CodeSwarm
Close your laptop.Keep building.
An open-source OS for a dedicated Codex computer.
Install CodeSwarm on a spare PC. Run the full desktop app. Connect through Tailscale.
View on GitHubPrototype in development.
Your spare PC
has a new job.
Tuck it away. No monitor needed after setup.
A place for the work
you send away.
You know how to build with agents. CodeSwarm aims to make giving them a dedicated computer just as approachable.
Give a spare PC a job.
Install CodeSwarm on a compatible computer you own. A small PC can live on a shelf or out of the way in a closet.
Sign in. Connect.
Sign in to the desktop app and set up remote access through Tailscale. You control the machine, accounts, and access.
Send the work over.
Use the dedicated computer for your Codex workflows. The goal: long-running work has a home beyond your laptop.
The full desktop app.
Without a desk.
Headless means no monitor attached. The graphical desktop and app still run.
- Lightweight Debian
- A minimal graphical desktop built around the work, with less to set up yourself.
- ChatGPT desktop app + Codex
- The full Linux desktop app, including its available browser workflows. More than a command-line worker.
- Tailscale
- Connect your dedicated computer to your other devices, with remote access you configure.
Features follow the Linux app. Computer Use is not currently available in its preview. See platform limitations
Before you find a spare PC.
Is this a computer I buy?
No. CodeSwarm is an open-source software project. You install it on hardware you provide.
Do I need to know Linux?
The project aims to simplify setup for people already building with coding agents. It remains a prototype, and setup still includes installation, sign-in, and remote access.
Will it work on my mini PC?
Compatibility depends on the hardware. Check the repository’s current requirements and testing notes before installing. Physical hardware and headless reliability are still being tested.
Does it run the AI models locally?
CodeSwarm sets up a remote computer for the desktop app. It does not imply offline model inference or replace your app account.
An open project.
Still taking shape.
CodeSwarm is a prototype. Installation and app launch have been tested in disposable virtual machines. Physical hardware, headless operation, and long-running reliability are still being tested.
Read the setup notes, follow the source, and help shape what comes next.