One-time Setup

On the controlled machine

npm install -g @vitalops/opendesk-sdk   # or npx for one-off use
opendesk-js pair

You’ll see something like:

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  opendesk pairing                                    │
│  port:        8423                                   │
│  fingerprint: 9c2f:1abc:b3d4:8870                    │
│                                                      │
│  pairing code:  428901                               │
│                                                      │
│  On the controller machine run:                      │
│    opendesk-js pair-with <host> 428901               │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Leave this terminal open while pairing. Once a controller successfully pairs the process exits.

On the controller

npx opendesk-js discover

Lists _opendesk._tcp.local services on the LAN:

NAME                      ADDR                    FINGERPRINT              DESCRIPTION
mac-mini                  192.168.1.42:8423       9c2f:1abc:b3d4:8870

Now pair (using the code shown on the controlled machine):

npx opendesk-js pair-with mac-mini.local 428901 --name mini
# Paired with mini (9c2f:1abc:b3d4:8870)
# Now reachable as: opendesk-js connect mini

Both machines now have each other’s static public keys stored in ~/.opendesk/trusted-peers.json.

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Pairing done. Next: start the daemon →