Computer Use OOTB vs QuickDesk

Computer Use OOTB is an open-source framework for automating desktop tasks through a graphical interface, using API-based or locally running models. It supports Windows and macOS and provides a Gradio interface without requiring Docker. Users can configure one model for a task or separate models for planning and computer control; listed options include Claude 3.5 Sonnet, GPT-4o, Qwen models, ShowUI, and UI-TARS. Local inference can avoid API costs, though a task using Claude 3.5 Computer Use may cost a few dollars. Setup requires Miniconda, Python 3.12 or newer, dependency installation, and starting the interface with `python app.py`. ShowUI local runs require a CUDA-enabled NVIDIA GPU with at least 6 GB of GPU memory on Windows, or an M1-or-newer Apple Silicon Mac with at least 16 GB unified RAM. A mobile browser can send commands to the computer running the software. The project uses an Apache-2.0 license. Its README warns that model actions can be unintended or harmful and recommends monitoring them; anyone with a public Gradio link may be able to control the computer.

QuickDesk is an open-source remote desktop application with an MCP server for AI agents to see and control remote computers. Its MCP tools include screenshots, mouse and keyboard control, clipboard actions, OCR and UI element detection. The server supports stdio and HTTP/SSE connections; HTTP/SSE can serve multiple AI clients. The README names Cursor, Claude Desktop and VS Code as compatible clients. For remote control, QuickDesk includes keyboard and mouse mapping, cursor synchronization, two-way clipboard sync, adaptive frame rate and bitrate, and performance statistics. Devices connect with a 9-digit Device ID and temporary access code; refresh settings range from every 30 minutes to 24 hours or never. Users can host their own signaling and TURN servers. Its self-hosted admin panel lists TOTP two-factor authentication, audit logs and CIDR-based IP whitelisting. QuickDesk's own code is MIT-licensed and free for commercial use; its bundled remoting component uses BSD 3-Clause. The README lists Windows x64 and macOS ARM64 downloads. Linux and iOS/Android clients are described as roadmap items.