devzat
SSH server that creates a chat room instead of shell access, enabling cross-platform terminal chat
Devzat is a custom SSH server that replaces the traditional shell prompt with a chat interface. Users connect via SSH from any device that supports SSH clients (including mobile phones) to join a shared chat room accessible through their terminal.
The tool includes several chat-focused features including room support (users can join different rooms with cd #roomname), direct messaging between users, Markdown rendering with syntax highlighting for code blocks, and built-in games like Tic Tac Toe and Hangman. It also supports emoji replacements, timezone settings, and user customization options like name colors and pronouns.
Devzat can be self-hosted and includes integrations for bridging with Slack and Discord, Twitter announcements for new users, and a plugin API for custom extensions. The main public instance runs at devzat.hackclub.com and includes a Slack bridge for Hack Club members. Users can connect on port 22 (requires SSH keys) or port 443 (no keys required) to accommodate different network configurations.
Installation
# via Git + Go
git clone https://github.com/quackduck/devzat && cd devzat && go build
