Short Leash questions and answers
On this page
- Overview
- Is Short Leash free?
- Why is it called Short Leash?
- Is Short Leash open source?
- Does it need Docker or a virtual machine?
- What does it change on my computer?
- Which frameworks does it run?
- Can different sites use different PHP versions?
- Does Short Leash collect any data?
- Can other people on my network open my sites?
- Does it work on Windows?
- How do I remove it?
Short Leash is a local development environment for Mac and Windows, free at its core. These are the questions people ask most.
Is Short Leash free?
Its core is, for personal and commercial work, on as many computers as you like, with no account: sites, runtimes, HTTPS, dumps, logs, import, and backing up any database. Short Leash Pro adds services, sharing and webhooks, the Monitor, Calls, scratchpads, branch workspaces, Changes' Git actions, local AI and hosting Pair calls, for $79 a year ($49 at launch). Every Pro feature is on for your first 14 days, with no card. See Pricing and Short Leash Pro and licenses.
Why is it called Short Leash?
Because everything it runs stays on your own computer, on a short leash: sites, services, mail and the AI models answer only on 127.0.0.1. Sharing a site is how you let it off the leash, on purpose, through Cloudflare. See Share a site.
Is Short Leash open source?
No. Short Leash is closed source, with a free core and a paid Short Leash Pro. The third-party programs it downloads, such as PHP, Node and the databases, keep their own licenses, listed on Third-party notices.
Does it need Docker or a virtual machine?
No. Short Leash runs PHP, Python, Node, Go and the databases directly on your computer, so sites start in moments and use little memory.
What does it change on my computer?
On a Mac: one launchd job that opens ports 80 and 443 for Short Leash, the file /etc/resolver/test, and Short Leash's certificate authority in your login keychain. See What Short Leash changes on your computer for the full list, and how to undo it.
Which frameworks does it run?
Laravel, Statamic, WordPress, Bedrock, Craft, Drupal, Magento, Joomla, CakePHP, Kirby, Symfony and plain PHP, as well as Django, Flask, FastAPI, Node dev servers (Next.js, Nuxt, Vite and more), Deno, Go modules, static sites and anything with a Procfile. Sites lists how each one is recognized.
Can different sites use different PHP versions?
Yes. Each site can use PHP 8.0 to 8.5, or 8.6 as a preview, and the terminal's php follows the folder you're in. See PHP.
Does Short Leash collect any data?
No. The app has no account, no analytics and no tracking. It only goes online to check for updates, download what you install, share sites you choose to share, and connect Pair calls. This website counts visits with Cloudflare Web Analytics, without cookies. See the privacy policy.
Can other people on my network open my sites?
No. Everything listens on 127.0.0.1 only. To show a site to someone, share it through Cloudflare, optionally with a password.
Does it work on Windows?
Yes, on Windows 10 and 11 (64-bit), with the same sites, services, sharing and pairing as on a Mac. Short Leash on Windows covers what's different there.
How do I remove it?
Settings › Remove undoes the system changes, then you can delete the app. See Remove Short Leash.