Real PTY terminals
Spawn runnable shells over the socket — write input, resize the window, or kill the session — with detach/reattach to the same running shell.
self-hosted · open source · one binary
The self-hosted backend for NioDE — a lightweight mobile code editor and terminal. Find answers to common questions below.
It serves real POSIX PTY terminals, file operations, git, and Nio AI chat
using the nio CLI to the NioDE app over a single WebSocket
connection. You point the app at any ws:// or
wss:// URL, enter a pairing code, and everything runs on the
host where nio-de lives.
terminal · files · git · agent chat · pairing security
Everything, over one socket.
The app never runs on the same machine as the server. Every feature speaks one JSON protocol — feature tree, editor, terminal, git, chat.
Full file operations
Read, write, upload, download, zip-extract, search and rename anything on the host — with browser-safe base64 for binaries and images.
Git built in
Status, staging, commits, branches, stashes, merges and conflict resolution — driven through the host's own git binary.
Nio AI chat
Stream chat with the Nio CLI, attach files and images, list models and cancel jobs — all over the same socket.
Pairing-first security
A rotating XXXX-XXXX pairing code plus QR on every boot, constant-time token checks, and a loud no-auth mode for development only.
One native binary
No Rust or Node needed for the native server. Prebuilt binaries for Linux and macOS (x86_64 / ARM64), and Windows x86_64.
How it works
Three steps from nothing to a full remote dev environment.
- Run the server. One native binary, no Rust or Node required to run it.
- Note the pairing code. A fresh
XXXX-XXXXcode plus a scannable QR is printed on every boot. - Connect the app. Give NioDE the
wss://URL and the code. Everything else rides the same socket.
Mobile — your server, in your pocket
Available on Android and iOS, for phones and tablets alike. Pair with a code or wss:// URL and the whole remote dev environment goes with you.
Native on Android & iOS
The same UI ships as a native app on both platforms — phone and tablet alike.
Editor, terminal, git & chat
CodeMirror editor, xterm.js terminal, full git, and Nio AI chat — all over the same WebSocket.
Pair in seconds
Scan the pairing code with the camera, or enter it manually in Settings.
Get started in one line
No Rust, no Node, no build step. The installer pulls a prebuilt binary for your platform and verifies its checksum.
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nio-labs/nio-de/main/install.sh | bashWith Node.js, you can also run npx @nio-labs/nio-de.
Then start it and watch for the pairing code:
nio-de
Tip — want it up permanently? Point a systemd user unit at
nio-de and read the fresh pairing code from
journalctl --user -u nio-de -f.
Ready to build something remote?
dive into the WebSocket contract, or grab the source and run it yourself.