GoTTY — Share Your Terminal as a Web Application

Introduction

GoTTY converts any command-line tool into a web application that runs in a browser. It is useful for sharing terminal sessions, building web-based dashboards around CLI tools, and providing remote access to interactive terminal programs without requiring SSH.

What GoTTY Does

• Runs any CLI command and exposes it as a web page via WebSocket
• Supports read-only and read-write modes for interactive sessions
• Provides TLS/SSL support for encrypted connections
• Works with any terminal application including vim, top, and tmux
• Includes client authentication via basic auth or custom credentials

Architecture Overview

GoTTY starts an HTTP server that serves a JavaScript-based terminal emulator (hterm) to the browser. When a client connects, GoTTY spawns the specified command and bridges the command's stdin/stdout/stderr to the browser over a WebSocket connection. Each browser tab gets its own process instance, and the server handles multiplexing across all connected clients.

Self-Hosting & Configuration

• Install via go install or download prebuilt binaries from GitHub releases
• Configure with command-line flags or a ~/.gotty config file
• Set -w flag to enable write (interactive) mode for the browser user
• Use --tls with certificate and key files for HTTPS connections
• Restrict access with --credential user:pass for basic authentication

Key Features

• Zero-dependency single binary written in Go
• Real terminal emulation in the browser via hterm
• Customizable window title and terminal preferences
• Support for reconnecting after network interruptions
• Profile-based configuration for repeated use

Comparison with Similar Tools

• ttyd — C-based alternative with broader platform support and active maintenance
• Wetty — Node.js SSH-over-HTTP terminal, heavier runtime dependency
• Shell In A Box — Older C daemon, no WebSocket, less modern UX
• tmate — Focuses on terminal sharing via unique URLs with tmux integration

FAQ

Q: Is GoTTY secure for production use? A: Use TLS and authentication flags when exposing GoTTY beyond localhost. Without them, anyone with network access can interact with your terminal.

Q: Can multiple users connect at the same time? A: Yes. Each browser tab spawns its own process instance. They do not share state unless the underlying command supports it.

Q: Does GoTTY work with tmux or screen? A: Yes. Pass tmux or screen as the command argument and users get a full multiplexed terminal session.

Q: What browsers are supported? A: Any modern browser with JavaScript and WebSocket support, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.

Sources

• https://github.com/yudai/gotty
• https://github.com/yudai/gotty#usage