottle.py
@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
+"""Bottle handle for Apple's `container` CLI."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import subprocess
+from typing import Callable, cast
+
+from ...agent_provider import PromptMode, prompt_args
+from .. import Bottle, ExecResult
+from ..terminal import exec_shell_script
+
+
+class MacosContainerBottle(Bottle):
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        container: str,
+        teardown: Callable[[], None],
+        prompt_path_in_container: str | None,
+        *,
+        agent_command: str = "claude",
+        agent_prompt_mode: PromptMode = "append_file",
+        agent_provider_template: str = "claude",
+        terminal_title: str = "",
+        terminal_color: str = "",
+        agent_workdir: str = "/home/node",
+    ):
+        self.name = container
+        self._teardown = teardown
+        self.prompt_path = prompt_path_in_container
+        self._agent_prompt_mode = agent_prompt_mode
+        self.agent_command = agent_command
+        self.terminal_title = terminal_title
+        self.terminal_color = terminal_color
+        self.agent_provider_template = agent_provider_template
+        self.agent_workdir = agent_workdir
+        self._closed = False
+
+    def agent_argv(self, argv: list[str], *, tty: bool = True) -> list[str]:
+        full_argv = list(argv)
+        full_argv.extend(
+            prompt_args(
+                cast(PromptMode, self._agent_prompt_mode),
+                self.prompt_path,
+                argv=full_argv,
+            )
+        )
+        cmd = ["container", "exec"]
+        if tty:
+            cmd.extend(["--interactive", "--tty"])
+        if self.agent_workdir and self.agent_workdir != "/home/node":
+            cmd.extend(["--workdir", self.agent_workdir])
+        cmd.extend([self.name, self.agent_command, *full_argv])
+        return cmd
+
+    def exec_agent(self, argv: list[str], *, tty: bool = True) -> int:
+        agent_argv = self.agent_argv(argv, tty=tty)
+        script = (
+            exec_shell_script(agent_argv, self.terminal_title, self.terminal_color)
+            if tty else None
+        )
+        if script is None:
+            return subprocess.run(agent_argv, check=False).returncode
+        return subprocess.run(["sh", "-lc", script], check=False).returncode
+
+    def exec(self, script: str, *, user: str = "node") -> ExecResult:
+        result = subprocess.run(
+            ["container", "exec", "--user", user, "--interactive",
+             self.name, "sh", "-s"],
+            input=script,
+            capture_output=True,
+            text=True,
+            check=False,
+        )
+        return ExecResult(
+            returncode=result.returncode,
+            stdout=result.stdout,
+            stderr=result.stderr,
+        )
+
+    def cp_in(self, host_path: str, container_path: str) -> None:
+        subprocess.run(
+            ["container", "cp", host_path, f"{self.name}:{container_path}"],
+            stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL,
+            check=True,
+        )
+
+    def close(self) -> None:
+        if self._closed:
+            return
+        self._closed = True
+        self._teardown()
diff --git a/bot_bottle/backend/macos_container/bottle_cleanup_plan.py b/bot_bottle/backend/macos_container/bottle_cleanup_plan.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..679a4f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bot_bottle/backend/macos_container/bottle_cleanup_plan.py
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+"""Cleanup plan for the macOS Apple Container backend."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+
+from ...log import info
+from .. import BottleCleanupPlan
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class MacosContainerBottleCleanupPlan(BottleCleanupPlan):
+    containers: tuple[str, ...] = ()
+    networks: tuple[str, ...] = ()
+
+    def print(self) -> None:
+        if not self.containers and not self.networks:
+            info("macos-container cleanup: nothing to remove")
+            return
+        for name in self.containers:
+            info(f"macos-container container: {name}")
+        for name in self.networks:
+            info(f"macos-container network: {name}")
+
+    @property
+    def empty(self) -> bool:
+        return not self.containers and not self.networks
diff --git a/bot_bottle/backend/macos_container/bottle_plan.py b/bot_bottle/backend/macos_container/bottle_plan.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ca01073
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bot_bottle/backend/macos_container/bottle_plan.py
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+"""Plan type for the macOS Apple Container backend."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from dataclasses import dataclass, field
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from ...agent_provider import PromptMode
+from .. import BottlePlan
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class MacosContainerBottlePlan(BottlePlan):
+    slug: str
