What is RepoTunnel
Understand the local-first gateway model and what RepoTunnel is designed to control.
Guides follow the current project source. Check the release notes for your installed version.
Purpose
RepoTunnel is a local-first AI workspace gateway. It connects AI clients to the projects and local tools you approve, with separate controls for reading, editing and taking actions.
Model Context Protocol (MCP) is a standard that lets AI applications connect to external tools and data. RepoTunnel acts as an MCP server on your machine: your AI client requests a tool, and RepoTunnel checks the workspace permissions before carrying it out.
Core workflow
- Add or clone a project
- Choose workspace access and AI mode
- Start a supported authenticated connection
- Connect an MCP-compatible AI client
- Inspect and work through capability-specific tools
- Verify the result from live project state
What RepoTunnel is not
RepoTunnel is not a hosted coding environment, a cloud drive, a replacement AI model, or a general unrestricted remote desktop. The desktop app remains the local control plane.
Who should use it
RepoTunnel is intended for people who want an MCP-compatible AI client to work with real local projects while retaining machine-side control over what is accessible. It is useful for code review, bounded editing, repository investigation, tests, browser workflows and supported device tasks.
It is not a replacement for your AI provider, your source-control system, your operating system permissions or your own review of high-impact changes.
The minimum setup
Install the desktop app, approve one project folder, select a read-only or read-write permission, and start an authenticated connection that your AI client can reach.
From the AI client, ask for the registered workspaces. Then try reading a non-sensitive file inside the approved project. That simple round trip verifies both tool discovery and actual filesystem authorization.
- Start read-only if you only need analysis.
- Choose AI Review when you want to inspect edits before they touch files.
- Enable additional device or desktop capabilities independently when needed.
Know the limits
Linux is the primary live-validated development platform. Windows and macOS releases exist, but native automation coverage and complete process recovery are not identical on every operating system. Review the platform reference for the feature you intend to use.
Remote connections depend on an accessible authenticated HTTPS endpoint. RepoTunnel itself does not magically make a local-only service reachable from the public Internet.