VibeTunnel is a remote terminal bridge that proxies your Mac sessions into any browser. It includes a menu bar app, a Node.js server, and a vt CLI wrapper that forwards shells with smart alias handling and branch-following.
Designed for remote monitoring of builds, agents, and dev tasks, it supports secure access (Tailscale/ngrok), mobile-friendly dashboards, and session recording/replay. Releases ship native macOS builds and npm packages for headless setups.
Use Cases:
Turn any browser into your Mac terminal. VibeTunnel proxies your terminals right into the browser, so you can vibe-code anywhere.
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Ever wanted to check on your AI agents while you're away? Need to monitor that long-running build from your phone? Want to share a terminal session with a colleague without complex SSH setups? VibeTunnel makes it happen with zero friction.
The native macOS app provides the best experience with menu bar integration and automatic updates.
For Linux servers, Docker containers, or headless macOS systems, install via npm:
npm install -g vibetunnel
This gives you the full VibeTunnel server with web UI, just without the macOS menu bar app. See the npm Package section for detailed usage.
macOS App: Requires an Apple Silicon Mac (M1+). Intel Macs are not supported for the native app.
npm Package: Works on any system with Node.js 20+, including Intel Macs and Linux. Windows is not yet supported (#252 (https://github.com/amantus-ai/vibetunnel/issues/252)).
Download VibeTunnel (https://github.com/amantus-ai/vibetunnel/releases/latest) and drag it to your Applications folder.
brew install --cask vibetunnel
VibeTunnel lives in your menu bar. Click the icon to start the server.
vt CommandThe vt command is a smart wrapper that forwards your terminal sessions through VibeTunnel:
How it works:
vt is a bash script that internally calls vibetunnel fwd to forward terminal outputInstallation sources:
/usr/local/bin/vt symlink during installationvt globally, with intelligent Mac app detectionSmart detection:
When you run vt from the npm package, it:
/Applications/VibeTunnel.appvt for the best experiencevibetunnel fwdvt always uses the best available implementation# Run any command in the browser
vt pnpm run dev
vt npm test
vt python script.py
# Monitor AI agents with automatic activity tracking
vt claude --dangerously-skip-permissions
vt --title-mode dynamic claude # See real-time Claude status
# Use your shell aliases
vt gs # Your 'git status' alias works!
vt claude-danger # Custom aliases are resolved
# Open an interactive shell
vt --shell # or vt -i
# Git follow mode
vt follow # Follow current branch
vt follow main # Switch to main and follow
vt unfollow # Stop following
# For more examples and options, see "The vt Forwarding Command" section below
When opening a new session for the first time, VibeTunnel's working directory scanner will look for Git repositories. By default, this scans your home directory, which may trigger macOS permission prompts for accessing protected folders (like Desktop, Documents, Downloads, iCloud Drive, or external volumes).
To avoid these prompts:
This only happens on the first session when the scanner discovers your Git repositories. For more details about macOS privacy-protected folders, see this explanation (https://eclecticlight.co/2025/02/24/gaining-access-to-privacy-protected-folders/).
Visit http://localhost:4020 (http://localhost:4020) to see all your terminal sessions.
Note: The iOS app is still work in progress and not recommended for production use yet.
VibeTunnel consists of three main components:
The server runs as a standalone Node.js executable with embedded modules, providing excellent performance and minimal resource usage.
Tailscale (https://tailscale.com) creates a secure peer-to-peer VPN network between your devices. It's the most secure option as traffic stays within your private network without exposing VibeTunnel to the public internet.
How it works: Tailscale creates an encrypted WireGuard tunnel between your devices, allowing them to communicate as if they were on the same local network, regardless of their physical location.
Setup Guide:
my-mac.tailnet-name.ts.net)http://[your-tailscale-hostname]:4020Benefits:
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