Deploy and Host Ubuntu Developer Desktop (XFCE + dev tools) in your browser on Railway

A lightweight Ubuntu XFCE desktop in the cloud set up for coding: Git, build tools, Python with pip and venv, Node.js, the Geany editor, Meld for diffs and DB Browser for SQLite. Open it in any browser and code from any device.

About Hosting Ubuntu Developer Desktop (XFCE + dev tools) in your browser

The template runs the open source LinuxServer.io image webtop:ubuntu-xfce as one Railway service. The Ubuntu XFCE desktop is streamed to your browser over Railway's HTTPS domain on port 3000, and HTTP basic auth protects it with CUSTOM_USER and a generated PASSWORD that you copy from the service Variables. A volume is mounted at /config, the desktop user's home folder, so your files, settings and browser profiles survive restarts and redeploys. The first boot takes a minute or two.

Common Use Cases

A ready-made dev box you can open from a Chromebook, iPad or work laptop
Running scripts, bots and builds that keep going when your laptop is closed
Teaching or learning programming with nothing to install

Dependencies for Ubuntu Developer Desktop (XFCE + dev tools) in your browser Hosting

No other services: one container plus a volume
A modern browser; Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari all work

Implementation Details

Open the Railway domain, sign in with CUSTOM_USER and PASSWORD, and the desktop loads. The desktop user has passwordless sudo, so you can install software:

sudo apt update &amp;&amp; sudo apt install -y

Give the service at least 2 GB of memory for a smooth session. Image: lscr.io/webtop:ubuntu-xfce (https://github.com/linuxserver/docker-webtop).

The extra apps are installed by the LinuxServer universal-package-install mod each time the container starts, so the first boot and every restart take a few extra minutes. Add or remove apt packages in INSTALL_PACKAGES.

Why Deploy Ubuntu Developer Desktop (XFCE + dev tools) in your browser 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 Ubuntu Developer Desktop (XFCE + dev tools) in your browser 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.