Stop Doom Scrolling, Start Doom Coding: Build via the terminal from your phone

Post by dpoloncsak » Wed, Jan 07, 2026, 2:50 PM UTC

runjake wrote: post #124

analogpixel wrote: post #39

So this is the 4th+ article I've seen on using a VPN to vibe code on your phone. Would an email interface to Claude code work better? - Email Claude to start the coding - Claude emails you with any thing it needs acked on. - you reply back to emails telling it what to do. - maybe Claude can run your program and send back screen shots. seems easier then getting a vpn working. What is the downside to using email?

> Would an email interface to Claude code work better? No. > What is the downside to using email? Email is clunky and feedback is not immediate. > seems easier then getting a vpn working. Tailscale is easy for a dev to get going and very reliable. The author uses the Termius SSH app with Mosh, so it keeps the same SSH session going across device sleeps and disconnects. Tmux is helpful, too. I do exactly what the auth…

Post by carlgreene » Wed, Jan 07, 2026, 2:56 PM UTC

lrvick wrote: post #340

igleria wrote: post #332

> Great for parties where you rather be home tinkering. I know this is probably in jest, but when someone invites you to a party it's not because they just want your atoms in the same room as them. In regards to doom coding: I would chop off my arms before coding/prompting on a phone. Also, think about your cervical, neck etc! I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!

I host weekly friend-of-friend open events where some people show up most weeks, find a nice comfortable spot to doom scroll in for a couple hours, maybe take a nap, leave, sit in their car for a bit, scroll some more, then go home. I am just hoping they actually took a break from doom scrolling while driving as then at least I can say I had some non zero positive impact on their lives. 5 years phone-free and I do no…

Post by yoz-y » Wed, Jan 07, 2026, 3:14 PM UTC

FooBarWidget wrote: post #267

yoz-y wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It worked for me for finishing my app (vps+shellfish+gemini-cli), I've done a lot of coding like this on the train and in between sets in the gym, picking up on the more complicated stuff when at home. But also all of the changes I made from the phone were incremental.

In between sets!? I've found that if I do any activity in between sets (like watching Twitter) I'll just end up spending way too much and then make the exercise session super long. Also I can't focus and write a serious prompt or review serious results in just or 3 minutes. But maybe it works if the app is sonething you've recently worked on and you already have very clearly in your mind what you want, it just needs…

Post by tropicalhunter » Wed, Jan 07, 2026, 3:31 PM UTC

Post by zahlman » Wed, Jan 07, 2026, 3:46 PM UTC

godelski wrote: post #164

zahlman wrote: post #159

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I appreciate the thought, but advice like this is completely irrelevant to my current circumstances (and personal principles) and would be very expensive (respectively, emotionally unpleasant) to implement.

Just trying to help given that you responded. I'm happy to help you find solutions but the constraints might be too much, unfortunately. If you don't have a machine that can run local AI and don't have the funds to buy one then frankly it just isn't in the cards. But hey, if you don't want to use AI or at least willing to use non-local then the setup probably doesn't require you to spend a dime.