Releases: tinydesk-project/tinydesk
Release list
TinyDesk 0.1.5
TinyDesk developer preview
A mouse-operated desktop running on an ESP32, displayed in your terminal.
Drag and resize windows, browse files, edit and save text, and use the
embedded shell. MQTT and Modbus apps connect the desktop to real projects.
This release is a developer preview: expect rough edges, and please report
what breaks.
New in 0.1.5
- New home: the code is at github.com/tinydesk-project and the
documentation, installer and update information at
https://tinydesk-project.github.io/. Boards running 0.1.3 or 0.1.4
still find this update at the old address; from 0.1.5 on they check
the new one. - Update information can move: should the site move again, the old
update information can name the new address (moved), and boards
follow it from then on (HTTPS only; your ownupdate.urlstill comes
first).ota feedshows the address in use and why,ota feed reset
forgets a moved one. - Only root changes the network policy:
network modeand
network autowifiwith a value need root; any user still sees them. - Board configuration numbers are decimal or
0xhexadecimal; a
leading zero no longer means octal. - For contributors:
STANDARDS.mdin TinyDesk Shell sets out names,
code style, commands, board keys and release rules, also for
community ports.
Also since 0.1.0: Software Update offers to save built-in pins before
an official update, non-ASCII names line up, long command lines wrap
(0.1.4); official updates in Software Update and fixes for boards
without PSRAM (0.1.3); the SD card at /sd and in Files (0.1.2);
ping -c, MQTT over TLS in the PC programs, and tdsh.exe for Windows.
Install
- ESP boards, from the browser: https://tinydesk-project.github.io/install/
(Chrome or Edge on a computer). Pick the edition and your exact board. - Open the board in the browser: https://tinydesk-project.github.io/console/
(a real terminal with mouse support; the installer's own Logs & Console
cannot show the desktop). - Without the browser: each
*-factory.binbelow is flashed at offset 0
with esptool; see the installer page for the commands. - PC programs:
tinydesk-desktop-windows-x64.zipand
tinydesk-shell-windows-x64.zip(Windows 10 or later, run them in Windows
Terminal),tinydesk-desktop-linux-x86_64.tar.gzand
tinydesk-shell-linux-x86_64.tar.gz(x86_64, built on Ubuntu 22.04).
Check the files against SHA256SUMS.txt. The firmware is not signed.
Factory flashing can erase user data: back up an existing board first.
Before connecting
Use a UTF-8 terminal with ANSI/VT cursor control and xterm mouse reporting,
or the web terminal above. ESP32-C6 uses its built-in USB port (any speed);
the classic ESP32 Desktop edition uses 921600 baud, the Shell edition
115200. On the local console, run passwd as root (initial password:
TinyDesk). Remote access is blocked until that password changes. Telnet
starts disabled; enable it explicitly in Network only on a trusted network.
It is unencrypted and root-only because it takes over the existing desktop.
SSH provides a separate encrypted shell, not the windowed desktop (the 4 MB
ESP32 Desktop build has no SSH server).
Physical password recovery is unavailable after a Telnet takeover until the
board reboots. Remote takeover is refused while physical recovery is active.
Choose the exact board
| Desktop target | Required hardware | Screen | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESP32-C6 | 8 MB flash, built-in USB Serial/JTAG | up to 80×25 | |
| ESP32 with PSRAM | 16 MB flash plus PSRAM (e.g. WROVER-IE N16R8) | up to 256×96 | |
| ESP32 4 MB | 4 MB flash, no PSRAM needed (e.g. WROOM-32) | up to 80×25 | no SSH server, no over-the-air updates |
| Windows, Linux | x86_64 PC | up to 400×150 | no Wi-Fi, OTA or users (the PC's network is used) |
Measured on our boards with this firmware (About → Free RAM, idle desktop
after start-up, Wi-Fi connected unless noted):
| Board | Firmware size (app slot) | Free RAM |
|---|---|---|
| ESP32-C6 | 1.83 MB (2.5 MB slot, 27 % free) | about 167 KB |
| ESP32 with PSRAM | 1.73 MB (3 MB slot, 42 % free) | about 155 KB internal + 3.2 MB PSRAM |
| ESP32 4 MB | 1.66 MB (2.5 MB slot, 34 % free) | about 96 KB, Wi-Fi not connected |
What is in this preview
- Desktop: overlapping windows (move, resize, minimise, maximise, full
screen), taskbar, start menu, desktop icons, drag and drop, copy and paste
with the PC; Dark theme by default; the screen follows the terminal's size. - Apps: Terminal (TinyDesk Shell), Files, Editor, Network, MQTT (TLS),
Modbus TCP/RTU with a TCP server, System Monitor, Task Manager, Log Viewer,
Settings, Software Update (OTA with rollback), About. - Shell scripts (
.tdsh): variables,if/while/for, functions, pipes
and redirection; right-click → Run on the desktop. - Two editions: TinyDesk Desktop, and TinyDesk Shell on its own.
