OliveTin: Run Shell Commands from a Web Browser

SSH is powerful, but sometimes you want to restart a service, run a backup, or trigger a script from your phone without opening a terminal. OliveTin gives you a simple web interface with big buttons that execute predefined shell commands on your server. No code, no complex automation — just buttons that do things.

Photo by Danist Soh on Unsplash

What OliveTin Does

• Web UI with action buttons: Define shell commands; OliveTin displays them as clickable buttons
• Mobile-friendly: Works from phone browser without SSH
• Argument inputs: Prompt for parameters before running commands
• Output display: See the stdout/stderr from command execution
• Permissions: Run specific actions as different users
• Cronlike scheduling: Run actions on a schedule in addition to manually

Docker Setup

services:
  olivetin:
    image: jamesread/olivetin:latest
    container_name: olivetin
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - 1337:1337
    volumes:
      - ./olivetin:/config
      - /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock  # If managing Docker containers

Configuration

OliveTin is configured via config.yaml. Create ./olivetin/config.yaml:

actions:
  - title: Restart Nginx
    shell: docker restart nginx
    icon: 🔄

  - title: Run Backups
    shell: /home/user/scripts/backup.sh
    icon: 💾

  - title: Update Containers
    shell: docker compose -f /opt/stacks/main/docker-compose.yml pull && docker compose -f /opt/stacks/main/docker-compose.yml up -d
    icon: ⬆️

  - title: Reboot Server
    shell: sudo reboot
    icon: 🔃
    timeout: 10

Navigate to http://your-server:1337. Each action appears as a labeled button.

Actions with Arguments

Prompt for input before running a command:

actions:
  - title: Wake Device
    shell: wakeonlan {{ mac_address }}
    icon: 💻
    arguments:
      - name: mac_address
        title: MAC Address
        description: "Format: AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF"
        type: ascii

  - title: Ping Host
    shell: ping -c 4 {{ hostname }}
    icon: 🏓
    arguments:
      - name: hostname
        title: Hostname or IP
        type: ascii

  - title: Pull Docker Image
    shell: docker pull {{ image }}:{{ tag }}
    icon: 📦
    arguments:
      - name: image
        title: Image name
        type: ascii
      - name: tag
        title: Tag
        default: latest
        type: ascii

When you click the button, OliveTin shows a dialog for the arguments before executing.

Dropdown Arguments

actions:
  - title: Set Log Level
    shell: /opt/scripts/set-log-level.sh {{ level }}
    icon: 📋
    arguments:
      - name: level
        title: Log Level
        type: select
        choices:
          - debug
          - info
          - warning
          - error

Scheduled Actions

Run actions on a schedule:

actions:
  - title: Daily Backup
    shell: /opt/scripts/backup.sh
    icon: 💾
    trigger:
      schedule: "0 2 * * *"  # Cron syntax: 2 AM daily

This acts like a simplified cron with the added benefit of manual triggering via the UI.

Execution Permissions

OliveTin runs as a specific user by default. For commands requiring different permissions:

actions:
  - title: Restart SSH Service
    shell: systemctl restart sshd
    icon: 🔐
    shell: sudo systemctl restart sshd

Or run the OliveTin container with appropriate user mapping and sudoers configuration.

Practical Use Cases

Homelab server management:

• Restart services without SSH
• Trigger backup scripts from phone while away
• Restart Pi-hole DNS, update containers, run maintenance scripts

Household automation:

• Button to "run backups now" for family members who don't SSH
• Trigger wake-on-LAN for sleeping devices
• Start/stop services for kids' gaming servers

Development:

• Trigger deployments
• Run database migrations
• Clear caches

Monitoring response:

• Quick-action buttons next to alerts (pair with Uptime Kuma webhooks)

Grouping Actions

Organize buttons into sections:

actions:
  - title: Restart Nginx
    shell: docker restart nginx
    icon: 🌐

  - title: Restart Vaultwarden
    shell: docker restart vaultwarden
    icon: 🔐

  - title: Run Backup
    shell: /opt/backup/run.sh
    icon: 💾

  - title: Check Disk Usage
    shell: df -h
    icon: 💿

OliveTin displays actions in configuration order. Use consistent icon themes for visual grouping.

Output and Logs

After running a command, OliveTin shows:

• The command output (stdout)
• Error output (stderr)
• Exit code
• Execution time

Execution history is stored and viewable from the UI — useful for confirming a scheduled backup ran or debugging a failed command.

Security

OliveTin is designed for internal network use. It has no authentication by default:

• Run it on a port not exposed to the internet
• Put it behind Authelia, Authentik, or your reverse proxy's basic auth
• Or access via VPN/Tailscale only

Don't expose OliveTin directly to the internet without authentication — the buttons run arbitrary shell commands.

Comparison to Alternatives

OliveTin fills the niche of "I want a button that runs a shell command" without the overhead of a full automation platform.

The project is at github.com/OliveTin/OliveTin. For anyone running a homelab who wants non-technical household members to be able to trigger scripts, or for your own use to avoid opening a terminal for routine tasks, OliveTin is a well-designed solution.