+    forwarded_env: dict[str, str] = field(repr=False)
+
+    @property
+    def container_name(self) -> str:
+        return self.agent_provision.instance_name
+
+    @property
+    def image(self) -> str:
+        return self.agent_provision.image
+
+    @property
+    def dockerfile_path(self) -> str:
+        return self.agent_provision.dockerfile
+
+    @property
+    def prompt_file(self) -> Path:
+        return self.agent_provision.prompt_file
+
+    @property
+    def agent_command(self) -> str:
+        return self.agent_provision.command
+
+    @property
+    def agent_prompt_mode(self) -> PromptMode:
+        return self.agent_provision.prompt_mode
+
+    @property
+    def agent_provider_template(self) -> str:
+        return self.agent_provision.template
diff --git a/bot_bottle/backend/macos_container/cleanup.py b/bot_bottle/backend/macos_container/cleanup.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2dae5f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bot_bottle/backend/macos_container/cleanup.py
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+"""Cleanup for the macOS Apple Container backend."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import subprocess
+
+from ...log import info, warn
+from . import util as container_mod
+from .bottle_cleanup_plan import MacosContainerBottleCleanupPlan
+
+_PREFIX = "bot-bottle-"
+_BUNDLE_PREFIX = "bot-bottle-sidecars-"
+
+
+def _list_prefixed_containers() -> list[str]:
+    result = subprocess.run(
+        ["container", "list", "--all", "--quiet"],
+        capture_output=True,
+        text=True,
+        check=False,
+    )
+    if result.returncode != 0:
+        warn(f"container list failed: {result.stderr.strip()}")
+        return []
+    return sorted(
+        name for name in (line.strip() for line in result.stdout.splitlines())
+        if name.startswith(_PREFIX) or name.startswith(_BUNDLE_PREFIX)
+    )
+
+
+def _list_prefixed_networks() -> list[str]:
+    result = subprocess.run(
+        ["container", "network", "list", "--quiet"],
+        capture_output=True,
+        text=True,
+        check=False,
+    )
+    if result.returncode != 0:
+        return []
+    return sorted(
+        name for name in (line.strip() for line in result.stdout.splitlines())
+        if name.startswith(_PREFIX)
+    )
+
+
+def prepare_cleanup() -> MacosContainerBottleCleanupPlan:
+    container_mod.require_container()
+    return MacosContainerBottleCleanupPlan(
+        containers=tuple(_list_prefixed_containers()),
+        networks=tuple(_list_prefixed_networks()),
+    )
+
+
+def cleanup(plan: MacosContainerBottleCleanupPlan) -> None:
+    for name in plan.containers:
+        info(f"container delete --force {name}")
+        subprocess.run(
+            ["container", "delete", "--force", name],
+            stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL,
+            stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL,
+            check=False,
+        )
+    for name in plan.networks:
+        info(f"container network delete {name}")
+        subprocess.run(
+            ["container", "network", "delete", name],
+            stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL,
+            stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL,
+            check=False,
+        )
diff --git a/bot_bottle/backend/macos_container/enumerate.py b/bot_bottle/backend/macos_container/enumerate.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d6365a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bot_bottle/backend/macos_container/enumerate.py
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+"""Active-agent enumeration for the macOS Apple Container backend."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import subprocess
+
+from ...bottle_state import read_metadata
+from .. import ActiveAgent
+
+_PREFIX = "bot-bottle-"
+
+
+def enumerate_active() -> list[ActiveAgent]:
+    result = subprocess.run(
+        ["container", "list", "--quiet"],
+        capture_output=True,
+        text=True,
+        check=False,
+    )
+    if result.returncode != 0:
+        return []
+    out: list[ActiveAgent] = []
+    for name in sorted(line.strip() for line in result.stdout.splitlines()):
+        if not name.startswith(_PREFIX):
+            continue
+        slug = name[len(_PREFIX):]
+        metadata = read_metadata(slug)
+        out.append(ActiveAgent(
+            backend_name="macos-container",
+            slug=slug,
+            agent_name=metadata.agent_name if metadata else "?",
+            started_at=metadata.started_at if metadata else "",
+            services=(),
+            label=metadata.label if metadata else "",
+            color=metadata.color if metadata else "",
+        ))
+    return out
diff --git a/bot_bottle/backend/macos_container/launch.py b/bot_bottle/backend/macos_container/launch.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..de9e053
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bot_bottle/backend/macos_container/launch.py
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+"""Launch flow for the macOS Apple Container backend.
