Rapserver

Below are a few GitHub repositories and projects that can help you build a web-based GUI/CLI interface on your Raspberry Pi without needing an external Wi-Fi network by using pi hostpot to connect:

  1. RaspiAP (RasPi Access Point WebGUI)

Overview: RaspiAP is a popular project that turns your Raspberry Pi into a wireless access point with an easy-to-use web interface. Its web GUI lets you manage Wi-Fi settings, network connections, and various system configurations.

GitHub Repository: github.com/billz/raspap-webgui

  1. Shell In A Box

Overview: Shell In A Box provides a web-based terminal emulator that lets you access a full Bash shell from your browser. It’s ideal for establishing a CLI interface over your Pi’s own hotspot.

GitHub Repository: github.com/shellinabox/shellinabox

  1. Cockpit

Overview: Cockpit is a server management tool with a web-based interface designed to monitor system performance and manage services. Though it’s normally installed via package managers, its source is available on GitHub for those who want to dive deeper or contribute.

GitHub Repository: github.com/cockpit-project/cockpit

  1. DIY Flask/Django Projects

Overview: If you're interested in custom solutions, there are plenty of example projects on GitHub that utilize Flask or Django to create dashboards or control panels. These projects can be adapted to serve both GUI elements and CLI commands via APIs or web sockets.

Search Tip: Use search terms like “Raspberry Pi Flask dashboard” or “Raspberry Pi web terminal” on GitHub to discover additional repositories tailored to your specific needs.

These projects provide a solid foundation. You can either use them as-is or modify them to suit your requirements (such as integrating both web GUI elements and a CLI in one solution). If you’d like more help customizing any of these solutions or have questions about integrating them together, let me know!

Yes, you can absolutely take your local “rapserver” (your Raspberry Pi with RaspAP, ShellInABox, Flask GUI, etc.) and make it available online so you can connect from your phone via the internet, not just over local Wi-Fi.

Here are three main ways to do this:

Option 1: Port Forwarding on Your Router (Simple, Less Secure)

Steps:

  1. Connect Raspberry Pi to your home Wi-Fi.

  2. Log in to your router settings.

  3. Set up port forwarding:

Forward ports like 80, 4200, 9090, 5000, etc. to your Pi’s local IP.

  1. Find your public IP at whatismyip.com.

  2. From your phone (on mobile data or another network), access:

http://:5000

Cons:

Exposes your Pi to the internet (security risk).

Public IP may change (unless you use Dynamic DNS).

Option 2: Use a Free Tunneling Service (Recommended)

A. Ngrok

https://ngrok.com

Steps:

  1. Install ngrok on your Pi:

curl -s https://ngrok-agent.s3.amazonaws.com/ngrok.asc | sudo tee /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/ngrok.asc echo "deb https://ngrok-agent.s3.amazonaws.com buster main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ngrok.list sudo apt update && sudo apt install ngrok

  1. Connect your ngrok account:

ngrok config add-authtoken

  1. Run:

ngrok http 5000

  1. It gives you a public URL like:

https://abc123.ngrok.io

You can now access your Flask dashboard, ShellInABox, etc. from anywhere.

B. LocalTunnel (Simpler, less reliable)

npm install -g localtunnel lt --port 5000

Option 3: Use Tailscale (VPN-style, Secure & Easy)

Why:

Tailscale creates a private network across all your devices—even if they're on different Wi-Fi or cellular networks.

Steps:

  1. Install Tailscale on Raspberry Pi:

curl -fsSL https://tailscale.com/install.sh | sh sudo tailscale up

  1. Install Tailscale app on your phone.

  2. Log in with the same account.

  3. Your phone and Pi are now on the same virtual private network.

Access: http://raspberrypi-name.tailnet-yourname.ts.net:5000

Summary Table

Method Works Without Internet? Secure? Easy Setup Best Use Case

Pi Hotspot Yes Medium Medium Local-only use (no internet needed) Port Forward No Low Medium Remote access via IP (manual) Ngrok No High Easy Temporary external sharing Tailscale No Very High Very Easy Permanent private network (VPN-like)

Would you like a full setup script to deploy one of these (e.g., Flask + Ngrok + ShellInABox)?