- Security: physical recovery uses a transport trust policy, not just shell
task identity; Telnet is opt-in; Telnet, SSH and FTP reject the factory
password. - PC programs: the Windows desktop follows Windows Terminal when it is
resized or maximised, and its shell hasifconfig,ping,date,cal
andtz. - Board pins come from a configuration file (
boardcommand), not from
the code. - Tests gate release builds; every release starts as a draft pre-release.
TinyDesk 0.1.4
TinyDesk developer preview
A mouse-operated desktop running on an ESP32, displayed in your terminal.
Drag and resize windows, browse files, edit and save text, and use the
embedded shell. MQTT and Modbus apps connect the desktop to real projects.
This release is a developer preview: expect rough edges, and please report
what breaks.
New in 0.1.4
- The first update you can install from Software Update: boards
running 0.1.3 (ESP32-C6, ESP32 with PSRAM) find 0.1.4 with Check for
official updates, or tell you about it within a day. - Your pins survive an official update. If you built the firmware
with your ownboard.conf, its pins are built in, and an official
update (built without them) would start without Ethernet, SD card or
RS-485. Software Update now asks first: Save and install copies them
to/etc/board.conf(asboard savedoes in the shell);ota install
refuses until they are saved. - Non-ASCII names line up and stay whole: Wi-Fi networks, files and
window titles with characters such as é, ☕ or 中 no longer push the
columns after them out of line (the signal bars overlapped the name),
and desktop icon labels, titles and dialogs never cut a character in
half. - Long command lines in the Terminal (and over SSH and serial)
wrap over several rows and stay editable; before, text was left behind
or doubled. - Editor: a file keeps its name when saved (on Linux the second Ctrl+S
asked for a name).mqtt statusnames the TLS handshake. Both are
contributions, with new tests for the widgets and the Editor. - For contributors and people who build from source: the ESP code
shared by the boards is inports/esp_idf; the C sources are formatted
with clang-format 16, with a pre-commit hook (pip install pre-commit,
thenpre-commit install); seeCONTRIBUTING.md.
Also since 0.1.0: official updates in Software Update and fixes for
boards without PSRAM (0.1.3), the SD card at /sd and in Files (0.1.2),
ping -c, MQTT over TLS in the PC programs, and tdsh.exe for Windows.
Install
- ESP boards, from the browser: https://schikani.github.io/tinydesk-docs/install/
(Chrome or Edge on a computer). Pick the edition and your exact board. - Open the board in the browser: https://schikani.github.io/tinydesk-docs/console/
(a real terminal with mouse support; the installer's own Logs & Console
cannot show the desktop). - Without the browser: each
*-factory.binbelow is flashed at offset 0
with esptool; see the installer page for the commands. - PC programs:
tinydesk-desktop-windows-x64.zipand
tinydesk-shell-windows-x64.zip(Windows 10 or later, run them in Windows
Terminal),tinydesk-desktop-linux-x86_64.tar.gzand
tinydesk-shell-linux-x86_64.tar.gz(x86_64, built on Ubuntu 22.04).
Check the files against SHA256SUMS.txt. The firmware is not signed.
Factory flashing can erase user data: back up an existing board first.
Before connecting
Use a UTF-8 terminal with ANSI/VT cursor control and xterm mouse reporting,
or the web terminal above. ESP32-C6 uses its built-in USB port (any speed);
the classic ESP32 Desktop edition uses 921600 baud, the Shell edition
115200. On the local console, run passwd as root (initial password:
TinyDesk). Remote access is blocked until that password changes. Telnet
starts disabled; enable it explicitly in Network only on a trusted network.
It is unencrypted and root-only because it takes over the existing desktop.
SSH provides a separate encrypted shell, not the windowed desktop (the 4 MB
ESP32 Desktop build has no SSH server).
