What is this?
Puter is an open-source, self-hostable 'internet computer' — a web-based desktop environment that bundles everyday apps, cloud storage, and a developer platform (AI, database, serverless workers) accessible from any browser.
Puter is an open-source, self-hostable 'internet computer' — a web-based desktop environment that bundles everyday apps, cloud storage, and a developer platform (AI, database, serverless workers) accessible from any browser.Is this a browser-based desktop, or a native app I install on my computer?It is a full web desktop: you open it in a browser and get windows, apps, and a file system, instead of installing a native desktop application.
It is a full web desktop: you open it in a browser and get windows, apps, and a file system, instead of installing a native desktop application.How do I actually get Puter running?You can just use the hosted version at puter.com, run it locally for development, or self-host it yourself using the dedicated setup for Linux/macOS or Windows.
You can just use the hosted version at puter.com, run it locally for development, or self-host it yourself using the dedicated setup for Linux/macOS or Windows.What do I need to self-host it myself?The project ships with a Dockerfile and Docker Compose setup, so you can self-host with Docker; it also requires Node.js 24+ if you want to run it directly without containers.
The project ships with a Dockerfile and Docker Compose setup, so you can self-host with Docker; it also requires Node.js 24+ if you want to run it directly without containers.Is Puter built for end users, for developers, or both?Both: end users get ready-made apps like Notepad, Voice Recorder, Spreadsheet, and Camera, while developers get APIs for AI, cloud storage, database, and serverless workers to build and publish their own web apps.
Both: end users get ready-made apps like Notepad, Voice Recorder, Spreadsheet, and Camera, while developers get APIs for AI, cloud storage, database, and serverless workers to build and publish their own web apps.What does the AGPL-3.0 license mean for me here?The whole repository is AGPL-3.0, so any public-facing modified version of Puter you run — including a self-hosted fork you expose to other users — must also release its source code.
The whole repository is AGPL-3.0, so any public-facing modified version of Puter you run — including a self-hosted fork you expose to other users — must also release its source code.What apps come built into Puter out of the box?Puter ships with everyday apps like Notepad, Voice Recorder, Spreadsheet, and Camera, aiming to be an all-in-one solution for your digital life.
Puter ships with everyday apps like Notepad, Voice Recorder, Spreadsheet, and Camera, aiming to be an all-in-one solution for your digital life.What can developers build on top of Puter?Developers get access to AI, cloud storage, a database, and serverless Workers, and can publish their apps on Puter's App Store to reach and monetize users.
Developers get access to AI, cloud storage, a database, and serverless Workers, and can publish their apps on Puter's App Store to reach and monetize users.Why is it called 'the Internet Computer'?Because it packages a full computing experience — apps, storage, compute, and a file system — so it behaves like a computer you access from any browser instead of installing locally.
Because it packages a full computing experience — apps, storage, compute, and a file system — so it behaves like a computer you access from any browser instead of installing locally.Is Puter available in languages other than English?Yes, the interface and docs are translated into over 30 languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, and Hindi.
Yes, the interface and docs are translated into over 30 languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, and Hindi.Which topics is it in?nas, dropbox, desktop-environment, os, good-first-issue, cloud-storage, remote-desktop, marketplace, operating-system, serverless, storage, translation
nas, dropbox, desktop-environment, os, good-first-issue, cloud-storage, remote-desktop, marketplace, operating-system, serverless, storage, translation