Startup Ideas Bank
Turning ChatGPT into a Codex clone for developers could be brilliant—if it weren't so riddled with security and adoption risks.
AI roast score: 60/100 (C)
The idea
Waishnav/devspace — Turn ChatGPT into Codex
DevSpace
Bring a Codex-style coding workflow to ChatGPT.
Give ChatGPT a secure connection to your own machine and Turn ChatGPT into Codex
DevSpace is a self-hosted MCP server that lets ChatGPT read, edit, search, and run code in your real local projects — your files, your tools, your terminal — without uploading anything to a third party. You run it on your machine, expose it through a tunnel you control, and approve the connection with a password only you have.
Installation
DevSpace requires Node >=20.12 <27 . Node 22 LTS is recommended.
Install the DevSpace CLI:
npm install -g @waishnav/devspace
Then initialize and start the server:
devspace init
devspace serve
Or run it without a global install:
npx @waishnav/devspace init
npx @waishnav/devspace serve
During setup, DevSpace asks for:
the local project folders ChatGPT is allowed to open through DevSpace
the local port, usually 7676
your public HTTPS base URL from Cloudflare Tunnel, ngrok, Pinggy, Tailscale Funnel, or
another reverse proxy
Use the public origin without /mcp during setup:
https://your-tunnel-host.example.com
You will configure your MCP client with the public /mcp URL after setup.
When the client connects, DevSpace opens an Owner password approval page. Enter
the Owner password printed by devspace init . It is also stored in:
~/.devspace/auth.json
Keep that password private.
Connect Your MCP Client
The default local endpoint is:
http://127.0.0.1:7676/mcp
Most users should connect through a public HTTPS tunnel:
https://your-tunnel-host.example.com/mcp
What ChatGPT Can Do
Once connected, ChatGPT can open one of your approved project folders as a
workspace. From there, it can inspect the repo, make scoped edits, run commands,
and show you what changed.
DevSpace gives ChatGPT tools to:
read, write, and edit files inside the opened workspace
search code and inspect directories
run shell commands for tests, builds, git, and package scripts
use isolated Git worktrees for parallel coding sessions
follow project instructions from AGENTS.md and CLAUDE.md
discover local agent skills from your skill folders
show tool cards and optional change summaries in ChatGPT Apps-compatible hosts
Mental Model
DevSpace is remote access to selected local folders.
You decide which roots are allowed. The MCP client still has powerful local
capabilities inside an opened workspace, including shell execution. Treat a
connected client like a trusted coding partner with access to your machine.
For a normal ChatGPT coding session:
Start your tunnel.
Run devspace serve .
Connect the MCP client to your public /mcp URL.
Approve the connection with the Owner password.
Ask ChatG
The roast
DevSpace aims to turn ChatGPT into Codex by granting it access to local coding environments, but the execution is fraught with issues. The need for developers to expose their machine to a third-party service, even with supposed security measures, is a hard sell. Most developers are not going to compromise on security for convenience. Additionally, the dependency on external tools like Cloudflare Tunnel or ngrok introduces friction that many might not tolerate.
Three glaring red flags stand out: the complex setup process that will deter less tech-savvy developers, the security risks associated with exposing local machines even through a 'secure' tunnel, and the founder's solo status which could hinder the execution and scaling of this ambitious project. Plus, the idea is still in its nascent stage (q12=idea), and the founder's biggest unknown is whether users will pay for it (q15=will_pay), making the whole proposition highly speculative.
Red flags
- Complex setup process
- Security risks of exposing local machines
- Solo founder with no external funding
Verdict
Focus on solving security issues and simplifying the setup process before expecting developers to adopt this tool.
Roast your own startup idea →