How do I install the Expose Localhost Tunnel skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add ariana-dot-dev/expose-localhost-tunnel in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Expose Localhost Tunnel safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Expose Localhost Tunnel?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Expose Localhost Tunnel free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Expose Localhost Tunnel?

ariana-dot-dev (@ariana-dot-dev) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Expose Localhost Tunnel by ariana-dot-dev

Name: Expose Localhost Tunnel
Author: ariana-dot-dev

Expose Localhost Tunnel

Tunnel/expose a localhost service to the internet from inside a cloud VM — get a stable public HTTPS URL (https://<box>-<port>.on.ascii.dev) with TLS and token-gating built in, no separate daemon or account like ngrok. The VM's dedicated IPv4 also allows raw TCP/UDP and bring-your-own domain. Use to share a preview, expose a webhook target, or open a port.

File contents

Expose / tunnel localhost (Box)

Use this when a service running in a Box must be reachable from outside: sharing a dev preview, receiving webhooks, or demoing. Because the service already runs inside the VM, exposing it is one command — no ngrok-style sidecar, no extra account, no cert setup.

Recipe

box ssh "$box_id" -- "cd /app && PORT=3000 npm start &"   # MUST bind 0.0.0.0
box ssh "$box_id" -- "host 3000 --title preview"
box ssh "$box_id" -- "host url 3000"                       # -> https://<box>-3000.on.ascii.dev?_token=...
box ssh "$box_id" -- "host list"                           # manage; host hide <port> to revoke

Ascii terminates TLS for on.ascii.dev and proxies to the box. URLs are token-gated by default (--public drops the token, --private enforces it).

Why Box beats a tunnel tool

No separate daemon/account — the route lives with the VM.
TLS + auth handled; URL stable across the box's life.
Dedicated IPv4 + full TCP/UDP — non-HTTP servers and BYO domains work; most sandbox providers can't tunnel raw TCP/UDP at all.

Prereqs

curl -fsSL https://box.ascii.dev/install | sh, then box login "$BOX_API_KEY" --json.

Gotchas

App must bind 0.0.0.0. For a URL that outlives a long session, pair with box extend <id> --no-auto-stop. EU-only region today.

Frequently asked questions