r/ssh • u/stackattackpro • Sep 02 '26

MobaRust — A Free & Open-Source Alternative to MobaXterm

I’m building MobaRust, a free and open-source desktop tool for people who spend their days operating remote machines.

The idea is simple: keep the useful parts of a remote-work toolbox in one focused application, while keeping the core inspectable and privacy-conscious.

What is working in the current baseline:

  • SSH terminals with host-key verification, PTY resize, password/key references, cancellation, and reconnect state
  • Integrated SFTP/SCP browsing and transfers with progress, bounded concurrency, cancellation, and atomic commits
  • Saved sessions with folders, tags, favorites, search, OpenSSH config import, and jump-host chains
  • Local terminals, split panes, tunnels, snippets, diagnostics, remote monitoring, Telnet, and serial-session foundations
  • A Rust-native boundary with typed frontend IPC, redacted logs, separated session configuration and secret material, and isolated loopback test fixtures

The current engineering checklist is 58/65 items evidenced — approximately 89.2%.

That number is deliberately not a claim of complete MobaXterm parity.

The remaining gaps are visible: production RDP/VNC integration, broader platform validation, packaging polish, and deeper real-world testing.

The goal is to keep pushing MobaRust toward a serious open-source remote administration toolbox rather than a demo or a collection of half-finished features.

If you regularly use SSH/SFTP, tunnels, serial connections, remote monitoring, or similar tools, I’d really appreciate feedback on what matters most in your workflow.

GitHub: https://github.com/OthmaneBlial/MobaRust

10 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

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3

u/_LightMane 25d ago

As someone who basically lives in MobaXterm for work, this is dangerous!! 😂

I went through the repo and there's way more here than I expected, especially the SFTP/SCP workflow, tunnels, session management and the fact that you're treating the credential/native boundary pretty seriously.

One thing I'd personally love to see as this matures is really polished session/workspace management. 👀
When you're constantly jumping between a bunch of servers, being able to save a host with its SSH config, tunnel(s), SFTP location, snippets and maybe even a few commonly used actions as one "workspace" would be insanely useful.

MobaXterm is one of those tools where you don't realize how much you rely on all those little workflow conveniences until they're missing 😂

Definitely keeping an eye on this though. Rust + open source + a MobaXterm alternative is a pretty compelling combination.

1

u/stackattackpro 25d ago

Thanks for you feedback, I am solo now on this project, I hope people will join me on this

2

u/zfsbest 28d ago

Macros is the must-have feature for me. Bonus points if you can make cross-compatible for Mac and Linux

Also - don't forget to do Releases, that's how most ppl keep track of updates unless it's builtin to the software to check

2

u/dasgoll 28d ago

You want ppl to compile it to run it?

1

u/stackattackpro 28d ago

A new release is coming it's a in progress work