Self-hosted web terminal
A browser terminal that keeps the real session alive.
tlbx runs native PTYs on your Windows, macOS or Linux machine and renders them in the browser. Closing the browser does not end the shell, agent or TUI.
Short answer
What is tlbx?
tlbx is an AGPL-licensed, self-hosted web terminal and persistent terminal multiplexer. It runs PowerShell, cmd, bash, zsh and full-screen terminal applications on the host through real PTYs. The browser is a control surface, not the process host.
Windows · PowerShell
& ([scriptblock]::Create((irm https://get.tlbx.ai/install.ps1)))macOS / Linux · shell
curl -fsSL https://get.tlbx.ai/install.sh | bashInstall on the machine where the terminal should keep running.
The installer starts the native host and prints its local HTTPS address. For access away from the local network, keep tlbx private and route to it through Tailscale or another point-to-point VPN.
Selection guide
Which web terminal fits?
- tlbx
- Persistent native PTYs, multiple sessions, coding agents, files, Git context, a controllable browser and desktop-to-phone continuity.
- ttyd / WeTTY
- A smaller choice when the job is exposing one command or shell through a browser.
- Cockpit
- A broader server-administration dashboard with a terminal as one part of the system-management UI.
- tmux / zellij
- Excellent terminal-native multiplexers when every client can connect through SSH and no browser workspace is needed.
Where sessions live
Shells and agents stay on the host in native PTYs. Server-side scrollback and session state survive browser disconnects.
How access works
Open the local HTTPS workspace from a trusted browser. One browser owns canonical terminal sizing; other connected browsers follow without changing the PTY.
What not to do
Do not expose an administrative terminal directly to the public internet. Use a trusted LAN or private VPN and keep authentication enabled.
Common questions
Self-hosted web terminal FAQ
Does tlbx require Docker?
No. tlbx installs as a native host because its job is to run the real shells, tools and coding agents already available on the machine.
Does closing the browser stop the terminal?
No. The PTY belongs to the tlbx host. Reopening the workspace reconnects to the same session and server-side scrollback.
Can tlbx run ordinary terminal applications?
Yes. It is a general terminal first: PowerShell, bash, zsh, vim, btop, lazygit, database shells and other PTY applications run without an agent-specific wrapper.
Is tlbx an SSH server?
No. It provides a browser-native workspace. For remote routing, use a private network such as Tailscale rather than publishing the service as an internet-facing shell.