{"slug": "how-to-run-one-task-on-all-your-computers-from-a-single-chatgpt-or-claude-chat", "title": "How to run one task on all your computers from a single ChatGPT or Claude chat", "summary": "The developer behind Local Commander released a setup that lets a single ChatGPT, Claude or Cursor chat run tasks across multiple computers through a hosted MCP server at localcmd.app. A lightweight agent installed on each machine (via npx local-commander-agent@latest, Node.js 20+) opens an outgoing connection and waits for work, so no port forwarding is needed, while the model calls tools like file reads, searches and command execution on whichever computer is addressed. The author notes that prompt-level 'don't' instructions only steer the model and that actual access controls, command blocking and revocation are managed at localcmd.app.", "body_md": "Few people who work with computers have just one. There's the work machine, the PC at home, maybe a small server or a cloud VM, and a parent's laptop in another city that only gets attention when it breaks.\n\nEach of them is a separate trip. Open a remote session, SSH in, walk to the other room, or talk your mom through Settings over the phone. Then do the same thing again on the next machine.\n\nThe AI chat you already use knows most of the commands for those jobs. What it lacks is a way onto your computers. This post shows one way to give it that: real prompts, the setup, and where it stops being the right tool.\n\nI build Local Commander, so this is the setup I know best. It has two parts. A small agent runs on each computer under your user account; it opens an outgoing connection to localcmd.app and waits for work, so there's no port forwarding to set up. Your AI app connects to the hosted MCP server at `https://localcmd.app/mcp` (Streamable HTTP, OAuth sign-in). When you ask for something, the model calls tools on that server, such as read a file, search, run a command, check Git or ask a local web service whether it answers, and each call runs on the computer it was addressed to. Independent tasks on different computers run side by side; work on the same folder waits its turn. If more than one computer is online and you didn't say which one, the server's instructions tell the model to ask instead of guessing. It works from ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor and other apps that support remote MCP with sign-in.\n\nName computers the way they appear in your account. The prompts below are examples; change the names and details to match yours.\n\nYou have a few machines that are supposed to just run. Instead of logging in to each one:\n\nCheck disk space, memory and failed services on all my servers and tell me which one needs attention.\n\nThe model sends the same kind of check to each computer, reads what comes back and gives you one answer instead of a row of terminal windows. Then follow up with \"Show me the command and output you based that on.\" Ask for the evidence, not only the verdict.\n\nThe build passes on your desktop and fails on the laptop. Before anyone touches code:\n\nCompare this project on Work PC and Laptop: Git revision, Node and package-manager versions, the lockfile and the build command. Then run the build on both at the same time and show me the first difference that matters, as a table with one column per computer. Don't install anything or edit files.\n\nIf the two machines are on different revisions, you see that before anyone starts blaming the environment.\n\nDisk space is the classic. Include the machines you would otherwise have to visit:\n\nCheck free disk space on every computer, including Mom's laptop. On any with less than 10% free, list the biggest folders in the user's profile. Don't delete or move anything.\n\nWhen one of them turns out to be the real problem, stay in the same chat and narrow it down:\n\nOn Mom's laptop, find out why her photo app no longer starts. Check its error logs, whether it is running, and free disk space. Explain it in plain words I can read to her over the phone. Don't uninstall anything, restart the computer or change settings.\n\nThe \"don't\" lines are worth keeping in any prompt that only needs to look. They steer the model, but they are not a lock; that is what access settings are for (more below).\n\n`npx local-commander-agent@latest`. You need Node.js 20 or later.` https://localcmd.app/mcp` as a remote MCP server in ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor or another app, and sign in with your Local Commander account.\nThere's no code to write. Do the install before you need it: a laptop in another city has to be set up while someone is sitting at it, ideally its owner, and with their permission.\n\nYou can block commands, cancel a running task, and revoke a computer or an AI app at localcmd.app at any time.\n\n**Can I do this from my phone?**\n\nYes, through any AI app on your phone that is connected to Local Commander. The computer must be awake, online and running the agent. If your deploy runs from your work PC, you can start it from a train, as long as that PC is on.\n\n**Do I need to write code?**\n\nNo. Install the agent, approve it, and type requests in the AI chat you already use.\n\n**Can it run the same task on all my computers at once?**\n\nYes. Ask for it in one message. Independent tasks run side by side; work on the same folder waits its turn.\n\n**Which systems does the agent support?**\n\nWindows 11 x64, macOS 14 or later on Apple Silicon, and Linux with a systemd user session (Ubuntu 24.04 x64 or arm64), with Node.js 20 or later.\n\n**Does it show me the other computer's screen?**\n\nIt isn't a screen-sharing tool. It works through commands, files and logs, with no mouse control. If a fix needs someone to click through a dialog, use screen sharing.\n\nIf your machines are spread across more than one place, I'd like to hear which job you would hand over first, and where this setup gets in your way. The same steps are on the guide page: [https://localcmd.app/control-multiple-computers-with-ai](https://localcmd.app/control-multiple-computers-with-ai)", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/how-to-run-one-task-on-all-your-computers-from-a-single-chatgpt-or-claude-chat", "canonical_source": "https://dev.to/netbka/how-to-run-one-task-on-all-your-computers-from-a-single-chatgpt-or-claude-chat-21g", "published_at": "2026-10-23 09:03:24+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-10-23 09:11:41.208276+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["ai-agents", "agent-protocols", "ai-tools", "developer-tools"], "entities": ["Local Commander", "ChatGPT", "Claude", "Cursor", "localcmd.app", "Node.js"], "also_reported_by": [], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/how-to-run-one-task-on-all-your-computers-from-a-single-chatgpt-or-claude-chat", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/how-to-run-one-task-on-all-your-computers-from-a-single-chatgpt-or-claude-chat.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/how-to-run-one-task-on-all-your-computers-from-a-single-chatgpt-or-claude-chat.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/how-to-run-one-task-on-all-your-computers-from-a-single-chatgpt-or-claude-chat.jsonld"}}