Self-Hosted 9 min read

Self-Hosted AI Coding: Complete Control

Run AI-powered development on your own infrastructure. Keep your code, your environment, and your workflow entirely under your control.

YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE Your Server >_ claude code Bridge Terminal Mobile >_ Your Code .ts .py .go Everything stays within your control • Access from anywhere

What Self-Hosted AI Development Means

Self-hosted AI development means running your AI-assisted coding tools on infrastructure you control—whether that's your laptop, a home server, a company datacenter, or your own cloud VPS. The key distinction is ownership and control.

With self-hosted solutions like Bridge Terminal, your code never leaves your infrastructure. Claude Code runs directly on your machine, processing files locally. When you need remote access (like from your phone), Bridge Terminal creates a secure tunnel to your machine—not to a copy of your code sitting on someone else's server.

The Benefits of Self-Hosting

Complete Privacy

Your source code, configuration, and development activity never touch third-party servers. Only AI prompts and responses traverse the network.

Full Customization

Install any tools, use any configuration, integrate with any systems. Your environment is completely under your control.

Compliance Ready

Meet data residency requirements easily. Your code stays within your compliance perimeter by definition.

No Vendor Lock-in

Your infrastructure is independent of any AI provider. Switch models, providers, or tools without migration headaches.

Self-Hosting Options

Self-hosted doesn't mean complicated. Here are your options:

Your Laptop/Desktop

The simplest option. Install Claude Code and Bridge Terminal directly on your development machine. Access from your phone when you're away.

Best for: Individual developers, side projects

Home Server / NAS

Run Bridge Terminal on a dedicated home server that's always on. Perfect for consistent access without leaving your laptop running.

Best for: Power users, always-on access needs

Your Own VPS

Deploy to a VPS you control (DigitalOcean, Linode, Hetzner, etc.). You manage the server, you control the data. It's still "cloud," but it's your cloud.

Best for: Remote teams, high availability needs

Corporate Data Center

For enterprises, deploy within your existing infrastructure. Full integration with corporate security, networking, and compliance systems.

Best for: Enterprise, regulated industries

How Bridge Terminal Enables Self-Hosting

Bridge Terminal is designed from the ground up for self-hosted deployment:

# Install on your machine or server
$ curl -fsSL https://www.bridge-terminal.com/install.sh | sh
# Start the bridge (runs Claude Code locally)
$ bridge-terminal
Starting Bridge Terminal...
Claude Code: Running locally
Relay: Connected (for mobile access)
Ready for connections
# Connect from your phone via the mobile app
All commands execute on YOUR machine

The architecture is simple:

  • 1. Claude Code runs locally on your machine, with full access to your filesystem and tools.
  • 2. Bridge Terminal creates a secure connection so you can access your local Claude Code from anywhere.
  • 3. The mobile app connects to your machine, not to a cloud copy. Every command runs on your hardware.

Self-Hosted vs Cloud-Hosted: A Comparison

Feature Self-Hosted Cloud-Hosted
Code Location Your machine Provider's servers
Setup Complexity One command install Account + sync setup
Tool Access Any local tool Provider's toolset
Data Residency You decide Provider decides
Offline Capability Yes (local files) No
Cost Model Your infra + AI API Subscription

Who Should Self-Host?

Self-hosted AI development is ideal for:

Privacy-Conscious Developers

If you're uncomfortable with your code on third-party servers, self-hosting is the answer.

Enterprise Teams

Organizations with compliance requirements, security policies, or client confidentiality obligations.

Startups with IP

Companies whose value is in their code and can't risk exposure of proprietary algorithms or trade secrets.

Power Users

Developers who want maximum flexibility, customization, and control over their tools.

Conclusion

Self-hosted AI development isn't about rejecting the cloud—it's about choosing what goes where. You can still use cloud-based AI services (like Claude's API) while keeping your code firmly on your own infrastructure.

With tools like Bridge Terminal, you get the best of both worlds: powerful AI assistance and complete control over your most valuable asset. Your code stays where it belongs—with you.

Start Self-Hosting Today

Install Bridge Terminal in seconds and take control of your AI development environment.

Download Bridge Terminal