Ever wanted a full Linux desktop in your browser?
No SSH. No PuTTY. No setup headaches.
Just open a tab — and you're in. 👇
🧠 The Problem
I wanted a persistent Linux environment I could reach from anywhere — my phone on the go, a tablet, even a friend's laptop.
Every solution I found was either:
- 💸 Expensive (cloud desktops cost $$$)
- 🔧 Painful to set up (VNC configs, firewalls, SSL hell)
- 📵 Desktop-only (forget using it on mobile)
So I spent weeks and built CloudDesktop from scratch.
🖥️ What it looks like
Here's the login screen:
And once you're in — a full XFCE desktop, in your browser:
⚡ One command to rule them all
sudo bash install.sh
That's it. The installer auto-configures:
✅ XFCE desktop + TigerVNC
✅ WebSocket bridge (noVNC)
✅ Node.js + Express backend
✅ Nginx reverse proxy + SSL
✅ Firewall (UFW) + Fail2ban
✅ Systemd services (auto-start on boot)
📱 Works on EVERY device
This was the hardest part to get right.
CloudDesktop is mobile-first:
- Virtual trackpad cursor (like Microsoft RD Client)
- Pinch to zoom + scroll
- On-screen keyboard
- Auto-resolution on orientation change
- Fullscreen PWA mode — no browser chrome
Install it as a native app on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS — all from your browser.
🔄 One live session, all devices
All your devices connect to the same live desktop.
Start coding on your PC → pick up exactly where you left off on your phone.
No sync. No cloud storage. Just your desktop, everywhere.
⚙️ Settings & customization
Adjust resolution, manage sessions, toggle features — all from a clean settings panel inside the browser.
🤖 Claude Code built right in
This is my favorite part.
CloudDesktop has first-class Claude Code support with dedicated dock icons:
- Claude Code — launch CLI in a terminal from the dock
- Claude Fast — one-click sandbox mode for quick tasks
- Directory Picker — choose your working folder before launching
🔒 Security? Covered.
This runs on the open internet, so security was non-negotiable:
- 🔐 Bcrypt password hashing
- 🎟️ JWT session tokens (httpOnly cookies)
- 📲 TOTP two-factor authentication
- 🚫 Rate limiting on auth endpoints
- 🛡️ Fail2ban + UFW firewall
- 🔒 HTTPS enforced (Let's Encrypt or self-signed)
🏗️ How it works under the hood
Browser ──HTTPS──▸ Nginx ──▸ Express API (auth, files, resolution)
└──▸ WebSocket ──▸ websockify ──▸ VNC (TigerVNC/XFCE)
Simple, battle-tested stack. No magic, no vendor lock-in.
💚 100% Free & Open Source
No hidden fees.
No premium tiers.
No telemetry.
No nonsense.
Fork it. Break it. Make it yours.
👉 GitHub — https://github.com/HorusGod007/CloudDesktop
If this helped you or looks useful — a ⭐ on GitHub means the world and helps others discover it. Drop your questions below, I read every comment! 🙏
Top comments (2)
suggest to add tailscale mesh vpn for better or more secure access they already have clients for most OS including mobile devices
Hey, please share me your email, i have a proposal for you.