Physical password recovery is unavailable after a Telnet takeover until the
board reboots. Remote takeover is refused while physical recovery is active.
Choose the exact board
| Desktop target | Required hardware | Screen | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESP32-C6 | 8 MB flash, built-in USB Serial/JTAG | up to 80×25 | |
| ESP32 with PSRAM | 16 MB flash plus PSRAM (e.g. WROVER-IE N16R8) | up to 256×96 | |
| ESP32 4 MB | 4 MB flash, no PSRAM needed (e.g. WROOM-32) | up to 80×25 | no SSH server, no over-the-air updates |
| Windows, Linux | x86_64 PC | up to 400×150 | no Wi-Fi, OTA or users (the PC's network is used) |
Measured on our boards with this firmware (About → Free RAM, idle desktop
after start-up, Wi-Fi connected unless noted):
| Board | Firmware size (app slot) | Free RAM |
|---|---|---|
| ESP32-C6 | 1.83 MB (2.5 MB slot, 27 % free) | about 167 KB |
| ESP32 with PSRAM | 1.73 MB (3 MB slot, 42 % free) | about 155 KB internal + 3.2 MB PSRAM |
| ESP32 4 MB | 1.66 MB (2.5 MB slot, 34 % free) | about 96 KB, Wi-Fi not connected |
What is in this preview
- Desktop: overlapping windows (move, resize, minimise, maximise, full
screen), taskbar, start menu, desktop icons, drag and drop, copy and paste
with the PC; Dark theme by default; the screen follows the terminal's size. - Apps: Terminal (TinyDesk Shell), Files, Editor, Network, MQTT (TLS),
Modbus TCP/RTU with a TCP server, System Monitor, Task Manager, Log Viewer,
Settings, Software Update (OTA with rollback), About. - Shell scripts (
.tdsh): variables,if/while/for, functions, pipes
and redirection; right-click → Run on the desktop. - Two editions: TinyDesk Desktop, and TinyDesk Shell on its own.
- Security: physical recovery uses a transport trust policy, not just shell
task identity; Telnet is opt-in; Telnet, SSH and FTP reject the factory
password. - PC programs: the Windows desktop follows Windows Terminal when it is
resized or maximised, and its shell hasifconfig,ping,date,cal
andtz. - Board pins come from a configuration file (
boardcommand), not from
the code. - Tests gate release builds; every release starts as a draft pre-release.
TinyDesk 0.1.3
TinyDesk developer preview
A mouse-operated desktop running on an ESP32, displayed in your terminal.
Drag and resize windows, browse files, edit and save text, and use the
embedded shell. MQTT and Modbus apps connect the desktop to real projects.
This release is a developer preview: expect rough edges, and please report
what breaks.
New in 0.1.3
- Official updates: Software Update has Check for official updates
(it fills in the newest release's image and shows its version, date and
size; Install installs it) and Check daily and notify me, which tells
you once when a newer version is out. Shell:ota official. From this
release on, each release carries what the ESP32-C6 and ESP32 (PSRAM)
boards need for it; the 4 MB ESP32 cannot update over the air.
Fixes for problems reported on an ESP32-2432S028R (4 MB, no PSRAM):
- No more restart with many windows open. Opening the Log Viewer (or
another app) with several windows open could restart a board without
PSRAM. Now an app that does not fit says Too many windows are open.
Close one, then try again., and more fits: 16 windows, 96 widgets on
boards without PSRAM (was 40), 128 with it. With every app opened one
after another: all 13 fit on the ESP32 with PSRAM, 12 on the 4 MB ESP32,
11 on the ESP32-C6. - Task Manager lists the tasks with many windows open (it could stay
empty); the Task Manager, MQTT and Modbus say Not enough memory instead
of not opening. - nano in the Terminal window shows its status line and help (Ctrl+C:
the cursor position); it assumed an 80x24 screen. - The factory password is named:
passwdsays the old password is
TinyDesk(capital T and D) while root still has it, and the Network app
andssh startsay so when they keep remote access off. - Software Update on the 4 MB ESP32 explains that it cannot update over
the air and how to update instead.
Also since 0.1.0: the SD card at /sd and in Files (0.1.2), ping -c,
MQTT over TLS in the PC programs, and tdsh.exe for Windows.