+
+The backend is registered and its host primitives are implemented, but
+full launch is intentionally blocked until the sidecar network
+enforcement design is finished. Apple Container can publish ports and
+create networks, but bot-bottle's Docker topology relies on an agent
+container attached only to an internal network while the sidecar bundle
+also has egress. The first runnable version must preserve that
+no-direct-egress property.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from contextlib import contextmanager
+from typing import Callable, Generator
+
+from ...log import die
+from .bottle import MacosContainerBottle
+from .bottle_plan import MacosContainerBottlePlan
+
+
+@contextmanager
+def launch(
+    plan: MacosContainerBottlePlan,
+    *,
+    provision: Callable[[MacosContainerBottlePlan, "MacosContainerBottle"], str | None],
+) -> Generator[MacosContainerBottle, None, None]:
+    del provision
+    die(
+        "macos-container backend launch is not enabled yet: "
+        "the backend primitives are present, but sidecar network "
+        "enforcement still needs implementation."
+    )
+    yield  # pragma: no cover
diff --git a/bot_bottle/backend/macos_container/resolve_plan.py b/bot_bottle/backend/macos_container/resolve_plan.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..021571b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bot_bottle/backend/macos_container/resolve_plan.py
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+"""Prepare step for the macOS Apple Container backend."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from ...agent_provider import AgentProvisionPlan
+from ...egress import EgressPlan
+from ...env import ResolvedEnv
+from ...git_gate import GitGatePlan
+from ...supervise import SupervisePlan
+from .. import BottleSpec
+from . import util as container_mod
+from .bottle_plan import MacosContainerBottlePlan
+
+
+def preflight() -> None:
+    container_mod.require_container()
+
+
+def build_guest_env(resolved_env: ResolvedEnv) -> dict[str, str]:
+    return dict(resolved_env.literals)
+
+
+def resolve_plan(
+    spec: BottleSpec,
+    slug: str,
+    resolved_env: ResolvedEnv,
+    agent_provision_plan: AgentProvisionPlan,
+    egress_plan: EgressPlan,
+    supervise_plan: SupervisePlan | None,
+    git_gate_plan: GitGatePlan,
+    stage_dir: Path,
+) -> MacosContainerBottlePlan:
+    return MacosContainerBottlePlan(
+        spec=spec,
+        stage_dir=stage_dir,
+        slug=slug,
+        forwarded_env=dict(resolved_env.forwarded),
+        git_gate_plan=git_gate_plan,
+        egress_plan=egress_plan,
+        supervise_plan=supervise_plan,
+        agent_provision=agent_provision_plan,
+    )
diff --git a/bot_bottle/backend/macos_container/util.py b/bot_bottle/backend/macos_container/util.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..775fbe2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bot_bottle/backend/macos_container/util.py
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+"""Host-side primitives for Apple's `container` CLI."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import platform
+import shutil
+import subprocess
+from typing import Iterable
+
+from ...log import die, info
+
+
+_CONTAINER = "container"
+
+
+def is_macos() -> bool:
+    return platform.system() == "Darwin"
+
+
+def is_available() -> bool:
+    return is_macos() and shutil.which(_CONTAINER) is not None
+
+
+def require_container() -> None:
+    """Fail with an install pointer if Apple Container is unavailable."""
+    if not is_macos():
+        info("BOT_BOTTLE_BACKEND=macos-container requires macOS.")
+        die("macos-container backend is only supported on macOS")
+    if shutil.which(_CONTAINER) is None:
+        info("Apple Container is required but was not found on PATH.")
+        info("Install: https://github.com/apple/container/releases")
+        die("container not found")
+
+
+def build_image(ref: str, context: str, *, dockerfile: str = "") -> None:
+    """Build an OCI image with Apple's BuildKit-backed `container build`."""
