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! 🙏
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