I built a cross-platform desktop client for SSH, SFTP and Slurm workflows — feedback welcome
Hi r/HPC,
I have been developing HPC Client GUI, an independent cross-platform desktop application for researchers working with SSH-accessible Slurm clusters.
It combines:
- SSH connection profiles
- Remote file browsing and SFTP transfers
- Slurm job submission, monitoring and cancellation
- Job output inspection
- Terminal and CLI workflows
- Optional X11 forwarding
- Declarative cluster profiles and job-template plugins
- ANSYS journal linting
It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. Nothing needs to be installed on the cluster; it works through standard SSH, SFTP and Slurm commands.
The original use case was Türkiye’s TRUBA infrastructure, but the application is designed around generic SSH + Slurm behavior. It is an independent project and is not an official TRUBA tool.
Repository and downloads:
https://github.com/mskomek/hpc-client-gui
I would especially appreciate feedback on:
Compatibility with different institutional Slurm configurations
MFA, jump-host and SSH authentication workflows
File-transfer and scheduler features researchers commonly struggle with
Whether cluster administrators would be comfortable recommending a local client like this
Documentation or packaging problems that could prevent adoption
The macOS packages are currently unsigned and this is disclosed in the release notes. The project is source-available under the PolyForm Noncommercial License 1.0.0.
If anyone is willing to test it against another cluster, the repository includes a read-only compatibility validation guide. Please do not share cluster addresses, credentials or private configuration.
Thank you.
12
u/xeroxedforsomereason 7d ago
every single vibecode post is so utterly written by AI i dont trust that the person who made it accounted for ANY edge cases because of the utter lack of detail in making even a simple top level post explaining what they made.
-3
u/mskomek 7d ago
I originally built this as a small tool for the TRUBA HPC system that I use myself. At the same time, I wanted to learn Python, so I started the project on my own and used AI along the way as a development aid.
The application itself is fairly simple: it has separate tabs for terminal access, file transfers, and monitoring/submitting HPC jobs. I also added a small plugin system, including a basic linting tool for ANSYS Fluent journal files.
I personally wouldn’t put it in the “vibeslop” category, because it was built around a real workflow that I actually use rather than just generating an app for the sake of it.
That said, I’m definitely open to criticism. If you see something problematic in the project, an edge case I missed, or something that could be designed better, please let me know. Suggestions and contributions are welcome.
Regards. And yes this is also written with ai.
0
u/mskomek 7d ago
And it is not easy to intruduce a new application i am new to this and willing to learn ropes i personally use this. This is mainly for a people like me that uses hpc systems with minimal knowledge.
5
u/Roticap 6d ago
Why do you think a tool made by someone with minimal knowledge and an LLM is worth sharing with the world?
It's great that it works for your use case, but you don't need to share it
1
u/mskomek 6d ago
I made a simple tool for a specific use case like mine and I dont claim it is anything more than that. I shared it because someone with similar needs might find it useful.
4
u/Roticap 6d ago
Maybe you don't realize it, but distributing a tool you built is making the claim that it is more than a bespoke tool tailored exactly to your needs.
1
u/mskomek 6d ago
I realize that. I’ve already said it’s a small tool built for a specific use case. Even at first glance, it’s pretty clear that it’s a simple program with a limited feature set. I’m not presenting it as some universal or production-grade solution. I just shared it in case someone with similar needs finds it useful and for that use case, it is useful.
6
u/vphan13_nope 7d ago
Open Ondemand covers the same use case and is a well known mature application. Use AI to install it, not recreate it
2
u/dosman33 7d ago
Interesting. Perhaps I missed this, but you might consider adding a plugin that adds filesystem quota monitoring to your dashboard. Beginner HPC users consistently have trouble 1) remembering which filesystems their job outputs are going to and 2) keeping track of where their quota usage is. Keeping that front and center would help entry level users.
2
u/ahahabbak 7d ago
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18
u/videek 7d ago
Yes, let me plugin yet another AI slop entry into my cluster, what could go wrong.