+    info(
+        f"building image {ref} from {context} with Apple Container "
+        "(layer cache keeps repeat builds fast)"
+    )
+    args = [_CONTAINER, "build", "-t", ref]
+    if dockerfile:
+        args.extend(["-f", dockerfile])
+    args.append(context)
+    subprocess.run(args, check=True)
+
+
+def image_exists(ref: str) -> bool:
+    return _silent_run([_CONTAINER, "image", "inspect", ref]) == 0
+
+
+def container_exists(name: str) -> bool:
+    result = subprocess.run(
+        [_CONTAINER, "list", "--all", "--quiet"],
+        capture_output=True,
+        text=True,
+        check=False,
+    )
+    if result.returncode != 0:
+        return False
+    return name in {line.strip() for line in result.stdout.splitlines()}
+
+
+def force_remove_container(name: str) -> None:
+    if container_exists(name):
+        subprocess.run(
+            [_CONTAINER, "delete", "--force", name],
+            stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL,
+            stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL,
+            check=False,
+        )
+
+
+def image_id(ref: str) -> str:
+    """Return the image digest/ID from `container image inspect`.
+
+    The command returns JSON on current Apple Container releases. Keep
+    parsing narrow and fatal so callers do not cache on an empty key.
+    """
+    import json
+
+    result = subprocess.run(
+        [_CONTAINER, "image", "inspect", ref],
+        capture_output=True,
+        text=True,
+        check=False,
+    )
+    if result.returncode != 0:
+        die(
+            f"container image inspect for {ref!r} failed: "
+            f"{(result.stderr or '').strip() or '<no stderr>'}"
+        )
+    try:
+        data = json.loads(result.stdout or "{}")
+    except json.JSONDecodeError as exc:
+        die(f"container image inspect for {ref!r} returned malformed JSON: {exc}")
+    if isinstance(data, list) and data:
+        data = data[0]
+    if isinstance(data, dict):
+        value = data.get("id") or data.get("digest") or data.get("ID")
+        if value:
+            return str(value)
+    die(f"container image inspect for {ref!r} did not include an image id")
+    raise AssertionError("unreachable")
+
+
+def save(ref: str, output: str) -> None:
+    subprocess.run([_CONTAINER, "image", "save", ref, "-o", output], check=True)
+
+
+def _silent_run(cmd: Iterable[str]) -> int:
+    return subprocess.run(
+        list(cmd),
+        stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL,
+        stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL,
+        check=False,
+    ).returncode
diff --git a/docs/prds/prd-new-macos-container-backend.md b/docs/prds/prd-new-macos-container-backend.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..706cddf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/prds/prd-new-macos-container-backend.md
@@ -0,0 +1,159 @@
+# PRD prd-new: macOS Container backend
+
+- **Status:** Draft
+- **Author:** Codex
+- **Created:** 2026-06-10
+- **Issue:** #220
+
+## Summary
+
+Add an experimental `macos-container` backend that integrates Apple's
+`container` CLI as a host runtime on macOS. The first shipped slice
+registers the backend, implements the reusable host primitives
+(`build`, `exec`, `cp`, image inspection, cleanup, active
+enumeration), and blocks full launch behind an explicit network
+enforcement guard. This creates a real integration point without
+weakening bot-bottle's sidecar egress model.
+
+## Problem
+
+bot-bottle currently has two local execution paths:
+
+- `docker`, which runs the whole bottle topology through Docker
+  Compose.
+- `smolmachines`, which runs the agent in smolvm but still depends on
+  Docker for the sidecar bundle and image-building pipeline.
+
+Issue #220 explored removing Docker as a host dependency. A follow-up
+comment verified that smolvm can publish guest ports back to host
+loopback and that another smolvm guest can reach that service through
+the existing per-bottle loopback alias plus `--allow-cidr` path. That
+keeps the VM-contained sidecar direction viable and rejects the
+host-process sidecar fallback.
+
+Apple's `container` CLI is another macOS-native way to run OCI images
+as lightweight Linux VMs. Its current command surface includes
+Docker-like `build`, `run`, `exec`, `cp`, port publishing, image
+inspection, and user-defined networks. That makes it a plausible local
+backend, but it does not remove the need to preserve bot-bottle's
+sidecar enforcement property: the agent must not have a direct egress
+path around the egress sidecar.
