What is CMDOP?
CMDOP is a distributed system for remote machine control with persistent sessions. Agents connect outbound to a Control Plane — no open ports, no VPN, no firewall changes needed. Sessions survive disconnects, multiple clients can attach simultaneously, and AI systems operate as first-class participants. Supports CLI, Python SDK, mobile, and web clients.
CMDOP is a distributed system for remote machine control with persistent execution contexts. Unlike traditional SSH or VPN solutions, CMDOP treats sessions as first-class objects that exist independently of client connections.
What problems does traditional remote access have?
Traditional remote access has fundamental limitations:
| Limitation | SSH | VPN | Screen Sharing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session bound to connection | ✅ Disconnect = lose session | N/A | ✅ |
| Requires open ports | ✅ Port 22 | ✅ VPN ports | ✅ |
| Client software required | SSH client | VPN client | Viewer app |
| Multiple clients | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Programmatic access | Scripts only | Full network | ❌ |
| AI integration | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
How does CMDOP solve remote access?
What are the key innovations?
-
Session Independence
- Sessions persist independently of client connections
- Disconnect your laptop — processes keep running
- Reconnect from phone — same session, same state
-
Outbound-Only Agents
- Agents never listen for incoming connections
- Works through any NAT, CGNAT, corporate firewall
- No port forwarding required
-
Multi-Client Attachment
- Multiple clients can attach to the same session
- Start on CLI, continue on mobile, watch from web
- Collaborative debugging and operations
-
AI as First-Class Operator
- AI systems attach to sessions like human operators
- Structured output with Pydantic models
- Same permissions model
What are the main components?
What does the Agent do?
The agent runs on target machines and executes operations:
- Platforms: macOS, Linux, Windows, iOS
- Connection: Outbound gRPC to Control Plane
- Capabilities: Terminal, Files, Browser automation, AI tasks
What does the Control Plane do?
The backend service that orchestrates everything:
- Session Management: Creates, maintains, and routes sessions
- Authentication: OAuth-based workspace isolation
- Message Routing: Bidirectional streaming between agents and clients
- Real-time Events: WebSocket updates via Centrifugo
What client types are available?
Multiple client types can connect:
- CLI: Command-line interface for power users
- Python SDK: Programmatic access for automation
- Mobile App: iOS app for remote access
- Web Dashboard: Browser-based control panel
What are the main use cases?
How is CMDOP used for DevOps and SRE?
- SSH into servers from anywhere without VPN
- Run commands across multiple machines
- AI-assisted incident response
How does CMDOP work for homelab setups?
- Access home server through CGNAT
- No port forwarding, no dynamic DNS
- Full terminal + file access from phone
How can CMDOP be used for automation?
- Build automation scripts with Python SDK
- Structured AI output for reliable pipelines
- Browser automation on remote machines
How does CMDOP enable collaboration?
- Share terminal session with teammate
- AI observes and suggests fixes
- Real-time output streaming
Next Steps
- Architecture — Deep dive into system design
- How It Works — Connection and session flow
- Security — Authentication and isolation
- Get Started — Install and connect