How to set up SSH port forwarding in OxideTerm?

OxideTerm supports local (-L), remote (-R), and dynamic SOCKS5 (-D) forwarding via a lock-free message-passing architecture. You can configure forwards through the UI, and they auto-restore on reconnect without manual intervention.

OxideTerm vs Tabby: which is better for remote development?

OxideTerm excels with its pure Rust SSH stack, built-in CodeMirror 6 IDE, and privacy-focused AI assistant, making it ideal for secure, all-in-one workflows. Tabby is more focused on terminal emulation with cloud features, so OxideTerm is better for those avoiding cloud dependencies.

Does OxideTerm work with VS Code extensions?

No, OxideTerm has its own runtime plugin system based on ESM loading with a frozen API, not compatible with VS Code extensions. It includes 24 pre-built UI components but lacks the vast extension ecosystem of VS Code.

How to use the AI assistant with local Ollama models?

Configure OxideSens to use Ollama by setting the API endpoint to a local Ollama instance (e.g., http://localhost:11434). It supports any /v1/chat/completions endpoint, allowing seamless integration with self-hosted AI models.

Is OxideTerm secure for storing SSH passwords?

Yes, passwords and API keys are stored exclusively in the OS keychain (e.g., macOS Keychain, Windows Credential Manager) and never on disk, with encrypted .oxide exports using ChaCha20-Poly1305 and Argon2id for backups.

Can OxideTerm replace FileZilla for SFTP?

Yes, its dual-pane SFTP manager includes drag-and-drop, transfer queues with progress, and smart previews for files. However, it lacks some advanced features like batch scripting compared to dedicated clients like FileZilla.

OxideTerm — Native Terminal Workspace

What is OxideTerm?

OxideTerm is an all-in-one terminal workspace application that combines local shells, SSH client, SFTP file manager, a remote IDE, and an AI assistant into a single native binary. It solves the problem of using multiple disjoint tools for development and remote server management by providing a unified, efficient, and privacy-focused interface.

Target Audience

Developers, system administrators, and DevOps engineers who regularly work with local and remote terminals, need secure file transfers, edit code on servers, and want an integrated AI assistant without relying on cloud services.

Value Proposition

Developers choose OxideTerm for its unique combination of a pure Rust SSH stack with zero OpenSSL dependencies, a local-first architecture with no telemetry, and the integration of multiple tools (terminal, IDE, file manager, AI) into one performant, cross-platform application.

Overview

Local-first SSH workspace for local shells and remote machines — SSH, SFTP, trzsz, port forwarding, lightweight remote editing, file management, and BYOK AI in one native binary. Built with Tauri 2 and pure Rust SSH. Zero Electron, zero OpenSSL, zero telemetry, and no app subscription for core SSH workflows.

Use Cases

Best For

Managing multiple local and remote shell sessions in a single window
Editing code on remote servers without installing a full IDE locally
Securely transferring files via SFTP with a dual-pane interface and transfer queue
Using an AI assistant within the terminal with context from active sessions and files
Setting up and managing SSH port forwarding (local, remote, and dynamic SOCKS5)
Developing cross-platform desktop applications with Tauri and Rust

Not Ideal For

Teams requiring cloud-synced configurations or real-time collaboration features
Enterprises with strict proprietary software policies that conflict with GPL-3.0 licensing
Users who only need a minimal terminal emulator without integrated IDE, AI, or SFTP tools
Developers deeply invested in VS Code or JetBrains ecosystems seeking seamless extension compatibility

Pros & Cons

Pros

Pure Rust SSH Stack

Uses russh 0.59 compiled against ring, eliminating OpenSSL dependencies and C toolchain issues, ensuring enhanced security and performance without external libraries.

Smart Session Recovery

Grace Period reconnect probes old connections for 30 seconds before reconnecting, preserving active sessions like vim or htop during network interruptions, as detailed in the reconnect orchestration.

Privacy-First AI Integration

OxideSens AI stores API keys in the OS keychain with Touch ID gating on macOS, offers 40+ autonomous tools, and supports multiple providers like Ollama without cloud dependencies.

Efficient Unified Workspace

Combines local shells, SSH, SFTP, a remote IDE, and port forwarding into a single Tauri-based native binary (25-40 MB) with connection pooling to reduce overhead.

Cons

Complex Development Setup

Requires Rust 1.85+, Node.js 18+, and platform-specific tools like Xcode Command Line Tools or Visual Studio C++ Build Tools, which can be a barrier for quick onboarding.

Limited Plugin Ecosystem

The runtime ESM plugin system is security-hardened but nascent, lacking the extensive marketplace of established tools like VS Code, which may limit customization options.

Potential Feature Overkill

For users who only need basic terminal or SSH functionality, the integrated AI, IDE, and SFTP features add unnecessary complexity and resource usage compared to lighter alternatives.

What is OxideTerm?

Target Audience

Value Proposition

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Managing multiple local and remote shell sessions in a single window
Editing code on remote servers without installing a full IDE locally
Securely transferring files via SFTP with a dual-pane interface and transfer queue
Using an AI assistant within the terminal with context from active sessions and files
Setting up and managing SSH port forwarding (local, remote, and dynamic SOCKS5)
Developing cross-platform desktop applications with Tauri and Rust

Not Ideal For

Teams requiring cloud-synced configurations or real-time collaboration features
Enterprises with strict proprietary software policies that conflict with GPL-3.0 licensing
Users who only need a minimal terminal emulator without integrated IDE, AI, or SFTP tools
Developers deeply invested in VS Code or JetBrains ecosystems seeking seamless extension compatibility

Pros & Cons

Pros

Pure Rust SSH Stack

Uses russh 0.59 compiled against ring, eliminating OpenSSL dependencies and C toolchain issues, ensuring enhanced security and performance without external libraries.

Smart Session Recovery

Grace Period reconnect probes old connections for 30 seconds before reconnecting, preserving active sessions like vim or htop during network interruptions, as detailed in the reconnect orchestration.

Privacy-First AI Integration

OxideSens AI stores API keys in the OS keychain with Touch ID gating on macOS, offers 40+ autonomous tools, and supports multiple providers like Ollama without cloud dependencies.

Efficient Unified Workspace

Combines local shells, SSH, SFTP, a remote IDE, and port forwarding into a single Tauri-based native binary (25-40 MB) with connection pooling to reduce overhead.

Cons

Complex Development Setup

Requires Rust 1.85+, Node.js 18+, and platform-specific tools like Xcode Command Line Tools or Visual Studio C++ Build Tools, which can be a barrier for quick onboarding.

Limited Plugin Ecosystem

The runtime ESM plugin system is security-hardened but nascent, lacking the extensive marketplace of established tools like VS Code, which may limit customization options.

Potential Feature Overkill

For users who only need basic terminal or SSH functionality, the integrated AI, IDE, and SFTP features add unnecessary complexity and resource usage compared to lighter alternatives.

OxideTerm

What is OxideTerm?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Projects

Found a gem we're missing?

OxideTerm

What is OxideTerm?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Projects

Found a gem we're missing?