Install
- ESP boards, from the browser: https://schikani.github.io/tinydesk-docs/install/
(Chrome or Edge on a computer). Pick the edition and your exact board. - Open the board in the browser: https://schikani.github.io/tinydesk-docs/console/
(a real terminal with mouse support; the installer's own Logs & Console
cannot show the desktop). - Without the browser: each
*-factory.binbelow is flashed at offset 0
with esptool; see the installer page for the commands. - PC programs:
tinydesk-desktop-windows-x64.zipand
tinydesk-shell-windows-x64.zip(Windows 10 or later, run them in Windows
Terminal),tinydesk-desktop-linux-x86_64.tar.gzand
tinydesk-shell-linux-x86_64.tar.gz(x86_64, built on Ubuntu 22.04).
Check the files against SHA256SUMS.txt. The firmware is not signed.
Factory flashing can erase user data: back up an existing board first.
Before connecting
Use a UTF-8 terminal with ANSI/VT cursor control and xterm mouse reporting,
or the web terminal above. ESP32-C6 uses its built-in USB port (any speed);
the classic ESP32 Desktop edition uses 921600 baud, the Shell edition
115200. On the local console, run passwd as root (initial password:
TinyDesk). Remote access is blocked until that password changes. Telnet
starts disabled; enable it explicitly in Network only on a trusted network.
It is unencrypted and root-only because it takes over the existing desktop.
SSH provides a separate encrypted shell, not the windowed desktop (the 4 MB
ESP32 Desktop build has no SSH server).
Physical password recovery is unavailable after a Telnet takeover until the
board reboots. Remote takeover is refused while physical recovery is active.
Choose the exact board
| Desktop target | Required hardware | Screen | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESP32-C6 | 8 MB flash, built-in USB Serial/JTAG | up to 80×25 | |
| ESP32 with PSRAM | 16 MB flash plus PSRAM (e.g. WROVER-IE N16R8) | up to 256×96 | |
| ESP32 4 MB | 4 MB flash, no PSRAM needed (e.g. WROOM-32) | up to 80×25 | no SSH server, no over-the-air updates |
| Windows, Linux | x86_64 PC | up to 400×150 | no Wi-Fi, OTA or users (the PC's network is used) |
Measured on our boards with this firmware (About → Free RAM, idle desktop,
Wi-Fi connected):
| Board | Firmware size (app slot) | Free RAM |
|---|---|---|
| ESP32-C6 | 1.80 MB (2.5 MB slot, 28 % free) | about 179 KB |
| ESP32 with PSRAM | 1.71 MB (3 MB slot, 43 % free) | about 155 KB internal + 3.2 MB PSRAM |
| ESP32 4 MB | 1.64 MB (2.5 MB slot, 35 % free) | about 71 KB |
What is in this preview
- Desktop: overlapping windows (move, resize, minimise, maximise, full
screen), taskbar, start menu, desktop icons, drag and drop, copy and paste
with the PC; Dark theme by default; the screen follows the terminal's size. - Apps: Terminal (TinyDesk Shell), Files, Editor, Network, MQTT (TLS),
Modbus TCP/RTU with a TCP server, System Monitor, Task Manager, Log Viewer,
Settings, Software Update (OTA with rollback), About. - Shell scripts (
.tdsh): variables,if/while/for, functions, pipes
and redirection; right-click → Run on the desktop. - Two editions: TinyDesk Desktop, and TinyDesk Shell on its own.
- Security: physical recovery uses a transport trust policy, not just shell
task identity; Telnet is opt-in; Telnet, SSH and FTP reject the factory
password. - PC programs: the Windows desktop follows Windows Terminal when it is
resized or maximised, and its shell hasifconfig,ping,date,cal
andtz. - Board pins come from a configuration file (
boardcommand), not from
the code. - Tests gate release builds; every release starts as a draft pre-release.
TinyDesk 0.1.2
TinyDesk developer preview
A mouse-operated desktop running on an ESP32, displayed in your terminal.
Drag and resize windows, browse files, edit and save text, and use the
embedded shell. MQTT and Modbus apps connect the desktop to real projects.
This release is a developer preview: expect rough edges, and please report
what breaks.
