Stable names for dev servers
Every project gets a named address based on its folder or container name, so you can open the same project by name instead of chasing whatever port happens to be free.
Localdock
Localdock is a macOS menubar app that gives local dev servers stable project names and lets them open on the Mac, on Wi‑Fi, or through a temporary public HTTPS link. It is also aimed at AI coding workflows where port changes and orphaned servers are common.
What Localdock does
Localdock is a macOS menubar app for naming local dev servers so you can open them by project instead of by port. It gives each project a real address and keeps that name stable even when the underlying port changes.
The same project can be reached at different levels: on the Mac itself through a .localhost address, on the local network through a .local address, or as a temporary public HTTPS link. That makes it useful both for everyday local development and for situations where you need to show work on another device or to someone outside your network.
The product is also positioned for AI coding workflows, where agents may start servers on whatever port is free. Localdock keeps the browser URL pointing at the newest server and provides MCP tools so port collisions and orphaned processes are easier to manage.
Core capabilities
Three reach levels for the same project
A project can resolve as dashboard.localhost on the Mac itself, dashboard.local on devices on the same Wi‑Fi, or a temporary public HTTPS link when you need to share it further.
Phone testing on the local network
The Wi‑Fi mode is designed for real-device testing, including opening the project on a phone in Safari without installing anything on the phone or using a cable.
Temporary public sharing
Public sharing uses a key-gated HTTPS link that expires after an hour and stops when you switch it off or quit, so the share is temporary by design.
MCP tools for coding agents
The app includes an MCP server with list_ports, get_free_port, and cleanup tools, aimed at keeping agent-driven sessions from colliding on ports or leaving orphaned servers behind.
Running-server visibility
The app can show which projects are still listening and surface orphaned servers, helping you notice processes that were left running after you moved on.
Common use cases
Keep one address stable while ports change
If you run a local app that changes ports during development, Localdock lets you keep using the same project name in your browser, README, or OAuth callback settings.
Test on a phone over Wi‑Fi
When you want to see the real UI on an iPhone or another device on your network, you can switch a project to Wi‑Fi and open the .local address without installing anything on the phone.
Share a dev server briefly with others
If a client, teammate, or webhook provider needs to reach a work-in-progress build, you can move the project to Internet and share a temporary HTTPS link instead of deploying first.
Manage agent-driven development sessions
When multiple AI sessions are starting and stopping servers, the MCP tools can help reserve ports, list what is running, and clean up orphaned processes.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Gives each project a stable name, which avoids repeatedly updating browser tabs, bookmarks, and callback URLs when ports change.
- Supports three practical reach modes from the same project: local machine, same Wi‑Fi, and public sharing.
- Requires no setup for .localhost resolution and no hosts-file or admin changes.
- Makes phone testing straightforward because the phone only needs a browser on the same Wi‑Fi.
- Includes MCP tools that help AI agents avoid port conflicts and clean up orphaned servers.
Cons
- The public-link mode is temporary and best-effort, not a substitute for always-on hosting.
- The macOS app is the center of the workflow, so it is not presented as a cross-platform desktop tool.
- Android support is not described as a primary promise; the site specifically calls iPhone the verified, primary story for .local access.
FAQ
Does someone who opens a shared link need an app or account?
No. Localdock is a macOS menubar app, and the public-link flow is built around sharing a dev server from your Mac. The recipient only needs a browser.
Can I open a project from a phone on the same Wi‑Fi?
Yes, if you switch that project’s Reach to Wi‑Fi. Localdock then lets devices on the same network open the project at a .local address, with nothing installed on the phone.
Is Localdock meant for AI coding agents?
Yes. The app is described as stable with Claude Code, Cursor, and other MCP-capable agents. It also ships MCP tools for listing ports, getting a free port, and cleaning up localhost processes.
How long does a public link stay available?
The public link is temporary: it expires after an hour and stops immediately when you switch it off or quit the app. It is intended for best-effort sharing, not always-on hosting.
What does the pricing page say about payment and licensing?
The pricing page presents Localdock as a one-time purchase for macOS, with a licence key emailed after payment and version 1 updates included. It also states there is no subscription, no account, and no login.
Quick Facts
- Category
- Developer Tool
- Platform
- macOS
- Primary use
- Local dev server naming and sharing
- Source domain
- localdock.dev
- Pricing
- $9 one-time purchase
- Payment model
- No subscription; licence key emailed after payment
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