README
roost
Run your long-running coding sessions on server. Watch them through your browser.
This project started because I was scratching my itch: I wanted a simple remote termnal that survives any interruption, preferably runs through browser, and has a few must-haves: file tree, file upload, diff window, editor and preview.
I managed to get by with mosh/tmux/md-tui, but that setup just did not understand projects and worktrees.
So I created a lightweight Rust tool that gives any coding project its own browser tab and all needed info in one place. Backed by dtach shells that survive tab close, laptop sleep, network down and even restart of roost itself.
Why
Because you want a simpler way to have remote access to your server box. Roost is a 4MB Rust binary that gives your every project or worktree a tab in a browser.
| roost | ttyd / Wetty | code-server | tmux + ssh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terminals survive restart | ✅ | ❌ | n/a | ✅ |
| Editor + diffs + tree | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Mirrors across browsers | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Claude Code IDE protocol | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Paste a screenshot to the agent | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Single binary, no Node | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Auto-reconnects after the laptop sleeps | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Needed on the laptop | browser | browser | browser | ssh client + terminal |
| Drag-and-drop files to upload | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Multiple git worktrees, switchable | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Server binary | 4 MB | 0.7 MB | 235 MB download | 1.3 MB |
| Server memory | 16 MB (7 shells) | 9 MB (1 shell) | 770 MB (1 workspace) | 3 MB (1 shell) |
Install
# dtach and git must be on PATH
brew install dtach # or: apt install dtach
cargo install --git https://github.com/PeterKnego/roost
ROOST_ROOTS="$HOME/Projects" roost 8444
# open http://127.0.0.1:8444/
Prebuilt Linux x86_64 binaries are on the releases page. macOS is used daily; Windows is untested.
roost has no authentication of its own. It only binds to
127.0.0.1. Put auth layer in front of it -tailscale serveis what I use. Read Security model before exposing it.
Features
A tab per project/worktree
Every tab represents project/worktree, and has panes in familiar IDE-like arrangemet: file-tree, file-diffs, file priview/editor, terminal.
Terminals that survive reload/re-attach/restart
Each terminal is a PTY owned by roost and wrapped in dtach, so sessions survive a tab reload, network disconnect, laptop sleep, and even a roost restart.
All state lives on the server and mirrors live
Open a file in one browser and it opens in every connected browser. Layout and unsaved buffers persist across restarts, stored outside the repo — so pane drags never show up in git status.
Drag-n-drop files/images or paste images
Drag-n-drop files into file tree for instant upload to remote filesystem.
As for images, you can drag them or paste them into claude terminal and they will be uploaded and pasted directly into claude as image - this is a must-have feature when you just want to quickly paste a screenshot into claude for analysis.
Claude Code integrates with the project
A claude running in a terminal pane connects back to roost via IDE protocol, same as VS Code or Jetbrains IDEs. This gives it unique integration abilities: paste image, links to @file, "live" links in terminal that open when clicking on it and claude initiated file diff viewer (if in manual permission mode).
Desktop notifications
Roost supports sending desktop notifications from any terminal. Clicking notification will take you directly to that terminal.
Also, Roost can install hooks into claude to enable notification every time claude needs attention. See docs/notifications.md.
Security model
roost only binds to 127.0.0.1 and is meant to be fronted by an auth layer,
such as tailscale. More about it in SECURITY.md
Contributors
656 commits
See what people are saying
Similar repos
Languages
Rust
68.9%
JavaScript
28.3%
CSS
2.8%
README
roost
Run your long-running coding sessions on server. Watch them through your browser.
This project started because I was scratching my itch: I wanted a simple remote termnal that survives any interruption, preferably runs through browser, and has a few must-haves: file tree, file upload, diff window, editor and preview.
I managed to get by with mosh/tmux/md-tui, but that setup just did not understand projects and worktrees.
So I created a lightweight Rust tool that gives any coding project its own browser tab and all needed info in one place. Backed by dtach shells that survive tab close, laptop sleep, network down and even restart of roost itself.
Why
Because you want a simpler way to have remote access to your server box. Roost is a 4MB Rust binary that gives your every project or worktree a tab in a browser.
| roost | ttyd / Wetty | code-server | tmux + ssh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terminals survive restart | ✅ | ❌ | n/a | ✅ |
| Editor + diffs + tree | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Mirrors across browsers | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Claude Code IDE protocol | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Paste a screenshot to the agent | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Single binary, no Node | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Auto-reconnects after the laptop sleeps | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Needed on the laptop | browser | browser | browser | ssh client + terminal |
| Drag-and-drop files to upload | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Multiple git worktrees, switchable | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Server binary | 4 MB | 0.7 MB | 235 MB download | 1.3 MB |
| Server memory | 16 MB (7 shells) | 9 MB (1 shell) | 770 MB (1 workspace) | 3 MB (1 shell) |
Install
# dtach and git must be on PATH
brew install dtach # or: apt install dtach
cargo install --git https://github.com/PeterKnego/roost
ROOST_ROOTS="$HOME/Projects" roost 8444
# open http://127.0.0.1:8444/
Prebuilt Linux x86_64 binaries are on the releases page. macOS is used daily; Windows is untested.
roost has no authentication of its own. It only binds to
127.0.0.1. Put auth layer in front of it -tailscale serveis what I use. Read Security model before exposing it.
Features
A tab per project/worktree
Every tab represents project/worktree, and has panes in familiar IDE-like arrangemet: file-tree, file-diffs, file priview/editor, terminal.
Terminals that survive reload/re-attach/restart
Each terminal is a PTY owned by roost and wrapped in dtach, so sessions survive a tab reload, network disconnect, laptop sleep, and even a roost restart.
All state lives on the server and mirrors live
Open a file in one browser and it opens in every connected browser. Layout and unsaved buffers persist across restarts, stored outside the repo — so pane drags never show up in git status.
Drag-n-drop files/images or paste images
Drag-n-drop files into file tree for instant upload to remote filesystem.
As for images, you can drag them or paste them into claude terminal and they will be uploaded and pasted directly into claude as image - this is a must-have feature when you just want to quickly paste a screenshot into claude for analysis.
Claude Code integrates with the project
A claude running in a terminal pane connects back to roost via IDE protocol, same as VS Code or Jetbrains IDEs. This gives it unique integration abilities: paste image, links to @file, "live" links in terminal that open when clicking on it and claude initiated file diff viewer (if in manual permission mode).
Desktop notifications
Roost supports sending desktop notifications from any terminal. Clicking notification will take you directly to that terminal.
Also, Roost can install hooks into claude to enable notification every time claude needs attention. See docs/notifications.md.
Security model
roost only binds to 127.0.0.1 and is meant to be fronted by an auth layer,
such as tailscale. More about it in SECURITY.md
See what people are saying
Similar repos
Contributors
656 commits
Languages
Rust
68.9%
JavaScript
28.3%
CSS
2.8%