New in 0.1.2
- SD card: with TinyDesk Shell 0.1.2's
sdcommand a FAT card on the
SPI bus is/sdin the Terminal, FTP and SFTP, and the foldersdin
Files; long file names work.sd mount/sd umount(root), or
board set sd.automount 1to mount it at every boot. The release
firmware has no pins built in: set them once, for example
board set sd.cs 22when the card shares the W6100'seth.*bus, or
alsosd.miso,sd.mosiandsd.sclk, then restart. pingin the Terminal window shows the replies and the statistics
(only its first line appeared), and takes-c <count>.
Also since 0.1.0: MQTT over TLS in the Windows and Linux programs (mbedTLS
v3.6.7), and tinydesk-shell-windows-x64.zip with tdsh.exe.
Install
- ESP boards, from the browser: https://schikani.github.io/tinydesk-docs/install/
(Chrome or Edge on a computer). Pick the edition and your exact board. - Open the board in the browser: https://schikani.github.io/tinydesk-docs/console/
(a real terminal with mouse support; the installer's own Logs & Console
cannot show the desktop). - Without the browser: each
*-factory.binbelow is flashed at offset 0
with esptool; see the installer page for the commands. - PC programs:
tinydesk-desktop-windows-x64.zipand
tinydesk-shell-windows-x64.zip(Windows 10 or later, run them in Windows
Terminal),tinydesk-desktop-linux-x86_64.tar.gzand
tinydesk-shell-linux-x86_64.tar.gz(x86_64, built on Ubuntu 22.04).
Check the files against SHA256SUMS.txt. The firmware is not signed.
Factory flashing can erase user data: back up an existing board first.
Before connecting
Use a UTF-8 terminal with ANSI/VT cursor control and xterm mouse reporting,
or the web terminal above. ESP32-C6 uses its built-in USB port (any speed);
the classic ESP32 Desktop edition uses 921600 baud, the Shell edition
115200. On the local console, run passwd as root (initial password:
TinyDesk). Remote access is blocked until that password changes. Telnet
starts disabled; enable it explicitly in Network only on a trusted network.
It is unencrypted and root-only because it takes over the existing desktop.
SSH provides a separate encrypted shell, not the windowed desktop (the 4 MB
ESP32 Desktop build has no SSH server).
Physical password recovery is unavailable after a Telnet takeover until the
board reboots. Remote takeover is refused while physical recovery is active.
Choose the exact board
| Desktop target | Required hardware | Screen | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESP32-C6 | 8 MB flash, built-in USB Serial/JTAG | up to 80×25 | |
| ESP32 with PSRAM | 16 MB flash plus PSRAM (e.g. WROVER-IE N16R8) | up to 256×96 | |
| ESP32 4 MB | 4 MB flash, no PSRAM needed (e.g. WROOM-32) | up to 80×25 | no SSH server, no over-the-air updates |
| Windows, Linux | x86_64 PC | up to 400×150 | no Wi-Fi, OTA or users (the PC's network is used) |
Measured on our boards with this firmware (About → Free RAM, idle desktop,
Wi-Fi connected):
| Board | Firmware size (app slot) | Free RAM |
|---|---|---|
| ESP32-C6 | 1.80 MB (2.5 MB slot, 28 % free) | about 179 KB |
| ESP32 with PSRAM | 1.71 MB (3 MB slot, 43 % free) | about 155 KB internal + 3.2 MB PSRAM |
| ESP32 4 MB | 1.64 MB (2.5 MB slot, 35 % free) | about 71 KB |
What is in this preview
- Desktop: overlapping windows (move, resize, minimise, maximise, full
screen), taskbar, start menu, desktop icons, drag and drop, copy and paste
with the PC; Dark theme by default; the screen follows the terminal's size. - Apps: Terminal (TinyDesk Shell), Files, Editor, Network, MQTT (TLS),
Modbus TCP/RTU with a TCP server, System Monitor, Task Manager, Log Viewer,
Settings, Software Update (OTA with rollback), About. - Shell scripts (
.tdsh): variables,if/while/for, functions, pipes
and redirection; right-click → Run on the desktop. - Two editions: TinyDesk Desktop, and TinyDesk Shell on its own.
- Security: physical recovery uses a transport trust policy, not just shell
task identity; Telnet is opt-in; Telnet, SSH and FTP reject the factory
password. - PC programs: the Windows desktop follows Windows Terminal when it is
resized or maximised, and its shell hasifconfig,ping,date,cal
andtz. - Board pins come from a configuration file (
boardcommand), not from
the code. - Tests gate release builds; every release starts as a draft pre-release.
