SFTP File Manager: Transfer Files Securely Without Leaving Your Terminal

The traditional workflow for managing remote files is frustrating:

SSH into the server to edit a config file
Exit SSH
Open an SFTP client (or use scp)
Upload/download files
SSH back in to verify changes

This context switching wastes time and breaks your flow. FoxTerm solves this by integrating a full SFTP file manager directly into the SSH session.

Visual File Browser

Once connected via SSH, switch to the SFTP view to see remote files in a familiar list or table layout:

File icons indicate type (directory, file, symlink)
Permissions displayed in Unix format (rwxr-xr-x)
Size and modification date for quick reference
Search to find files in large directories

Navigate with keyboard arrows or mouse clicks — just like Finder.

Drag-and-Drop Upload

Transfer files from your Mac to the server by dragging them into the FoxTerm window. Progress bars show upload status, and you can cancel mid-transfer if needed.

Download works the same way: drag files from the SFTP browser to your desktop or any Finder window.

Remote File Editing

Edit remote files without downloading them first. FoxTerm includes a built-in code editor with:

Syntax Highlighting

Support for YAML, JSON, XML, INI, TOML, Bash, Dockerfile, Markdown, and SSH config files. Colors adapt to your light/dark theme preference.

Tree-sitter Parsing

Accurate syntax highlighting powered by Tree-sitter grammars — not regex-based approximations.

Auto-Save

Changes are saved directly to the remote file via SFTP. No manual upload step required.

Conflict Detection

If the remote file was modified externally, FoxTerm warns you before overwriting.

File Operations

Right-click any file or folder for a context menu:

Rename — Change filename in place
Delete — Remove with confirmation
Copy/Paste — Duplicate files or move between directories
New Folder — Create directories
Symlink — Create symbolic links
Compress — Zip files/folders on the server
Decompress — Extract zip/tar archives remotely
Permissions — Edit Unix permissions (chmod)
Owner/Group — Change file ownership (chown/chgrp)

StatVFS Integration

See remote disk usage at a glance. FoxTerm queries the server's filesystem statistics and displays:

Total capacity
Used space
Available space
Usage percentage

No need to run df -h manually.

Recursive Operations

Upload or download entire directory trees with a single action. FoxTerm handles recursion automatically, preserving directory structure and permissions.

Compression On-the-Fly

Compress files before transfer to save bandwidth. FoxTerm supports:

Zip — Universal compatibility
Tar.gz — Linux-friendly format
Tar.xz — High compression ratio

Extract archives remotely without downloading them first.

Security

All file transfers happen over the existing SSH connection. No separate SFTP session, no additional authentication, no extra ports to open.

Credentials are never stored in plaintext. If you're using Secure Enclave-stored keys, file operations require biometric verification.

Use Cases

Configuration Management

Edit nginx.conf, docker-compose.yml, or application configs directly on the server. See changes take effect immediately.

Log Analysis

Download large log files for local analysis, or view them remotely with syntax-highlighted viewers.

Backup & Restore

Compress important directories, download to your Mac, and store in Time Machine or cloud backup.

Code Deployment

Upload build artifacts, deployment scripts, or static assets to production servers.

Database Dumps

Download .sql backups from remote servers, or upload restoration files.

The Bottom Line

FoxTerm eliminates the friction of remote file management. Whether you're editing a single config file or transferring gigabytes of data, everything happens in one interface — securely, efficiently, and without breaking your workflow.

Download FoxTerm at foxterm.app.