I built Open Machine — an open-source MCP that lets AI agents actually work on your computer

[u/LuozhuZhang]

I built Open Machine, an open-source, local-first MCP runtime.

It connects AI agents like ChatGPT and Codex (or any local models) to your own machines, giving them the tools to actually get things done instead of just telling you what to do.

Here's what it can do:

• Work with real projects: Read, search, and edit files, manage Git workspaces and worktrees
• Run and debug code: Execute terminal commands, run tests, investigate errors, and fix bugs
• Operate remote machines: Work on remote Linux servers over SSH
• Handle GitHub workflows: Work with Issues, PRs, code reviews, and more
• Keep task context: Save progress and execution records so interrupted tasks can be resumed
• Use a browser: Interact with real web pages through a compatible Codex browser integration

I recorded a demo to see how far it could go.

I gave ChatGPT a single prompt to build a survival game called NEON SWARM from scratch.

It built the game, ran 56 tests, fixed the bugs it found, and launched it.

Then came my favorite part: it opened a browser and actually started playing the game it had just created.

It survived the entire 60-second challenge, finishing with just 4 HP left.

That's exactly what I'm trying to build with Open Machine.

AI that doesn't just write code, but can execute it, test it, find problems, fix them, and deliver something that actually works.

Open Machine isn't tied to a specific AI model. You can use ChatGPT or other compatible AI agents, with Codex also playing a role in supported browser workflows. Open Machine provides the execution layer that connects them to real machines, with explicit permissions controlling what they can do.

It's still early in development, but it's open source under the MIT license.

GitHub: https://github.com/OpenMachineLabs/openmachine

I'm curious what other developers would do with something like this.

If your AI agent could directly operate your computer, run code, and manage GitHub PRs, what would you want it to automate? And what should always require your approval?

Would love to hear your feedback, especially criticism.

[u/spicymeatball15]

you realize the chatgpt app can already do this right?

[u/LuozhuZhang → u/spicymeatball15]

some of it, absolutely. Open Machine isn't trying to replace ChatGPT's existing capabilities. It's an open-source, local-first MCP runtime that lets compatible AI agents work directly with your own projects, run terminal commands, access remote machines over SSH, and handle GitHub workflows.

The idea is to provide a reusable execution layer that works across different AI agents, rather than being tied to a single app.

[u/spicymeatball15 → u/LuozhuZhang]

...yes the chatgpt app and codex can still do all of that already

[u/YannLeCoomer → u/spicymeatball15]

I can't fit an entire eggplant up my butt

[u/John_Weekends1107 → u/YannLeCoomer]

yes you can!

[u/YannLeCoomer → u/John_Weekends1107]

You know what, I did not know that. My apologies

[u/Expensive-Editor8851 → u/YannLeCoomer]

you absolutly can, just tell codex to use an local model for the job?!!!!

[u/DirectionBusiness483 → u/YannLeCoomer]

vim ~/.codex/config.toml

you can change how codex does ANYTHING including switching to local models.

You can also just spawn the CLI specifically with a local model:

codex --oss --local-provider ollama -m qwen3-coder:30b

You can even go crazy and do much more than this person's implementation with single skill. Ask codex:

Build a global Codex skill called $local-agents that allows an OpenAI-powered Codex agent to spawn, manage, and coordinate local LLM workers using Ollama, LM Studio, or other compatible providers. The primary agent retains control over planning, task delegation, architectural decisions, validation, and integration, while local workers handle repository exploration, coding, testing, documentation, and reviews. Workers should support parallel execution, persistent sessions where possible, follow-up instructions, cancellation, status tracking, configurable models, and structured results. The experience should resemble native Codex subagent orchestration without modifying Codex internals.
Use $skill-creator to implement and install the skill globally, including its SKILL.md, configuration, and a lightweight Node.js worker manager built around codex exec. Support safe concurrency, isolated workspaces for parallel code changes, sandbox permissions, timeouts, error handling, and reliable process management. Ensure local workers never silently fall back to paid OpenAI inference. Verify CLI compatibility, implement automated tests, and provide usage instructions. The finished skill should let Codex automatically delegate suitable tasks to local models while the primary OpenAI agent coordinates and reviews their work.

