Purple – terminal-based SSH host manager

Purple is a terminal-based SSH host manager that helps administrators work with large or frequently changing server inventories from a single text user interface.

Rather than storing hosts in a separate database, it reads and edits ~/.ssh/config directly while preserving existing formatting, comments, Include files, and other directives.

This is free and open source software.

Key Features

  • Offers keyboard-driven navigation with fuzzy search across host aliases, hostnames, users, IP addresses, and tags.
  • Syncs server information from 16 cloud providers and stores provider metadata alongside SSH hosts.
  • Includes a visual split-pane file transfer interface for browsing and copying files over SSH.
  • Supports running commands and snippets across multiple hosts from one interface.
  • Manages Docker and Podman containers on remote systems over SSH without requiring an agent.
  • Preserves round-trip fidelity when updating SSH configuration files, including comments, indentation, unknown directives, and Include files.
  • Cross-platform support – runs under Linux and macOS.

Website: github.com/erickochen/purple
Support:
Developer: Eric Kochen
License: MIT License

Purple in action
Click animation for full size

Purple is written in Rust. Learn Rust with our recommended free books and free tutorials.


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Read our verdict in the software roundup.


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