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Set up Herdr for remote coding agents

A practical architecture for persistent coding-agent sessions that stay reachable from TalkTerm.

An optional coordinator for persistent terminals and coding agents. Turns scattered sessions into structured status, actions, and live agent views.

See what needs you without reading every terminal.
Mac mini and server rack representing a remote agent hostAgent hostMac · PC · VPS
SSH · Herdr optional
TalkTerm on iPhoneTalkTermiPhone · iPad

The architecture

Keep Herdr and the coding agents on one always-on host. TalkTerm reaches that host over SSH and uses Herdr’s machine-readable interfaces instead of exposing Herdr sockets to the network.

  • Agent host: VPS, Mac mini, or another always-on dev box
  • Coordinator: Herdr 0.7.5 or newer
  • Private transport: verified SSH, optionally routed through Tailscale
  • Mobile control: TalkTerm on iPhone or iPad

Verify the host

Install Herdr using its current official quick start, then verify the binary and available sessions before connecting a mobile client.

herdr --version
herdr status --json
herdr session list --json
herdr api snapshot

Keep the boundary simple

  • Do not publish Herdr’s local sockets.
  • Use one restricted SSH user for agent work.
  • Keep destructive session and workspace actions out of mobile automation.
  • Confirm new SSH host keys and fail closed when a key changes.

Connect TalkTerm

Add the existing SSH host once. TalkTerm can use the same verified host for a normal shell and for the native Herdr view. Open Herdr, check the snapshot, then open one agent terminal to verify the live stream.

Primary references