ssh-chat is a custom SSH server that replaces the shell with a chat prompt.
The tool solves the problem of enabling real-time text communication over SSH by implementing a custom SSH server written in Go. Instead of providing shell access, connecting users are dropped into a shared chat interface where they can communicate with other connected participants. The server handles SSH authentication and key management while routing messages between clients.
ssh-chat suits developers or teams who want a lightweight chat system that leverages existing SSH infrastructure and key-based authentication. It works well for small-scale communication needs where SSH access is already established. The project provides precompiled binaries for macOS and Linux across multiple architectures, including ARM for Raspberry Pi, making deployment straightforward for those platforms. The tool is simple enough that most users will want to run a precompiled release rather than compile from source, though compilation is supported for those who need it.
Issue tracker activity shows that work is primarily categorized under labels indicating deferred features, unresolved problems that cannot be reproduced, and near-term planned work. This pattern suggests the project maintains a backlog of enhancement requests and known issues but addresses them at a measured pace rather than rapid iteration.