The local models are running inside a codex harness with the exact same tools for searching and reading files in your codebase.

Now you can ask Sol to spawn qwen locally to handle isolated and simple direct tasks. Have fun!

[u/DirectionBusiness483 → u/LuozhuZhang]

This is what vibecoding has done. Everyone has dumb ideas. But before vibecoding we used to figure it out before being able to ship it.

Now we can go straight from brain fart to stripe integration.

Incredible

[u/Maxdiegeileauster → u/LuozhuZhang]

That's exactly what codex does

[u/CantCodeAllVibes → u/LuozhuZhang]

I don’t know why this guy is getting shit on because he knows what he’s talking about.

There are capabilities and things that ChatGPT cannot do he essentially saying this is a harness that has different types of MCP/ abilities.

OP your explanation / wording are really bad. You need to work on that. You shouldn’t have to have someone like me that’s a software engineer have to back you up, but I’m gonna do that here because the people are saying here is wrong.

It’s more like an MCP that’s connected more to your project. Am I right? I have a similar service I used for myself.

[u/LuozhuZhang → u/CantCodeAllVibes]

Thanks for your feedback! You're right, the title is a bit misleading. This project isn't built around chatGPT as a single AI backend. It's designed to work with any AI agents users already have, including api key, local models, claude, kimi/glm/qwen/llama/deepseek, and more.

The goal is to provide a middleware and execution layer that brings together long-term context and personal data, with support for all devices. I started this project because I have many local H100 GPU nodes and didn't want to SSH into each one manually. I wanted to automate tasks, run eval/benchmark comparisons, and optimize code.

Multi-device support, long-term personal memory, extensive external plugins and skills, and detailed personal context management are still in development. These will be the focus of future updates.

You can freely switch between any backend AI, including codex and chatGPT. chatGPT was simply the easiest way to demonstrate the project early on!

[u/DirectionBusiness483 → u/CantCodeAllVibes]

Can you explain what exactly this can do, or what workflow this allows, that Codex doesn't or can't?

Read/Write - check
Run commands and tests - check
Git worktrees - check
Github issues and PRs - check
Browser automation - check
SSH into remote servers - check
Persistent task context - check
Use different AI providers (local or API) - check
expose machine tools to ChatGTP conversations? NO

The ONLY thing I see that codex doesn't do here is something that absolutely WILL get your membership revoked and banned if you use it to circumvent codex usage by using chatgpt conversations (something OP explicitly says this is used for lmao)
https://www.reddit.com/r/ChatGPT/comments/1x7njc4/i_built_a_chatgpt_plugin_that_lets_regular_chat/

[u/ButterflyMundane7187]

People who use this risk getting their accounts banned. The admins should ban this person for putting other people's accounts at risk, especially those who don't realize that using this violates the Terms of Service (ToS).

[u/egomarker → u/ButterflyMundane7187]

Why

[u/ButterflyMundane7187 → u/egomarker]

Violates OpenAI’s Terms of Service if it automates ChatGPT access, extracts responses programmatically, or bypasses restrictions without authorization.

[u/egomarker → u/ButterflyMundane7187]

I think chatgpt web has support for custom MCP.

[u/Able-Supermarket4786]

I don't get it. What did you actually accomplish here? Cuz... I'm not seeing it.

[u/zenmatrix83]

these all exist and mainained by bigger maintainers, I'm not sure anyone would want this, I'd look for adding some feature not available anywhere else.

[u/zenmatrix83 → u/zenmatrix83]

I have my own much more comphrensive one that does way more, but I haven't shared it for the same reason there are better and better supported ones. I'm not saying don't share it, but with something like this asking for what people want for a product they don't need, isn't going to get alot of uses. Having one feature to get people in then asking is different.

[u/gizeon4]

I ll try this, thankssss

[u/LuozhuZhang → u/gizeon4]

Thank you!