Guide ยท iPad
Remote development from iPad (2026)
An iPad makes a capable development surface once the work runs on a real server and the tablet just holds the terminal. This guide sets up remote development from iPad with QuickTUI: attach your server terminal, run coding 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 server. 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 the server
Install QuickTUI on the machine that holds your code: a workstation, home server, or cloud box. It sets up the service and can install tmux 3.2+ if needed.
macOS / Linux
curl -fsSL https://quicktui.ai/q.sh | shWindows (PowerShell)
irm https://quicktui.ai/q.ps1 | iexPair the iPad app by scanning quicktui-server --qrcode, or add the server by URL
and token. 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 server 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 server 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 server; 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 server 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 server hosts a browser client, so you can attach the same session from Safari or any browser when you prefer not to use the app.