Deploy and Host OpenCode on Railway

OpenCode is the open-source AI coding agent: it reads your repo, edits files, runs commands and tests, and works with any model provider. This template runs its web UI on your Railway domain behind a password, on an always-on Ubuntu box with a full toolchain, so the agent keeps working when your laptop is closed and you can check in from any browser or phone. It works the moment it deploys: OpenCode's free Zen models need no API key.

About Hosting OpenCode

One service, one volume. opencode web (pinned release, checksum-verified at build) runs on loopback behind nginx; OpenCode's own basic auth protects the UI and API with a generated password. The whole home directory /root is the volume, so sessions, provider logins, repos in ~/workspace, GitHub auth and dotfiles survive every redeploy. The UI's built-in terminal tabs give you a real shell next to the chat. SSH through a Railway TCP proxy is there too, with host keys stored on the volume, and oc in that shell opens the OpenCode terminal UI attached to the same server, so the web UI and the TUI share sessions.

The box ships git, gh, Node 22, Python 3 + uv, build-essential, ripgrep, fd, jq, tmux and vim, so the agent can install dependencies, build and run your tests without extra setup.

Common Use Cases

Run long coding tasks 24/7 without keeping your laptop open, then review the diff from your phone
Code from an iPad, Chromebook or a locked-down work machine: only a browser is needed
Try OpenCode with free models first, then plug in Claude, GPT, Gemini, OpenRouter or a local gateway
Give a small team one persistent agent workspace with the repos already cloned

Dependencies for OpenCode Hosting

None. Single service, no database. Model access: free OpenCode Zen models out of the box, or your own provider key.

Deployment Dependencies

OpenCode docs and source (MIT)
OpenCode Zen for the free and pay-as-you-go hosted models
GitHub CLI

Implementation Details

First use: open your Railway domain. The browser asks for a login: the user is opencode (OPENCODE_SERVER_USERNAME) and the password is the generated OPENCODE_SERVER_PASSWORD in the service's Variables tab. Open /root/workspace as your project (or clone a repo there), pick a model and start typing. Models marked free under OpenCode Zen work immediately with no key; paid providers can be connected in the UI, via opencode auth login in the terminal, or by setting ANTHROPIC_API_KEY, OPENAI_API_KEY or OPENROUTER_API_KEY on the service. Any other *_API_KEY variable you add (for example GOOGLE_GENERATIVE_AI_API_KEY, GROQ_API_KEY) is picked up too.

GitHub: set GH_TOKEN and gh, private git clone and git push just work (the box runs gh auth setup-git at boot). Or run gh auth login once in the terminal.

SSH: the template adds a TCP proxy for port 22. Copy the host and port from Settings → Networking and run ssh root@ -p with ROOT_PASSWORD, or put your public key in AUTHORIZED_KEYS and clear ROOT_PASSWORD for key-only login. Type oc for the OpenCode terminal UI in the current directory.

Upgrading OpenCode: the version is pinned in the Dockerfile so every deploy is the build that was tested; this repo bumps it regularly and a redeploy picks it up. Your data is untouched by upgrades.

Notes and limits:

Give the service at least 1 GB of RAM (the Trial plan's 1 GB is enough; the Free plan's 0.5 GB is not: OpenCode is OOM-killed on the first prompt). OpenCode itself uses about 0.3-0.7 GB, and builds or test runs the agent starts need more.
The agent runs as root with a shell. The web password is the lock: keep it strong and do not share the URL.
Anything installed outside /root is lost on redeploy; put tools in ~/.local/bin or reinstall them.
There is no Docker daemon inside the box.

Why Deploy OpenCode on Railway?

Railway is a singular platform to deploy your infrastructure stack. Railway will host your infrastructure so you don't have to deal with configuration, while allowing you to vertically and horizontally scale it.

By deploying OpenCode on Railway, you are one step closer to supporting a complete full-stack application with minimal burden. Host your servers, databases, AI agents, and more on Railway.