XPipe is a desktop application designed for developers, DevOps engineers, and system administrators who need to manage multiple remote systems—servers, containers, VMs, and cloud instances—from a single interface. Unlike tools that require agents on remote hosts, XPipe works entirely from your local machine by leveraging existing CLI tools like SSH, Docker, and Kubectl. It eliminates the need to juggle multiple terminals, config files, or browser tabs by unifying access to your entire infrastructure in one place. With no server-side setup required and all data stored locally in an encrypted vault, XPipe prioritizes security and simplicity. It’s ideal for teams managing heterogeneous environments across cloud providers, on-prem servers, and hybrid setups.
What You Get
- Unified connection hub - Manage SSH, Docker, Podman, LXD, Incus, Kubernetes clusters, Proxmox, Hyper-V, KVM, VMware, AWS, and Hetzner Cloud servers from a single interface with hierarchical organization.
- Integrated file browser - Browse, edit, and transfer files across remote systems using your local editors (VS Code, Sublime, etc.) with dynamic sudo elevation and multi-system tabbed multitasking.
- Terminal launcher - One-click terminal sessions in your preferred shell (bash, zsh, PowerShell) with auto-filled credentials, tmux/zellij integration, and support for Starship and oh-my-zsh prompts.
- Versatile scripting system - Create reusable scripts that auto-deploy to remote PATHs, customize shell environments per connection, and trigger actions from the file browser or UI without manual setup.
- Secure vault with local storage - All credentials, connections, and configs are stored encrypted on your machine; XPipe integrates with system password managers (1Password, Bitwarden) and never sends data to external servers.
- AI-ready MCP server - Enable the built-in MCP server to expose XPipe’s connection and automation features to AI agents for automated infrastructure queries and operations.
- Remote desktop and service tunneling - Securely access RDP, VNC, and X11 applications remotely with one-click tunneling to expose services like databases or web UIs locally.
Common Use Cases
- Building a multi-cloud Kubernetes environment - DevOps teams use XPipe to connect to EKS, GKE, and on-prem K8s clusters simultaneously, inspect pods, exec into containers, and forward ports—all without configuring kubeconfig manually across systems.
- Managing hybrid infrastructure with VMs and containers - Sysadmins manage Proxmox VMs, Docker containers on Ubuntu servers, and Windows WSL instances from one interface, reducing context switching and improving auditability.
- Problem → Solution: SSH config overload - Developers juggling dozens of SSH hosts with custom ports, jump hosts, and keys use XPipe’s visual connection manager to eliminate ~/.ssh/config complexity and automate tunneling for database access.
- Team collaboration with encrypted vault sharing - Teams sync their XPipe configuration via a private Git repository, enabling shared access to connections and scripts while maintaining end-to-end encryption on local devices.
Under The Hood
XPipe is a cross-platform terminal and connection management tool designed with extensibility and security in mind. It provides a modular architecture that supports complex workflows through action-based components and integrates advanced protocols for terminal interaction. The system emphasizes robustness, clear separation of concerns, and a rich UI layer built on JavaFX.
Architecture
XPipe adopts a layered, modular architecture that promotes separation of concerns and cross-platform compatibility. The codebase is organized into distinct modules handling core functionality, UI interactions, and data management.
- Strategy-based action handling enables flexible automation and CLI integration
- Factory patterns are used for secure secret value creation and management
- Middleware-style communication through beacon and MCP protocols enhances extensibility
- Clear boundaries between core logic, UI components, and daemon services support maintainability
Tech Stack
The project is built primarily in Java, leveraging modern language features and a rich ecosystem of libraries for cross-platform support.
- Built with Java 17+ and modular structure using module-info.java for better encapsulation
- Integrates JavaFX for rich UI rendering and Atlantafx for styling consistency
- Heavily relies on Lombok for reducing boilerplate and utility libraries for core operations
- Gradle-based build system enables cross-platform builds with automated dependency management
Code Quality
XPipe demonstrates a mature codebase with consistent design patterns and adherence to Java best practices.
- Strong emphasis on security-aware implementations, particularly in secret handling and data storage
- Error handling is consistently applied across core modules with clear exception management
- Codebase maintains high consistency in naming and structure, supporting long-term maintainability
- Type annotations and comprehensive API documentation enhance code clarity and usability
What Makes It Unique
XPipe introduces several innovative approaches that distinguish it from standard terminal management tools.
- Action-based architecture allows for serializable, composable workflows triggered from CLI or UI
- Integration of MCP (Model-Client Protocol) enables extensible tooling and advanced terminal interaction patterns
- Modular secret management with AES-GCM encryption supports both in-memory and encrypted storage strategies
- Layered architecture separates core logic from UI and daemon components for enhanced extensibility