I would like to be able to use a good programmers text editor (such as Vim or emacs) from a web browser, sort of similar to Google's Writely (writely.com) online word processor. I have been using Writely, but it is very inefficient for coding and can't be used for testing at all.

It does not need to be have a GUI at all. Essentially, what I need is an web browser ssh client and a service that give me a user account on a computer, similar to a web hosting service. Is there any service that does this?

If not, I might be able to set one up with my home computer, but I'm not sure as to how to do it.

why cant you just use ssh?

I can't access the CLI on these computers, let alone install anything (they are Windows, and don't come with ssh). It needs to be from the web browser.

It seems like there are a lot of services like writely for various things, and this would be a lot easier for someone to implement.

so you cant install anything at all.. just wondering because you could use cygwin, a ssh client like putty, and just run it off of your box at home.. just forward X to the cygwin on the remote machine.

can you install stuff on the windows computer?

Putty doesn't need to be installed, it's just one executable.

http://freshmeat.net/projects/mindterm/

This is essentially a ssh-client java applet which you can embed in a web page. I've been in a similar situation myself, but I couldn't get round my organisation's firewall which blocked port 22.

yeh youre right, i was talking about cygwin. im not sure about it, does it have to be 'installed' or does it just copy itself?

Thanks. That looks good.

I can't install anything on the Widnwos computer. I can install anything on my *nix computers at home, which I can log into remotely via ssh.

my mistake. i thought you were looking for X forwarding as well. but like i said you dont have to install anything for putty, and i just looked and cygwin does not install either.. so with relatively little effort you could have X forwarding as well..

just change sshd on your box at home to listen on a port such as 443 or 8080 or something that is open at work..

Maybe I don;t get it, but....
So, even if somebody here in this thread comes up with a (link to) a perfect emacs/vi for a webserver on Windows, you will not be able to get installed...?

What's the point in asking then?
Or do I miss something here?

I can't install anything on the computer terminal I am at (Windows). I can install anything on my home computers (unixy). The one I am at already has a browser, so If I can install a browser interface to ssh on my home computer, I can access it.

I was also looking for a service that let you use emacs like Google's writely (or any other web application), as comcast internet and an old computer aren't incredibly fast or reliable for a web host. Googling for "online emacs" or anything like it gets me links to emacs web browsers.

Sorry, my mistake. I didn't get the whole story right. It's just the other way around tha I was thinking.

well, i know im late, but i just came to this thread while i was exactly in the same situation... a dull terminal with windows, and a dire need to get some coding tools on the web... i came to this, i know its not as powerful as vim or emacs... though its still flexible and programmable, and has a sweet gui... check it out, hope this helps someone!

https://bespin.mozilla.com