Snux | Devpost

🚀 Inspiration

Learning Linux system administration and SSH configuration is intimidating for beginners. Setting up real servers is costly, mistakes can be destructive, and most tutorials are passive reading experiences. We wanted to create a safe, hands-on environment where anyone can learn by doing — directly in their browser.

🎯 What It Does

SSH Architect is a pure client-side web application that simulates a real Linux environment for learning SSH fundamentals. Users progress through 4 interactive labs covering:

The First Contact — Password-based SSH authentication
Hardening the Fortress — Securing SSH by changing ports, disabling root login
The Key to the Kingdom — SSH key-pair authentication and disabling passwords
Master of Aliases — Creating SSH config files for streamlined connections

Each lab features a fully interactive terminal, real-time network topology visualization, and step-by-step documentation with a smart hint system.

✨ Key Features

Interactive Terminal Simulator — A realistic bash shell with support for ssh, ssh-keygen, ssh-copy-id, nano, cat, echo, systemctl, and more
Dual-Node Virtual File System — Independent file systems for "localhost" and "remote-server" with realistic directory structures
Visual Network Topology — Real-time visualization of connection state, authentication methods, and port configurations
Built-in Nano Editor — A simulated GNU nano editor with syntax-aware hints and auto-fill templates for SSH configuration files
Smart Hint System — Context-aware hints that guide users without spoiling the learning experience
Progress Tracking — Real-time objective checklist and automated lab completion detection
Onboarding Tour — Interactive guided tour for first-time users

🛠️ How We Built It

Frontend: React 18 + TypeScript + Vite
Styling: Tailwind CSS with a minimal, airy design aesthetic
Animations: Framer Motion for smooth transitions
Terminal Engine: Custom-built VFS (Virtual File System) and SSH simulation hooks
State Management: React hooks with local state — no backend required

📚 What We Learned

Building a convincing terminal simulator required deep understanding of:

Shell command parsing and argument handling
SSH protocol authentication flows (password vs. publickey)
File system operations and path resolution (~ expansion)
Edge cases in user input (quotes, flags, port numbers)
Balancing guidance vs. discovery in educational software

🔮 What's Next for SSH Architect

Docker Lab Integration — Simulate container management and Docker networking
Scripting Challenges — Add bash scripting exercises with automated validation
Multiplayer Mode — Collaborative server administration scenarios
Certificate Authority (CA) Lab — Advanced SSH certificate-based authentication
Mobile Optimization — Touch-friendly terminal for learning on the go

Try it now: No installation, no servers, no risk. Just open your browser and start architecting.