TinyDesk 0.1.1
TinyDesk developer preview
A mouse-operated desktop running on an ESP32, displayed in your terminal.
Drag and resize windows, browse files, edit and save text, and use the
embedded shell. MQTT and Modbus apps connect the desktop to real projects.
This release is a developer preview: expect rough edges, and please report
what breaks.
New in 0.1.1
- MQTT over TLS in the PC programs. The Windows and Linux programs of
0.1.0 were built without mbedTLS and refusedmqtts://("not available in
this build"). They are now built against mbedTLS v3.6.7, and a release
build without TLS fails. - TinyDesk Shell for Windows:
tinydesk-shell-windows-x64.ziphas
tdsh.exe, the Shell edition as a native Windows program (TinyDesk Shell
0.1.1). The Desktop edition's Windows program uses the same Windows port. - Messages say "TinyDesk" throughout; the firmware is otherwise unchanged
from 0.1.0.
Install
- ESP boards, from the browser: https://schikani.github.io/tinydesk-docs/install/
(Chrome or Edge on a computer). Pick the edition and your exact board. - Open the board in the browser: https://schikani.github.io/tinydesk-docs/console/
(a real terminal with mouse support; the installer's own Logs & Console
cannot show the desktop). - Without the browser: each
*-factory.binbelow is flashed at offset 0
with esptool; see the installer page for the commands. - PC programs:
tinydesk-desktop-windows-x64.zipand
tinydesk-shell-windows-x64.zip(Windows 10 or later, run them in Windows
Terminal),tinydesk-desktop-linux-x86_64.tar.gzand
tinydesk-shell-linux-x86_64.tar.gz(x86_64, built on Ubuntu 22.04).
Check the files against SHA256SUMS.txt. The firmware is not signed.
Factory flashing can erase user data: back up an existing board first.
Before connecting
Use a UTF-8 terminal with ANSI/VT cursor control and xterm mouse reporting,
or the web terminal above. ESP32-C6 uses its built-in USB port (any speed);
the classic ESP32 Desktop edition uses 921600 baud, the Shell edition
115200. On the local console, run passwd as root (initial password:
TinyDesk). Remote access is blocked until that password changes. Telnet
starts disabled; enable it explicitly in Network only on a trusted network.
It is unencrypted and root-only because it takes over the existing desktop.
SSH provides a separate encrypted shell, not the windowed desktop.
Physical password recovery is unavailable after a Telnet takeover until the
board reboots. Remote takeover is refused while physical recovery is active.
Choose the exact board
| Desktop target | Required hardware | Screen | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESP32-C6 | 8 MB flash, built-in USB Serial/JTAG | up to 80×25 | |
| ESP32 with PSRAM | 16 MB flash plus PSRAM (e.g. WROVER-IE N16R8) | up to 256×96 | |
| ESP32 4 MB | 4 MB flash, no PSRAM needed (e.g. WROOM-32) | up to 80×25 | no SSH server, no over-the-air updates |
| Windows, Linux | x86_64 PC | up to 400×150 | no Wi-Fi, OTA or users (the PC's network is used) |
Measured on our boards with this firmware (About → Free RAM, idle desktop,
Wi-Fi connected):
| Board | Firmware size (app slot) | Free RAM |
|---|---|---|
| ESP32-C6 | 1.80 MB (2.5 MB slot, 28 % free) | about 179 KB |
| ESP32 with PSRAM | 1.71 MB (3 MB slot, 43 % free) | about 155 KB internal + 3.2 MB PSRAM |
| ESP32 4 MB | 1.64 MB (2.5 MB slot, 35 % free) | about 71 KB |
What is in this preview
- Desktop: overlapping windows (move, resize, minimise, maximise, full
screen), taskbar, start menu, desktop icons, drag and drop, copy and paste
with the PC; Dark theme by default; the screen follows the terminal's size. - Apps: Terminal (TinyDesk Shell), Files, Editor, Network, MQTT (TLS),
Modbus TCP/RTU with a TCP server, System Monitor, Task Manager, Log Viewer,
Settings, Software Update (OTA with rollback), About. - Shell scripts (
.tdsh): variables,if/while/for, functions, pipes
and redirection; right-click → Run on the desktop. - Two editions: TinyDesk Desktop, and TinyDesk Shell on its own.
