Amir-A664

🔒 Run OpenVPN inside an isolated network and expose it as a secure local or LAN SOCKS5 proxy - without routing your entire host machine through the VPN.

42
1
100% credibility
Found May 21, 2026 at 42 stars -- GitGems finds repos before they trend. Get early access to the next one.
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AI Analysis
Python
AI Summary

OpenStream is a privacy tool for Linux that creates a selective VPN tunnel. Instead of routing your entire computer through a VPN (which can slow everything down), you can choose exactly which apps send their traffic through the VPN while everything else keeps using your normal internet connection. You install it once, drop your VPN provider's configuration file into a folder, and then any app you configure to use the local proxy address will privately connect through the VPN. It's like having a private door to your VPN that only the apps you invite can walk through.

How It Works

1
🔍 Discover OpenStream

You hear about a tool that lets only certain apps use your VPN while keeping everything else on normal internet.

2
💻 Install on your Linux computer

You download and install OpenStream on your Debian or Ubuntu system with a simple command.

3
🔢 Pick a port number

You choose which number your computer should listen on for the VPN proxy (the default is fine for most people).

4
📁 Add your VPN configuration

You drop your VPN provider's configuration file into a special folder on your desktop, and OpenStream takes care of the rest.

5
🚀 Start your VPN gateway

You type one simple command and OpenStream springs to life, creating a private tunnel just for the apps you choose.

6
📱 Point your apps at the proxy

You tell your browser, Telegram, or any app to connect through your computer's proxy address instead of directly.

🎉 Your apps go through VPN, your system stays free

Only the apps you configured use the VPN tunnel. Your downloads, gaming, and everything else keep their normal fast connection.

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Star Growth

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AI-Generated Review

What is OpenStream?

OpenStream is a Python tool that runs OpenVPN inside an isolated Linux network namespace and exposes the VPN connection as a local or LAN SOCKS5 proxy. The key benefit: your host machine keeps its normal internet connection, so only applications explicitly configured to use the SOCKS5 endpoint route through the VPN. You drop your `.ovpn` files into a folder, run `opst on`, and get a proxy endpoint like `socks5h://127.0.0.1:2086`. The CLI handles profile detection, credential storage, and service lifecycle through systemd. It supports username/password, certificate-based, hybrid, and static key authentication methods.

Why is it gaining traction?

Most VPN tools route your entire machine through the tunnel. OpenStream flips this: you choose which apps use the proxy, and the rest of your traffic flows normally. This is useful for developers who need VPN access for specific tools but want to keep their normal connection for everything else. The LAN mode is a bonus if you want to proxy traffic from other devices on your network. The `opst` command is clean and covers the full workflow: start, stop, restart, change the port, check status, view logs, and manage profiles. The installer handles dependencies through apt automatically.

Who should use this?

Linux developers on Debian or Ubuntu who want selective VPN routing without the all-or-nothing approach. If you need OpenVPN for work but don't want your entire machine tunneled, this saves you from wrestling with network namespaces manually. Not for Windows or macOS users, and not useful if you just want a simple VPN toggle without fine-grained proxy control.

Verdict

With only 42 stars and a 1.0% credibility score, OpenStream is a young, niche tool at v1.0.0. The code is organized, the CLI is well-designed, and it fills a real gap for Linux users. But it lacks broad platform support, and with minimal community traction, you're betting on a project that hasn't proven itself at scale. Try it if you're on Debian/Ubuntu and need selective VPN routing; evaluate alternatives if you need cross-platform support or a more battle-tested solution.

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