Guide · iPad

Remote development from iPad (2026)

An iPad makes a capable development surface once the work runs on a real machine and the tablet just holds the terminal. This guide sets up remote development from iPad with QuickTUI: attach your machine terminal, run agents, keep long jobs alive, and fall back to the browser client when you need it.

The model is straightforward: the compiler, the repo, and the agents all live on a machine you host; the iPad attaches a live terminal view over your own machine. Nothing heavy runs on the tablet, so battery and thermals stay out of the way and the session is the same one you use at your desk. QuickTUI ships a native iPad app plus a browser client for exactly this.

Set up your machine

Install QuickTUI on the machine that holds your code: a workstation, home machine, or cloud box. It sets up the service. On macOS/Linux install tmux 3.2+ yourself first (the installer does not install tmux). On Windows it installs the qscn session backend automatically.

curl -fsSL https://quicktui.ai/q.sh | sh

irm https://quicktui.ai/q.ps1 | iex

Windows note: the session backend is qscn, not tmux. Create sessions with New Session in the app; the tmux new-session examples below apply to macOS/Linux.

Pair the iPad app with the platform commands below, or add a server by URL and token.

# macOS / Linux
quicktui-server --pair-qrcode

# Windows (PowerShell)
& "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\QuickTUI\quicktui-server.exe" --pair-qrcode

The connection is direct by default, so your code and keys never touch our servers.

Work from the iPad

• Attach your terminal. Open the session on the machine and you are in the live view: tmux windows, panes, and scrollback, the same on iPad as on the desktop.
• Run agents. Start Claude Code, Codex, or any CLI in a session and drive it from the tablet; supervise, approve, and steer without leaving the terminal.
• Keep long jobs alive. Builds, test suites, and agent runs stay running in tmux after you detach. The session keeper reattaches across Wi-Fi to LTE or 5G, app backgrounding, and dropped connections.
• Browser fallback. When you would rather not use the app, open the browser client served by your own machine and attach the same session from Safari.

FAQ

Can I actually develop on an iPad this way?

Yes. The build tools, repository, and agents run on your machine; the iPad attaches a live terminal view. With a hardware keyboard it works like a terminal on any laptop.

Do long-running jobs survive if I close the iPad?

Yes. Jobs run in tmux on the machine and keep going after you detach. QuickTUI's session keeper reattaches to the live session when you reopen the app or the browser client.

Is there a browser option?

Yes. Your machine hosts a browser client, so you can attach the same session from Safari or any browser when you prefer not to use the app.