+
+## Goals / Success Criteria
+
+- `--backend=macos-container` and
+  `BOT_BOTTLE_BACKEND=macos-container` are accepted by the existing
+  backend selector.
+- Backend availability is true only on macOS hosts with `container` on
+  `PATH`.
+- The backend has tested wrappers for Apple Container image build,
+  image inspection, container `exec`, container `cp`, cleanup, and
+  active-agent enumeration.
+- Full launch fails loudly with an operator-facing message until the
+  sidecar network enforcement design is implemented.
+- The PRD records the remaining launch work so the next PR can make the
+  backend runnable without revisiting registration or wrapper plumbing.
+
+## Non-goals
+
+- Do not remove or deprecate the Docker backend.
+- Do not change the default backend from `smolmachines`.
+- Do not run sidecar daemons as host processes.
+- Do not launch a degraded backend where the agent can bypass the
+  egress sidecar through direct network access.
+- Do not require Docker Desktop as part of the macOS Container backend.
+
+## Design
+
+### Backend name
+
+The selectable backend name is `macos-container`. The Python package
+uses `bot_bottle.backend.macos_container` because module names cannot
+contain hyphens.
+
+### Availability and preflight
+
+`MacosContainerBottleBackend.is_available()` returns true only when:
+
+- `platform.system() == "Darwin"`
+- `container` is discoverable on `PATH`
+
+`prepare()` calls `require_container()`, which produces a concrete
+install pointer and rejects non-macOS hosts.
+
+### Implemented primitives
+
+The backend owns an Apple Container wrapper module instead of reusing
+Docker wrappers. The wrapper maps bot-bottle's backend needs to
+Apple's CLI:
+
+| bot-bottle need | Apple Container command |
+|---|---|
+| Build provider image | `container build -t <ref> [-f Dockerfile] <context>` |
+| Run agent commands | `container exec [--interactive --tty] <id> ...` |
+| Copy files into guest | `container cp <host> <id>:<path>` |
+| Inspect image identity | `container image inspect <ref>` |
+| Cleanup stale containers | `container delete --force <id>` |
+| Cleanup stale networks | `container network delete <name>` |
+| Active enumeration | `container list --quiet` |
+
+The bottle handle mirrors `DockerBottle`: it builds a host argv for
+foreground agent execution, pipes shell snippets through stdin for
+`Bottle.exec`, and exposes `cp_in` for provisioning.
+
+### Launch guard
+
+`launch()` is intentionally not enabled in the first slice. It exits
+with a fatal message explaining that sidecar network enforcement still
+needs implementation.
+
+This is deliberate. A runnable backend that places the agent on a
+normal outbound network while relying on environment variables for
+proxying would violate bot-bottle's egress model. The runnable version
+must prove one of these shapes:
+
+- Apple Container supports the equivalent of Docker's two-network
+  sidecar topology: agent on an internal-only network, sidecar on both
+  internal and egress networks.
+- The sidecar bundle runs as a separate VM/container with published
+  loopback ports, and the agent runtime can be constrained to only
+  reach that per-bottle loopback alias.
+- Apple Container init/network hooks can enforce the egress sidecar as
+  the only outbound path before the agent process starts.
+
+## Implementation chunks
+
+1. Register `macos-container`, add availability/preflight, bottle
+   handle, utility wrappers, cleanup, active enumeration, unit tests,
+   and this PRD.
+2. Spike Apple Container networking against real macOS 26 hosts:
+   repeated `--network`, internal network egress behavior, published
+   loopback reachability from another container, DNS behavior, and
+   labels/JSON output stability.
+3. Implement launch once the enforcement shape is proven. Reuse the
+   existing sidecar bundle image and daemon subset env contract where
+   possible.
+4. Add real-runtime integration tests guarded by `container` presence
+   and macOS version.
+5. Consider moving smolmachines sidecar/image-building work to
+   VM-contained or Apple Container-backed execution only after the
+   `macos-container` launch path is trustworthy.
+
+## Testing Strategy
+
+- Unit tests cover backend registration through `known_backend_names`.
+- Unit tests cover availability/preflight behavior without requiring
+  macOS.
