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**Version:** v3.0.0 (Security-Enhanced) Tailscale • Nginx • code-server • Multi-user
**Breaking changes:** Unix user isolation added in v3.0.0
==================================================
Languages:🇬🇧 English | 🇪🇸 Español
A production-ready system for running multiple isolated code-server workspaces using Docker, Nginx, and Tailscale.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ HOST SYSTEM │
│ │
│ ┌──────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ Tailscale │────────▶│ Nginx │ │
│ │ Funnel │ │ (Port 80) │ │
│ │ (Public) │ │ │ │
│ └──────────────┘ │ / → Landing Page │ │
│ │ /user1/ → 127.0.0.1:8081 │ │
│ │ /user2/ → 127.0.0.1:8082 │ │
│ │ ... │ │
│ │ /user20/ → 127.0.0.1:8100 │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │ │
│ ▼ │
│ ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ DOCKER CONTAINER (codex-workspaces) │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ │ │
│ │ │ user1 │ │ user2 │ ... │ user20 │ │ │
│ │ │ :8081 │ │ :8082 │ │ :8100 │ │ │
│ │ │code- │ │code- │ │code- │ │ │
│ │ │server │ │server │ │server │ │ │
│ │ └──────────┘ └──────────┘ └──────────┘ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ All workspaces running in ONE container │ │
│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │ │
│ ▼ │
│ ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ ~/codex/users/ (Persistent Storage) │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ user1/ user2/ user3/ ... user20/ │ │
│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Components: Nginx (reverse proxy) + Tailscale (public exposure) on host → Docker container with code-server instances → Persistent storage
- Docker, Nginx, Tailscale (authenticated)
curl,unzip- Ubuntu 22.04 LTS recommended
chmod +x codex-setup.sh
sudo ./codex-setup.shYou will be asked to choose:
- Full Setup (Tailscale Public Access): Public URL via Tailscale funnel (
https://app.ts.net) - Local Network Setup (LAN only): LAN access only via server IP (
http://192.168.x.x) - Uninstall (Delete everything): Remove Codex services, data, and configs
Option 1: Full Setup (Tailscale Public Access)
- Secure HTTPS endpoint through Tailscale funnel
- Accessible from anywhere with your Tailscale auth
- Prompts for
myapp.ts.net-style domain
Option 2: Local Network Setup (LAN only)
- Standard HTTP served on the LAN only
- Detects server IP automatically (you can override)
- No Tailscale or public internet required; access via
http://<SERVER-IP>/
Option 3: Uninstall (Delete everything)
- Stops systemd services and removes Docker container/image
- Removes Nginx config, workspace data, and supporting files
- Requires typing
YESto confirm irreversible deletion
export CODEX_NUM_USERS=15
export CODEX_DOMAIN="myapp.ts.net"
sudo -E ./codex-setup.sh| Language | Version | Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Python | 3.10+ | pip, venv, pipenv, poetry, black, flake8 |
| Node.js | 22.12.0 LTS (NVM) | Bun (preferred), npm, yarn, pnpm, TypeScript, ESLint, Prettier, nodemon |
| Node.js (Next) | 24.x Current | Available via NVM (nvm use 24) |
| Go | 1.25.5 | go mod, go build, go test |
| Rust | Latest (rustup) | cargo, rustc |
| C++ | GCC toolchain | g++, make, build-essential |
| C# | .NET SDK 8.0 | dotnet CLI, new console/web templates |
Also included: Git, build-essential, gcc/g++, wget, curl, code-server, NVM profile hooks, .NET workload manager
Supported projects: React, Vue, Flask, Django, Express, FastAPI, REST APIs, CLI tools, data science, and more
- Workspace 1:
user1/user1-pass - Workspace 2:
user2/user2-pass - ...and so on
Unix User Isolation:
- Each workspace runs as dedicated Linux user (
user1-user30) - No root access inside workspaces
- Users can VIEW other workspaces (read-only) but CANNOT DELETE files outside their own
Permissions:
- Own workspace: Full read/write/delete
- Other workspaces: Read-only
- System files: Read-only
Test it:
docker exec -it codex-workspaces su - user1
whoami # Shows: user1
rm /bin/ls # Permission deniedsystemctl status codex-workspaces
docker ps | grep codexsudo systemctl restart codex-workspacesdocker logs -f codex-workspaces
journalctl -xeu codex-workspacessudo ./codex-setup.sh
# Choose option 3: Uninstall (Delete everything)# Type 'YES' to confirmWhat gets removed:
- All workspace data
- Docker container & image
- Nginx configs
- Systemd services
- Tailscale funnel
Edit variables before installation or use environment variables:
CODEX_NUM_USERS=25 # Number of workspaces (1-30)
CODEX_DOMAIN="app.ts.net"# Your Tailscale domainTo change configuration: Re-run setup script with new values. Cleanup is automatic.
