Modern Web SSH client with independent desktop

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nexus-terminal: Supports powerful functions such as man-machine verification, 2FA, interface customization, and operation audit.
one named Nexus Terminal , published by Heavrnl, uses the GPL‑3.0 protocol, focuses on modern Web SSH/RDP/VNC clients, and comes with a desktop version of the program

🚀Project positioning and architecture

  • use: Connect to a remote server via a browser or desktop application (SSH/RDP/VNC), similar to the web version of the Remote Desktop Tool.
  • technology stack：
    • Front-end: Vue 3 + Vite + Monaco editor (the editor component for VS Code)
    • Backend: Driven by Node.js, supports services such as WebSocket and Docker.

Core functions

  • Multi-label management: Supports simultaneous management of multiple SSH/SFTP sessions.
  • Remote protocol support: Provides SSH, RDP and VNC connections.
  • PWA: Support the installation of Web applications as desktop applications.
  • online editing: Built-in Monaco editor to edit remote files.
  • security mechanism：
    • Support hCaptcha / Google reCAPTCHA verification.
    • Integrated two-factor certification (2FA).
    • Support IP whitelisting, blacklist and automatic blocking.
  • operation audit: Log records user actions and system changes.
  • notification system: Such as login reminders and abnormal alarms.
  • Docker integration: Simple panel to view and restart container status.
  • Keep your heartbeat alive: Prevent connections from being dropped.
  • Session suspended: After the network is disconnected, you can continue to perform tasks in the background and resume the session

Interface and customization functions

  • theme style: Support Light and Dark modes; flexible customization of layout.
  • Terminal background: You can load HTML backgrounds, set font strokes/shadows, etc., and support drag and drop.
  • Customize modal window: Solve the stuck problem of the desktop Electron native dialog box
  • shortcut instruction: Support variable injection, drag and drop/zoom interactions.

📦Desktop

  • Built based on Electron, integrated with Node.js runtime environment (since v0.7.2)
  • The desktop version removes functions such as Web-specific authentication mechanisms, hangs, and multi-finger gestures.
  • Support custom data storage paths (easy to sync to the cloud, such as OneDrive)

🛠Rapid deployment

  1. Recommended Docker Compose (officially provided docker-compose.yml with .env documents)
  2. Deployment recommendations:
    • Recommended to run on the Debian x86_64 platform;
    • ARM architecture needs to replace Guacd images or restrict ARMv7 special configurations

Highlights of using experience

  • suspend restore: Ideal for performing long tasks, such as compilation, in unstable network environments.
  • Multi-protocol integration: It is very convenient to manage SSH/SFTP/RDP/VNC with a unified interface.
  • High customization: From color matching, background, shortcut instructions to layout, users can highly customize the experience.
  • strong security: Support Captcha, 2FA and audit logs, making enterprise-level remote control safer.

Version and community status

  • About 1.1k Stars, 64 Forks, Active Issues (about 16)
  • Latest version: v0.8.1 (released on June 5, 2025).
  • The author stated in the README that “the project is temporarily suspended and will continue”(original Chinese)

📝Summary

advantages：

  • Comprehensive features (multi-protocol/security/PWA/desktop).
  • The interface is friendly and highly customizable, making it suitable for daily remote connection between operations and maintenance and developers.

Points to pay attention：

  • Docker recommends x86 Debian as the deployment environment, but ARM support is not complete.
  • The author temporarily stopped working and relied on community maintenance and contribution.
  • ARMv7 has obvious limitations (no RDP, special mirroring is required).

Github：https://github.com/Heavrnl/nexus-terminal
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