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OpenHands

Development2048MB+ RAM

Open-source autonomous AI software engineer (formerly OpenDevin) — give it a task and it codes, runs, and debugs

developmentaiopenhandsopen-sourceself-hosteddocker

Deploy OpenHands in 3 Steps

1

Connect Your VPS

Add your server credentials to Server Compass

2

Select OpenHands

Choose from our template library

3

Deploy & Configure

Fill in settings and click Deploy

No Docker knowledge required
Step-by-step deployment guide

Deploy OpenHands on a VPS with Server Compass

Use the OpenHands template in Server Compass to deploy the autonomous AI software engineer web UI on a disposable VPS, then verify the first-load configuration screen without entering provider keys.

About 10 minutesBrowser verified
1
Step 1

Open the server Apps tab

Select the tutorial-vps VPS, open the Apps tab, and start a new app deployment. Keep sensitive server details hidden before capturing or sharing screenshots.

Server Compass Apps tab before creating an OpenHands app
2
Step 2

Choose an app template

Click New App and choose the template deployment path so Server Compass can load the built-in catalog.

Choosing to deploy an app from a Server Compass template
3
Step 3

Search for OpenHands

Use the template picker search to find OpenHands in the Server Compass template catalog.

Searching for OpenHands in the Server Compass template picker
4
Step 4

Select the OpenHands template

Choose the OpenHands template. Server Compass fills the web service, Docker socket mount, sandbox runtime image, host mapping, and persistent state volume.

OpenHands template selected in Server Compass
5
Step 5

Review the OpenHands settings

Confirm the app name and web UI port. In this run, the app was named openhands-demo and used host port 4238.

Reviewing OpenHands project settings and compose service
6
Step 6

Deploy OpenHands

Review the generated compose settings, confirm the OpenHands web port is available, and click Deploy.

Reviewing OpenHands web port before deployment
7
Step 7

Watch the deployment progress

Keep the deployment modal open while Server Compass uploads the compose file, pulls the OpenHands image, starts the container, and verifies the stack.

Server Compass deploying the OpenHands template on the VPS
8
Step 8

Confirm OpenHands is running

After deployment finishes, return to the Apps tab and confirm the OpenHands app is marked Running with its application URL available.

OpenHands template running in the Server Compass Apps tab
9
Step 9

Open OpenHands in the browser

Open the application URL in a browser. The OpenHands first-load setup screen confirms the AI coding agent UI is reachable. Do not enter real LLM API keys during a public tutorial capture.

The deployed OpenHands web UI loaded in a browser

After OpenHands Opens

  • Restrict access with VPN, firewall rules, or reverse proxy authentication before configuring providers.
  • Configure an LLM provider only from a trusted private browser session.
  • Run a small disposable coding task first to verify the sandbox runtime can start.
  • Treat the Docker socket mount as host-root equivalent and avoid exposing this template publicly.

Verified Result

The OpenHands web interface loaded successfully from the deployed container.

OpenHands deployment questions

What does the OpenHands template deploy?

It deploys the OpenHands web app with access to the host Docker socket so the agent can spawn sandbox runtime containers.

Which port did the tutorial use?

The tutorial used host port 4238, which maps to the OpenHands web UI on container port 3000.

Does OpenHands need setup after deployment?

Yes. On first load, configure an LLM provider and optional GitHub integration from a private, protected session.

Should this become a blog post?

No. The deployment guide should live on the OpenHands template detail page and be linked from the reusable template deployment docs page.

After Deployment

After deploying OpenHands with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup

1

Restrict access via firewall / VPN before visiting the UI

2

Open http://YOUR_SERVER_IP:{{PORT}} and configure your LLM provider + API key

3

Connect a GitHub account if you want the agent to open PRs

4

Try a small task first (e.g., "add a README") to verify the runtime sandbox spawns correctly

Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.

OpenHands FAQ

Common questions about self-hosting OpenHands

How do I deploy OpenHands with Server Compass?

Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select OpenHands from the templates list. Fill in the required configuration and click Deploy. The entire process takes under 3 minutes.

What are the system requirements for OpenHands?

OpenHands requires a minimum of 2048MB RAM. We recommend a VPS with at least 4096MB RAM for optimal performance. Any modern Linux server with Docker support will work.

Can I migrate my existing OpenHands data?

Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard OpenHands backup and restore procedures.

How do I update OpenHands to the latest version?

Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest OpenHands image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.

Is OpenHands free to self-host?

OpenHands is open-source software. You only pay for your VPS hosting (typically $5-20/month) and optionally Server Compass ($29 one-time). No subscription fees or per-seat pricing.

Ready to Self-Host OpenHands?

Download Server Compass and deploy OpenHands to your VPS in under 3 minutes. No Docker expertise required.

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