Bring a Codex-style coding workflow to ChatGPT.

Give ChatGPT a secure connection to your own machine and Turn ChatGPT into Codex

DevSpace is a self-hosted MCP server that lets ChatGPT read, edit, search, and run code in your real local projects — your files, your tools, your terminal — without uploading anything to a third party. You run it on your machine, expose it through a tunnel you control, and approve the connection with a password only you have.

Every piece of software is becoming conversational. Natural language is redefining how we interact with tools, workflows, and systems.

My bet is that ChatGPT becomes the operating system for everything. Once we reach AGI, we will simply talk to ChatGPT, and it will prompt, coordinate, and orchestrate sub-agents that set up the right loops for us.

We are not there yet.

DevSpace is one attempt to fast-forward that future: a way for MCP-capable hosts like ChatGPT and Claude to work directly with local project files through explicit, inspectable tools.

DevSpace requires Node >=20.12 <27. Node 22 LTS is recommended.

npx @waishnav/devspace init
npx @waishnav/devspace serve

During setup, DevSpace asks for:

• the local project folders ChatGPT is allowed to open through DevSpace
• the local port, usually 7676
• your public HTTPS base URL from Cloudflare Tunnel, ngrok, Pinggy, Tailscale Funnel, or another reverse proxy

Use the public origin without /mcp during setup:

https://your-tunnel-host.example.com

Then configure your MCP client with:

https://your-tunnel-host.example.com/mcp

When the client connects, DevSpace opens an Owner password approval page. Enter the Owner password printed by devspace init. It is also stored in:

~/.devspace/auth.json

Keep that password private.

After the MCP client connects, ChatGPT can open a project with open_workspace and then reuse the returned workspaceId for later calls.

DevSpace provides tools for:

• reading, writing, and editing files inside the opened workspace
• running shell-backed search and directory inspection in the default minimal tool mode
• running shell commands for tests, builds, git, and package scripts
• opening isolated Git worktrees when you want parallel work
• loading AGENTS.md and CLAUDE.md instructions
• exposing local agent skills from your skill folders
• showing ChatGPT Apps tool cards, with an opt-in aggregate show_changes card

The default local endpoint is:

http://127.0.0.1:7676/mcp

Most users should connect through a public HTTPS tunnel:

https://your-tunnel-host.example.com/mcp

DevSpace is remote access to selected local folders.

You decide which roots are allowed. The MCP client still has powerful local capabilities inside an opened workspace, including shell execution. Treat a connected client like a trusted coding partner with access to your machine.

For a normal ChatGPT coding session:

1. Start your tunnel.
2. Run npx @waishnav/devspace serve.
3. Connect the MCP client to your public /mcp URL.
4. Approve the connection with the Owner password.
5. Ask ChatGPT to open a project inside one of your allowed roots.

DevSpace supports Linux, macOS, and Windows environments with a Bash-compatible shell.

Run this to inspect your local setup:

npx @waishnav/devspace doctor

• Setup Guide
• ChatGPT Coding Workflow
• Configuration Reference
• Security Model
• Troubleshooting Gotchas

I'm Waishnav, the creator of GitCMS, a Git-backed CMS for markdown sites.

I like building opinionated products, and DevSpace is another example of that. I'm on a journey to build a single-person company doing multiple millions in revenue. If you want to watch the failures, wins, lessons, and everything in between, come hang out with me on X.

For working on DevSpace itself:

npm install --include=dev
npm run dev
npm run typecheck
npm test
npm run build
npm run start