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Quick Setup (Local)

Get C3 running on your local network in under 5 minutes.

Overview

Local network setup is the simplest way to use C3. Your phone connects directly to your computer over WiFi — no internet tunneling required.

Requirements

Both your phone and computer must be connected to the same WiFi network. This typically works best at home or in an office where you control the network.

Setup Steps

1

Start the C3 Server

Open a terminal and start the server with authentication credentials:

ccc -u your_username -p your_password

Username and password are required for security. The server will start and display a QR code in your terminal.

2

Download the Mobile App

Download C3 from your app store:

App StoreGoogle Play

Using beta backend? Download the beta app: TestFlight (iOS) or Open Beta (Android)

3

Scan the QR Code

Open the C3 app and tap "Scan QR Code" on the setup screen. Point your camera at the QR code displayed in your terminal.

The app will automatically configure the server connection.

4

Start Chatting

You're connected! Create a new project or select an existing one to start chatting with your AI coding agent.

QR Code Setup

The QR code contains your server's connection details, including:

  • Server URL (IP address and port combined)
  • Authentication credentials
  • SSL/TLS configuration
  • Profile name for identification

Regenerate QR Code

Press q in the terminal while the server is running to regenerate and display the QR code again.

What the QR Code Contains

Connection Config
{
  "serverUrl": "192.168.1.100:8883",
  "username": "your_username",
  "password": "your_password",
  "useSSL": false,
  "profileName": "My Dev Machine"
}

Manual Setup

If QR scanning doesn't work, you can manually enter the connection details:

  1. Find your computer's local IP address
  2. In the C3 app, go to Settings → Add Server Profile
  3. Enter the Server URL as IP_ADDRESS:8883 (e.g., 192.168.1.100:8883)
  4. Enter your Username and Password
  5. Keep SSL toggled off for local connections
  6. Save and connect

Finding Your IP Address

Terminal
# macOS
ipconfig getifaddr en0

# Linux / WSL
hostname -I | awk '{print $1}'

# Windows (PowerShell)
(Get-NetIPAddress -AddressFamily IPv4 | Where-Object { $_.InterfaceAlias -notlike "*Loopback*" }).IPAddress

Troubleshooting

Can't connect to server

  • Ensure both devices are on the same WiFi network
  • Check if your firewall is blocking port 8883
  • Try disabling VPN on both devices
  • Verify the server is running (check terminal output)

QR code not scanning

  • Ensure adequate lighting
  • Hold your phone steady and at the right distance
  • Try regenerating the QR code (press q)
  • Use manual setup as a fallback

Note

For more detailed troubleshooting, see the Connection Issues guide.

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