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Container not running | sudo systemctl restart codex-workspaces |
| 502 Bad Gateway | Check if container is up: docker ps |
| Port conflicts | Verify ports 8081-81XX are available |
| File permission errors | Workspaces run as Unix users (by design) |
Check logs:
docker logs --tail 50 codex-workspaces
journalctl -xeu codex-workspaces --no-pager -n 50| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| OS | Ubuntu 22.04 LTS |
| Docker | 20.10+ |
| Nginx | 1.18+ |
| Tailscale | Any recent version |
Version: v3.0.0 (Security-Enhanced)
Release: December 2025
# Backup data (optional)
sudo cp -r ~/codex/users ~/codex-backup
# Run setup (automatic cleanup)
sudo ./codex-setup.shBreaking changes: Unix user isolation added in v3.0.0
codex-workspaces/
├── codex-setup.sh # Main installer/orchestrator script
├── src/ # React + Tailwind UI for the desktop companion
├── public/ # Static assets (workspaces.json, manifest, icons)
├── src-tauri/ # Tauri Rust backend and bundle config
├── dist/ # Vite build output (generated)
├── node_modules/ # Project dependencies (generated)
├── package.json # Vite/Tauri workspace manifest
├── tailwind.config.js # Tailwind design tokens
├── vite.config.ts # Vite + PWA configuration
├── README.md # EN docs
└── README.es.md # ES docs
Once codex-setup.sh runs it provisions the server under ~/codex/:
~/codex/
├── landing/ # Workspace selector served by Nginx
├── users/ # user1 … userN home directories
└── docker/ # Auto-generated Dockerfile and startup scripts
The bundled desktop assistant streamlines running codex-setup.sh and opening workspaces.
- Bun (preferred) or Node.js 18+ with npm available
- Rust toolchain +
cargo install tauri-cli
bun install# Launch Vite + Tauri together
bun run tauri:dev
# Browser-only preview (optional)
bun run devThe UI defaults to the repository copy of codex-setup.sh. Update the path field in the app if you relocate it.
# Compile production assets
bun run build
# Produce Linux bundles (AppImage, deb, rpm) and the raw binary
bun run tauri:build
# Produce only the raw Linux executable (no AppImage/deb/rpm)
bun run tauri build --bundles noneExecutables live under src-tauri/target/release/.
- Nginx: Port 80 (host)
- Code-server: Ports 8081-81XX (inside container, using
--network host) - Tailscale: HTTPS via funnel
Main Script:
codex-setup.sh- Multi-mode: Full (1), Cleanup (2), or Local (3)
Usage:
sudo ./codex-setup.sh
# Option 1: Full Setup (Tailscale)# Option 2: Local Network Mode (LAN only)# Option 3: Uninstall (Delete everything)All configuration via interactive prompts or environment variables (CODEX_NUM_USERS, CODEX_DOMAIN).
MIT License - Copyright (c) 2025 Buffer Ring Organization
See LICENSE for details.
Developed by BufferRing
Website: bufferring.org
Community Project: This is an open-source educational tool made freely available to students and teachers. It is not officially endorsed by or affiliated with any institution or government entity.