SwitchHosts is a desktop application for managing and switching system hosts file entries.
The tool addresses the friction of manually editing the hosts file by providing a graphical interface to organize, enable, and disable host entries without direct file manipulation. It supports multiple entry sources including local files, remote URLs, and grouped collections. Users can switch between different host configurations from the main window or system tray, and the tool handles syntax highlighting and find-and-replace operations across entries. Remote hosts can be refreshed manually, on a schedule, or at application startup. The application also provides import and export functionality, including the ability to import backups from URLs, and maintains a trashcan for recoverable deletions.
SwitchHosts suits developers and system administrators who frequently switch between different network configurations, such as when testing against multiple environments or toggling between production and development hosts. The tool is cross-platform, available for macOS, Linux, and Windows. It offers preferences for write mode, proxy settings, update checks, login launch behavior, and post-apply commands, plus a local HTTP API for programmatic access. The application stores all data in a user-accessible directory structure, making manual backups straightforward.
Development activity shows consistent engagement with the codebase through regular commits addressing bug fixes and feature refinements. The project maintains responsiveness to user-reported issues with timely responses and resolutions. Pull requests receive review and integration at a steady pace, indicating active maintenance of the contribution pipeline.
