What You Need Before Using RemoteVibeCode

Required setup

• You need a remote server or workstation that is reachable over SSH.
• The SSH host can run Linux, macOS, or Windows with PowerShell available over SSH.
• Codex CLI must be installed on that remote system.
• You must be signed in to Codex with either your ChatGPT account or an OpenAI account.

Supported remote systems

RemoteVibeCode connects to any machine that offers SSH access and can run Codex CLI in a terminal session.

• Linux: the most common setup for cloud servers, dev boxes, and home lab systems.
• macOS: works well for a Mac mini, Mac Studio, or another Mac you leave running.
• Windows: supported when SSH lands in PowerShell or a POSIX-compatible environment such as WSL. Native cmd.exe-only shells are not supported.

Install Codex CLI

Install Codex CLI directly on the remote host before adding that host to the app. RemoteVibeCode can detect whether Codex is missing and can help with update checks, but the most reliable first-time setup is still done from a normal terminal on the remote machine.

• OpenAI Codex CLI documentation
• OpenAI Help: Codex CLI getting started

Common install commands:

# macOS, Homebrew cask
brew install --cask codex

# macOS/Linux/Windows with npm
npm install -g @openai/codex

# Windows with winget
winget install OpenAI.Codex

For sign-in, use the remote terminal and complete the Codex login flow with your ChatGPT account or your OpenAI account:

• OpenAI Help: Sign in with ChatGPT for Codex CLI

RemoteVibeCode intentionally does not try to automate codex login. The login flow may require browser/account interaction, so it is safer and more reliable to authenticate from the remote host's normal terminal.

Codex update checks

After connecting, RemoteVibeCode checks the installed Codex version and compares it with the latest version it can discover from the remote environment.

• For Homebrew cask installs, the app can try brew update && brew upgrade --cask codex.
• For npm installs, the app can try npm install -g @openai/codex@latest.
• For Windows winget installs, the app can try winget upgrade --id OpenAI.Codex.
• If Codex was installed another way, the app shows manual update guidance instead of running an unsafe non-interactive update.

Some package managers may still require administrator rights, policy approval, or interactive confirmation. If an in-app update fails, run the matching command directly on the remote host.

Verify Codex before using the app

Do this on the remote machine first. If Codex is not working from the shell, RemoteVibeCode will not be able to start a useful session.

Examples:

codex --version
codex login
codex

Good signs that the system is ready:

• codex --version returns a version instead of “command not found”.
• codex login completes successfully if the machine is not already authenticated.
• codex debug models returns a model catalog. RemoteVibeCode uses this to refresh the model picker after each connect.
• Running codex opens the interactive CLI and accepts a simple prompt such as “Explain the files in this directory.”

SSH and network access

Your remote machine must be accessible over SSH from wherever the app is being used.

• Direct SSH access can work, but many users prefer to keep SSH private.
• Using a VPN is optional, but recommended when the server is inside your home lab, office, or private infrastructure.
• If you use a VPN, connect the iPhone or iPad to that VPN before starting RemoteVibeCode.

Recommended preflight checklist

1. SSH into the remote host from another terminal client.
2. Confirm you can reach the project directory you want to work in.
3. Run codex --version.
4. Run codex and verify it starts correctly.
5. Only then add the server to RemoteVibeCode and connect from the app.