- Security: physical recovery uses a transport trust policy, not just shell
task identity; Telnet is opt-in; Telnet, SSH and FTP reject the factory
password. - PC programs: the Windows desktop follows Windows Terminal when it is
resized or maximised, and its shell hasifconfig,ping,date,cal
andtz. - Board pins come from a configuration file (
boardcommand), not from
the code. - Tests gate release builds; every release starts as a draft pre-release.
TinyDesk 0.1.0
TinyDesk developer preview
A mouse-operated desktop running on an ESP32, displayed in your terminal.
Drag and resize windows, browse files, edit and save text, and use the
embedded shell. MQTT and Modbus apps connect the desktop to real projects.
This release is a developer preview: expect rough edges, and please report
what breaks.
Install
- ESP boards, from the browser: https://schikani.github.io/tinydesk-docs/install/
(Chrome or Edge on a computer). Pick the edition and your exact board. - Open the board in the browser: https://schikani.github.io/tinydesk-docs/console/
(a real terminal with mouse support; the installer's own Logs & Console
cannot show the desktop). - Without the browser: each
*-factory.binbelow is flashed at offset 0
with esptool; see the installer page for the commands. - PC programs:
tinydesk-desktop-windows-x64.zip(Windows 10 or later, run
it in Windows Terminal),tinydesk-desktop-linux-x86_64.tar.gzand
tinydesk-shell-linux-x86_64.tar.gz(x86_64, built on Ubuntu 22.04).
Check the files against SHA256SUMS.txt. The firmware is not signed.
Factory flashing can erase user data: back up an existing board first.
Before connecting
Use a UTF-8 terminal with ANSI/VT cursor control and xterm mouse reporting,
or the web terminal above. ESP32-C6 uses its built-in USB port (any speed);
the classic ESP32 Desktop edition uses 921600 baud, the Shell edition
115200. On the local console, run passwd as root (initial password:
TinyDesk). Remote access is blocked until that password changes. Telnet
starts disabled; enable it explicitly in Network only on a trusted network.
It is unencrypted and root-only because it takes over the existing desktop.
SSH provides a separate encrypted shell, not the windowed desktop.
Physical password recovery is unavailable after a Telnet takeover until the
board reboots. Remote takeover is refused while physical recovery is active.
Choose the exact board
| Desktop target | Required hardware | Screen | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESP32-C6 | 8 MB flash, built-in USB Serial/JTAG | up to 80×25 | |
| ESP32 with PSRAM | 16 MB flash plus PSRAM (e.g. WROVER-IE N16R8) | up to 256×96 | |
| ESP32 4 MB | 4 MB flash, no PSRAM needed (e.g. WROOM-32) | up to 80×25 | no SSH server, no over-the-air updates |
| Windows, Linux | x86_64 PC | up to 400×150 | no Wi-Fi, OTA or users (the PC's network is used) |
Measured on our boards with this firmware (About → Free RAM, idle desktop,
Wi-Fi connected):
| Board | Firmware size (app slot) | Free RAM |
|---|---|---|
| ESP32-C6 | 1.80 MB (2.5 MB slot, 28 % free) | about 179 KB |
| ESP32 with PSRAM | 1.71 MB (3 MB slot, 43 % free) | about 155 KB internal + 3.2 MB PSRAM |
| ESP32 4 MB | 1.64 MB (2.5 MB slot, 35 % free) | about 71 KB |
What is in this preview
- Desktop: overlapping windows (move, resize, minimise, maximise, full
screen), taskbar, start menu, desktop icons, drag and drop, copy and paste
with the PC; Dark theme by default; the screen follows the terminal's size. - Apps: Terminal (TinyDesk Shell), Files, Editor, Network, MQTT (TLS),
Modbus TCP/RTU with a TCP server, System Monitor, Task Manager, Log Viewer,
Settings, Software Update (OTA with rollback), About. - Shell scripts (
.tdsh): variables,if/while/for, functions, pipes
and redirection; right-click → Run on the desktop. - Two editions: TinyDesk Desktop, and TinyDesk Shell on its own.
- Security: physical recovery uses a transport trust policy, not just shell
task identity; Telnet is opt-in; Telnet, SSH and FTP reject the factory
password. - PC programs: the Windows desktop follows Windows Terminal when it is
resized or maximised, and its shell hasifconfig,ping,date,cal
andtz. - Board pins come from a configuration file (
boardcommand), not from
the code. - Tests gate release builds; every release starts as a draft pre-release.