Kement: A Simpler, All-in-One SSH Client for Your Linux Workflow

We've been immersed in SSH on Linux for years. The terminal is an incredibly powerful tool, no doubt about it. But sometimes, all I want is to handle simple tasks like "connect instantly, drag and drop this file, and copy a couple of commands to the other server" all in one organized place. Those familiar with the Windows world will remember MobaXterm and the convenience it offers. When I couldn't find a tool on Linux that gave that same feel—simple yet always at hand—I started writing Kement, based on my own daily usage habits. To be honest, I had no intention of including AI at first. My only goal was to create a practical SSH tool for myself. But as the project progressed, I remembered we're in an era where everyone is adding "AI here, AI there," even in places it doesn't belong, and throwing around strange AI credits. My aim wasn't to make AI the centerpiece. I just ended up writing another 10-15 lines of code to add it as a bit of spice. I won't lie, I actually enjoyed using it. That's why I wanted to share it with you.

What Does Kement Offer?

While developing Kement, I wanted to avoid cluttering the interface and present the necessary components as simple elements on the sides. Like almost any tool of its kind, it has tabbed sessions for SSH and SFTP. In the web-based Türkol Software Support System we use to manage our clients' servers, there are simple but very useful features like sending commands via the web, scheduled commands, and saved commands. I thought a much lighter version of this would be useful in Kement. Because for some servers, you don't need to write a full bash script; having commands I can quickly access without typing them is very practical. That's why I added a Command Library section. You just click on a saved command, and Kement automatically sends it via SSH.

Sometimes, during bulk updates or repetitive operations, you need to apply the same steps across many servers. For this, there's a Broadcast Command feature. After connecting to the SSH servers, you just need to activate the Broadcast button next to the session tab and start typing in the terminal; the same command is sent simultaneously to the selected sessions.

As a bit of spice: Artificial Intelligence. In the AI Assistant Configuration section on the left sidebar, you can define an LLM model running locally with Ollama, or use the OpenAI, Gemini, or Anthropic APIs. After saving the settings, you can open the LLM window by clicking the 🤖 (robot) icon on the right side while in an SSH session and ask your questions. Here, the AI plays an assistant role: You always confirm the commands before they are executed.

If you'd like to try Kement, you can find the GitHub repo and the compiled package for Linux here. It's a hobby project, so you might run into minor bugs. If you do, I would be very grateful if you could please open an issue or send a PR. 🙌