+- Unit tests cover `MacosContainerBottle` command construction and
+  stdin-based shell execution.
+- Unit tests cover cleanup and active enumeration parsing.
+- Future integration tests must run on a host with Apple Container
+  installed and should verify egress cannot bypass the sidecar.
+
+## References
+
+- Issue #220 comment: smolvm `--port/-p` can expose a guest service to
+  host loopback, and another smolvm guest can reach it through the
+  existing per-bottle loopback alias path.
+- Apple Container command reference: `container run`, `build`, `exec`,
+  port publishing, and network commands.
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_backend_selection.py b/tests/unit/test_backend_selection.py
index 61aeb89..55e098a 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_backend_selection.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_backend_selection.py
@@ -44,8 +44,11 @@ class TestGetBottleBackend(unittest.TestCase):
 
 
 class TestKnownBackendNames(unittest.TestCase):
-    def test_returns_both_backends_sorted(self):
-        self.assertEqual(("docker", "smolmachines"), known_backend_names())
+    def test_returns_backends_sorted(self):
+        self.assertEqual(
+            ("docker", "macos-container", "smolmachines"),
+            known_backend_names(),
+        )
 
 
 class TestEnumerateActiveAgents(unittest.TestCase):
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_macos_container_bottle.py b/tests/unit/test_macos_container_bottle.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..04e1315
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/test_macos_container_bottle.py
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+"""Unit: Apple Container bottle command construction."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import unittest
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
+from bot_bottle.backend.macos_container.bottle import MacosContainerBottle
+
+
+class TestMacosContainerBottle(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_agent_argv_uses_container_exec(self):
+        bottle = MacosContainerBottle(
+            "bot-bottle-dev-abc",
+            lambda: None,
+            None,
+            agent_command="codex",
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(
+            [
+                "container", "exec", "--interactive", "--tty",
+                "bot-bottle-dev-abc", "codex", "run",
+            ],
+            bottle.agent_argv(["run"]),
+        )
+
+    def test_agent_argv_includes_workdir(self):
+        bottle = MacosContainerBottle(
+            "bot-bottle-dev-abc",
+            lambda: None,
+            None,
+            agent_workdir="/home/node/workspace",
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(
+            [
+                "container", "exec", "--interactive", "--tty",
+                "--workdir", "/home/node/workspace",
+                "bot-bottle-dev-abc", "claude",
+            ],
+            bottle.agent_argv([]),
+        )
+
+    def test_exec_pipes_script_to_shell(self):
+        bottle = MacosContainerBottle("bot-bottle-dev-abc", lambda: None, None)
+        with patch("bot_bottle.backend.macos_container.bottle.subprocess.run") as run:
+            run.return_value.returncode = 7
+            run.return_value.stdout = "out"
+            run.return_value.stderr = "err"
+            result = bottle.exec("echo hi", user="root")
+        self.assertEqual(7, result.returncode)
+        self.assertEqual(
+            [
+                "container", "exec", "--user", "root", "--interactive",
+                "bot-bottle-dev-abc", "sh", "-s",
+            ],
+            run.call_args.args[0],
+        )
+        self.assertEqual("echo hi", run.call_args.kwargs["input"])
+
+    def test_cp_in_uses_container_cp(self):
+        bottle = MacosContainerBottle("bot-bottle-dev-abc", lambda: None, None)
+        with patch("bot_bottle.backend.macos_container.bottle.subprocess.run") as run:
+            bottle.cp_in("/tmp/src", "/home/node/src")
+        self.assertEqual(
+            ["container", "cp", "/tmp/src", "bot-bottle-dev-abc:/home/node/src"],
+            run.call_args.args[0],
+        )
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_macos_container_cleanup.py b/tests/unit/test_macos_container_cleanup.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d1502f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/test_macos_container_cleanup.py
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+"""Unit: Apple Container cleanup/enumeration helpers."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import unittest
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
+from bot_bottle.backend.macos_container import cleanup, enumerate as enum_mod
+from bot_bottle.backend.macos_container.bottle_cleanup_plan import (
+    MacosContainerBottleCleanupPlan,
+)
+
+
