Codexpa (A Replit Alternative)

Codexpa is an open-source, web-based coding workspace platform (like Replit) that allows developers to run, write, and contribute to projects directly from their browser — powered by containerized environments and VS Code UI.

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🚀 Tech Stack

Frontend

• Next.js (App Router)
• Tailwind CSS
• Monaco Editor / code-server (VS Code UI)
• tRPC (for type-safe API calls)

Backend

• tRPC (internal logic)
• Express (container runtime APIs)
• Docker (for sandboxed code execution)
• Optional: Firecracker (for microVM-based isolation)

Monorepo

• Turborepo
• apps/web → Next.js frontend with tRPC
• apps/runtime-api → Express server for running code in containers
• packages/ui → Shared UI components
• packages/config → Shared config
• packages/trpc → Shared tRPC logic

Auth

• OAuth via next-auth (GitHub, Google, etc.)

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✨ Key Features

• Connect GitHub repo directly (no local clone needed)
• Run and edit code in the browser
• Support for multiple languages (Node.js, Python, Go, etc.)
• Terminal + code editor
• Auto-deployable environments
• Option to self-host or use hosted Codexpa instance

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🏗️ Folder Structure

apps/
  web/              # Next.js app with tRPC routes
  runtime-api/      # Express backend to execute code

packages/
  ui/               # Shared UI components (Tailwind)
  trpc/             # Shared types and routers
  config/           # tsconfig, eslint, etc.

🧪 Dev Setup (Using pnpm)

1. Clone the Repo

git clone https://github.com/your-org/codexpa.git
cd codexpa

2. Install Dependencies

pnpm install

3. Start Dev Environment

pnpm run dev

🧱 How It Works

• Frontend connects to tRPC APIs for user/project actions
• Backend (Express) manages Docker containers to compile & run code
• Users can launch projects in isolated environments
• All code execution is sandboxed

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🌐 Deploying

You can deploy the full stack to:

• Vercel (Frontend)
• Render / Fly.io / DigitalOcean (Express backend)
• Docker containers for code runners

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💸 Cost Modes

• Local (free) — all runs on user machine
• Cloud (low cost) — metered per usage or per machine

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📛 Naming & Branding

Codexpa — "Code + Experience Platform"

A playground for developers. (A Replit alternative)

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🔐 Authentication

• Handled via NextAuth with GitHub or Google providers
• Redirects back to Express APIs with secure tokens

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🎯 Future Features

• Collaborative coding (like Live Share)
• AI-assisted code completion
• Persistent environments
• Pay-per-use metering
• Plugin support

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📃 License

MIT License
Open to contributors.

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👨‍💻 Maintainers

Built with ❤️ by the Codexpa team.
Feel free to open PRs or issues!