What Is the Default Port for the OpenWork Local Server?

The OpenWork local server defaults to port 3000, which can be overridden via the OPENWORK_SERVER_PORT environment variable.

The OpenWork project (from the different-ai/openwork repository) ships with a local development server powered by Vite. According to the source configuration in dev/apps/ui-demo/vite.config.ts, the server binds to port 3000 out of the box while allowing runtime customization through environment variables.

How the Default Port Is Configured

The port assignment is defined in the Vite configuration file for the UI demo application. In dev/apps/ui-demo/vite.config.ts, the server configuration object explicitly sets the listening port using a fallback pattern:

// dev/apps/ui-demo/vite.config.ts
export default defineConfig(({ mode }) => {
  const isProduction = mode === 'production'
  return {
    plugins: [react(), nodePolyfills({ include: ['crypto'] })],
    server: {
      // Using port 3000 as default as per the earlier comment. It can be overridden with OPENWORK_SERVER_PORT env variable.
      port: Number(process.env.OPENWORK_SERVER_PORT) || 3000,
      // host the server on all IP addresses for easier external access and debugging.
      host: true,
    },
    // ... additional build configuration
  }
})

The port property uses the logical OR operator to prioritize the OPENWORK_SERVER_PORT environment variable, falling back to 3000 when the variable is undefined.

Overriding the Default Port

Developers can change the listening port without modifying source code by exporting the OPENWORK_SERVER_PORT variable before starting the development server.

Start with the default port (3000):

cd dev/apps/ui-demo
pnpm dev

Start with a custom port:

cd dev/apps/ui-demo
OPENWORK_SERVER_PORT=8080 pnpm dev

This pattern ensures that CI pipelines, Docker containers, or developers running multiple local services can avoid port conflicts without touching the Vite configuration.

Network Binding and External Access

The configuration sets host: true, which instructs Vite to bind to all available IP addresses (0.0.0.0) rather than just localhost. This design choice facilitates:

• Debugging from mobile devices on the same network
• Testing inside containerized environments
• Access from remote development machines

When combined with the default port 3000, the server becomes reachable at http://<local-ip>:3000 from any device on the network.

Summary

• Default port: 3000 (defined in dev/apps/ui-demo/vite.config.ts)
• Override mechanism: Set the OPENWORK_SERVER_PORT environment variable
• Server framework: Vite development server with React SWC plugin
• Network binding: host: true enables external access for debugging
• Configuration file: dev/apps/ui-demo/vite.config.ts contains the authoritative port logic

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the default port for the OpenWork local server?

The OpenWork local server listens on port 3000 by default. This value is hard-coded as the fallback in the Vite configuration file located at dev/apps/ui-demo/vite.config.ts.

How do I change the OpenWork server port without editing code?

Export the OPENWORK_SERVER_PORT environment variable with your desired port number before launching the dev server. For example: OPENWORK_SERVER_PORT=4000 pnpm dev. The application will use this value instead of the default 3000.

Why does OpenWork bind to all network interfaces?

The Vite configuration sets host: true to allow the server to accept connections from external devices and IP addresses. This supports debugging scenarios where you need to test the application from a mobile device or another machine on the same network.

Where is the server port configuration stored?

The authoritative configuration resides in dev/apps/ui-demo/vite.config.ts within the server object. This TypeScript file is part of the UI demo package in the different-ai/openwork repository and controls both the port assignment and network binding behavior.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instagit": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "instagit@latest"]
    }
  }
}