+class TestMacosContainerCleanup(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_lists_prefixed_containers(self):
+        completed = cleanup.subprocess.CompletedProcess(
+            args=[],
+            returncode=0,
+            stdout="bot-bottle-a\nbot-bottle-sidecars-a\nother\n",
+            stderr="",
+        )
+        with patch.object(cleanup.subprocess, "run", return_value=completed):
+            self.assertEqual(
+                ["bot-bottle-a", "bot-bottle-sidecars-a"],
+                cleanup._list_prefixed_containers(),
+            )
+
+    def test_cleanup_deletes_containers_and_networks(self):
+        plan = MacosContainerBottleCleanupPlan(
+            containers=("bot-bottle-a",),
+            networks=("bot-bottle-net-a",),
+        )
+        with patch.object(cleanup.subprocess, "run") as run:
+            cleanup.cleanup(plan)
+        self.assertEqual(
+            ["container", "delete", "--force", "bot-bottle-a"],
+            run.call_args_list[0].args[0],
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(
+            ["container", "network", "delete", "bot-bottle-net-a"],
+            run.call_args_list[1].args[0],
+        )
+
+
+class TestMacosContainerEnumerate(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_enumerate_active_reads_metadata(self):
+        completed = enum_mod.subprocess.CompletedProcess(
+            args=[], returncode=0, stdout="bot-bottle-a\nother\n", stderr="",
+        )
+
+        class _Metadata:
+            agent_name = "impl"
+            started_at = "2026-06-10T00:00:00Z"
+            label = "Implement"
+            color = "blue"
+
+        with patch.object(enum_mod.subprocess, "run", return_value=completed), \
+             patch.object(enum_mod, "read_metadata", return_value=_Metadata()):
+            agents = enum_mod.enumerate_active()
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(agents))
+        self.assertEqual("macos-container", agents[0].backend_name)
+        self.assertEqual("a", agents[0].slug)
+        self.assertEqual("impl", agents[0].agent_name)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_macos_container_util.py b/tests/unit/test_macos_container_util.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..db58378
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/test_macos_container_util.py
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+"""Unit: Apple Container utility helpers."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import unittest
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
+from bot_bottle.backend.macos_container import util
+
+
+class TestMacosContainerAvailability(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_available_only_on_macos_with_container(self):
+        with patch.object(util.platform, "system", return_value="Darwin"), \
+             patch.object(util.shutil, "which", return_value="/usr/local/bin/container"):
+            self.assertTrue(util.is_available())
+
+    def test_not_available_off_macos(self):
+        with patch.object(util.platform, "system", return_value="Linux"), \
+             patch.object(util.shutil, "which", return_value="/usr/local/bin/container"):
+            self.assertFalse(util.is_available())
+
+    def test_require_container_dies_when_missing(self):
+        with patch.object(util.platform, "system", return_value="Darwin"), \
+             patch.object(util.shutil, "which", return_value=None), \
+             patch.object(util, "die", side_effect=SystemExit("die")):
+            with self.assertRaises(SystemExit):
+                util.require_container()
+
+
+class TestMacosContainerCommands(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_build_image(self):
+        with patch.object(util.subprocess, "run") as run:
+            util.build_image("bot-bottle-agent:latest", "/repo", dockerfile="/repo/Dockerfile")
+        self.assertEqual(
+            [
+                "container", "build", "-t", "bot-bottle-agent:latest",
+                "-f", "/repo/Dockerfile", "/repo",
+            ],
+            run.call_args.args[0],
+        )
+        self.assertTrue(run.call_args.kwargs["check"])
+
+    def test_container_exists_parses_quiet_list(self):
+        completed = util.subprocess.CompletedProcess(
+            args=[], returncode=0, stdout="bot-bottle-a\nother\n", stderr="",
+        )
+        with patch.object(util.subprocess, "run", return_value=completed):
+            self.assertTrue(util.container_exists("bot-bottle-a"))
+            self.assertFalse(util.container_exists("bot-bottle-b"))
+
+    def test_image_id_reads_json_digest(self):
+        completed = util.subprocess.CompletedProcess(
+            args=[], returncode=0, stdout='{"digest":"sha256:abc"}', stderr="",
+        )
+        with patch.object(util.subprocess, "run", return_value=completed):
+            self.assertEqual("sha256:abc", util.image_id("demo:latest"))
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()