Give ChatGPT a real machine through three familiar MCP tools:
exec_commandwrite_stdinapply_patch
Zodex has two first-class execution modes. They share the same tool contract and explicit absolute workdir model, but deliberately use different host and trust boundaries.
| Mode | Host | Trust model | ChatGPT connection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local | Your trusted Apple Silicon Mac | Commands run as your logged-in user; Zodex is not a sandbox | OpenAI Secure MCP Tunnel |
| Sprite | Wake-on-demand remote Linux | Restricted guest runtime plus isolated GitHub writer credentials | Canonical Cloudflare Worker → public Sprite wake edge |
Install the operator CLI on Apple Silicon macOS or Linux (x86_64/aarch64):
curl -fsSL https://zodex.ashray.xyz/install.sh | bash
export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"The normal non-root install uses ~/.local/bin; add that PATH line to your shell profile to keep it available in new terminals. An explicitly root-run install uses /usr/local/bin instead.
Then choose a mode:
# Trusted Apple Silicon Mac
zodex local setup
zodex local start --ttl 4h
# Wake-on-demand remote Linux
zodex sprite setup --helpThe normal installer always installs the operator CLI. Sprite setup provisions the smaller guest runtime explicitly; the operator zodex binary is not installed in the agent shell.
Local is for a Mac you already trust. It connects ChatGPT through an OpenAI Secure MCP Tunnel, runs commands as your logged-in user, and includes Agent-aware live observation plus durable history.
Start here: Local guide
Sprite is for a separate Linux workspace that can sleep when idle and wake on incoming work. The supported ChatGPT path is:
ChatGPT custom app
→ Cloudflare Worker
→ public Sprite HTTPS wake edge
→ zodexd
→ restricted zodex-agent workspace
The Worker is deployed by the installed operator; users do not need a Zodex checkout or hand-edited Wrangler project. GitHub reads use a narrow reader App, while PR publishing and direct-push policy use a separate writer App whose private key stays isolated from the agent account.
Start here: Sprite guide
Most OpenAI paid plans support custom MCP servers.
Frontier GPT models already know how to work with a command runner, an interactive stdin channel, and patch application. Zodex keeps that surface small while handling PTYs, process groups, long-running sessions, explicit working directories, runtime cleanup, and mode-specific infrastructure underneath it.