Imagine this: you’re wrestling a server gremlin at 3 AM, or teaching a friend a ninja-level command sequence. Screenshots? Clunky. Screen recording? Tedious. What if you could conjure a web link thatinstantlybeams your live terminal session to anyone, anywhere? Collaboration becomes lightning-fast. Debugging, a shared spectacle. Finally, real-time visibility without the hassle.
Linux offers a buffet of terminal-sharing options. SSH, the stalwart; tmux and screen, the session saviors; asciinema, the recorder of keystrokes. But let’s be honest, sometimes these feel like overkill. A quick share shouldn’t require a dependency maze or a login ritual. Is there a faster way?
Ditch the software installs and config nightmares! ttyd is your command-line wizard, conjuring up web pages from your terminal. Share the link, and instantly grant anyone browser-based access to witness – or even command – your session.
What Can ttyd Do?
- ttyd leverage Libwebsockets and libuv for blazing-fast performance.
- It uses WebSockets under the hood, which keeps the experience smooth and responsive even over weaker connections.
- Supports graphical ZMODEM for file transfers and integrates with lrzsz for dragging and dropping files right in the browser.
-
Include SSL/TLS encryption for security, authentication support. “Unleash ttyd on your network, serving up its magic from any port you desire! And the best part? It plays nice with cross-compiling, meaning you can even squeeze it onto a Raspberry Pi for ultimate flexibility.”
-
Provide built-in copy/paste support between the browser and terminal.
- Can limit the maximum number of concurrent connections.
- Auto-open sessions in your browser.
- Restrict access to a single client at a time.
Install ttyd on Linux
Debian or Ubuntu and itching for ttyd? Don’t sweat it if your default repositories are coming up short. You’re not stuck! Compiling from source is your express lane to getting ttyd up and running.
First, make sure your system is up-to-date:
“`
sudo
apt update
&&
sudo
apt upgrade
-y
“`
Install the dependencies required for building ttyd:
“`
sudo
apt
install
-y
build-essential cmake
git
libjson-c-dev libwebsockets-dev “`
Clone the ttyd source code from GitHub and build it with these commands:
“`
git clone
https:
//
github.com
/
tsl0922
/
ttyd.git
cd
ttyd
mkdir
build
&&
cd
build cmake ..
make
sudo
make
install
“`
And that’s it. You now have ttyd installed.
Rolling your own build isn’t the only path! If you’re not on Debian/Ubuntu, you can still get ttyd up and running. Head straight to ttyd’s GitHub releases page. There, you’ll likely find a pre-built binary perfectly tailored for your system’s architecture (most commonly, amd64). Alternatively, snag the right binary directly using this handy wget command:
“`
wget
https:
//
github.com
/
tsl0922
/
ttyd
/
releases
/
download
/
1.7.7
/
ttyd.x86_64 “`
Make it executable:
“`
chmod
+x ttyd.x86_64 “`
Want ttyd blazing fast on Linux? Skip the build and compile headaches! This one-liner rockets ttyd onto your system. Alternatively, grab it the universal way via snap.
“`
sudo
snap
install
ttyd
–classic
“`
Once you install ttyd using any of these methods, typettyd --versionto confirm it’s installed correctly.
Turn Your Terminal Into a Shareable Web Page
Want to turn your terminal into a shareable online experience? Withttyd, it’s ridiculously simple. Just fire it up with the shell you love –ttyd bash(or zsh, fish, you name it) – and instantly broadcast your command-line prowess to anyone with a web browser. It’s like Twitch for your terminal!
“` ttyd
bash
“`
Ready to fire up your personal web server? Just run this command, and you’ll be serving content on port 7681 before you can say “Hello, World!”. Point your browser tohttp://localhost:7681orhttp://youripaddress:7681to witness the magic.
Option 2 (Direct & Engaging):
Launch your web server now! It defaults to port 7681. See it in action by visitinghttp://localhost:7681orhttp://youripaddress:7681in your browser. Quick, easy, and instantly gratifying.
Option 3 (Slightly Technical with a Hook):
One command, one web server. By default, it springs to life on port 7681. Want proof? Hithttp://localhost:7681orhttp://youripaddress:7681in your browser and see your content served up.
Behold! Your terminal, unleashed from its desktop prison and now surfing the web! Want to share the command-line power? Just swap ‘localhost’ with your machine’s IP address – a quickip addr showorhostname -Iwill reveal it. Then, pass that magic number around and let the collaboration commence!
Forget just sharing a shell!ttydlets you beamanycommand-line tool directly to your browser. Imagine:ttyd htopinstantly transforms your browser into a livehtopprocess monitor. Or, picture sharing a real-timevimsession, or letting someone peek under the hood withttyd topall from a web link.
If you don’t want to use the default port, you can specify your own too. With the-pflag:
“` ttyd
-p
8080
bash
“`
Now your terminal is available on port 8080 instead of the default 7681.
Running an open terminal accessible to anyone isn’t a wise option, so ttyd offers authentication options with the-cflag:
“` ttyd
-c
username:password
bash
“`
“Unlock your terminal’s front door with basic HTTP authentication. It’s like a digital bouncer, demanding credentials before granting access. Perfect for swift demos or secure networks among friends. For Fort Knox-level security, you’ll crave stronger measures, but for a quick, reliable gatekeeper, this does the trick.”
You can also make your session read-only, preventing input from the browser:
“` ttyd
-R
bash
“`
Need absolute control during your workshop or presentation? This is your tool. Alternatively,-Wunleashes the interactive beast, granting a writable, dynamic session. Choose wisely.
“` ttyd
-W
bash
“`
Sharing over public network
In the digital wild west, encryption is your six-shooter. With ttyd, you can slap on HTTPS protection using your own SSL certificate. No certs? Forge some self-signed ones with OpenSSL for target practice. But when it’s showtime, ditch the DIY and holster a legit certificate from a gunslinger like Let’s Encrypt.
Want to grant someone remote access to your terminal? By default, ttyd keeps things cozy within your local network. But what if you need to share the love beyond your Wi-Fi’s embrace? Fear not! There are secure ways to break free. Think of services like Tailscale or Cloudflare Tunnel as your personal transporters, whisking your local ttyd port to the internet with a secure, temporary public URL. It’s like giving someone a VIP pass for a limited time. For a more permanent solution, launch ttyd on a VPS or cloud server, hook it up to a domain name, andbamyou’ve got 24/7 terminal access via HTTPS. Choose your adventure!
For rock-solid security, lock down ttyd to localhost and unleash the power of a reverse proxy like Nginx or Caddy. They’ll not only handle SSL encryption, but also stand guard with authentication and laser-precise access control.
Final Thoughts
Forget clunky terminal sharing. ttyd lets you share your Linux terminal sessions with just a link. Want to collaborate on your Tmux setup? This guide unlocks seamless sharing.
Thanks for reading Turn Your Terminal Into a Shareable Web Page With ttyd
