Anyone who regularly connects to remote servers knows the frustration of typing the same SSH commands repeatedly. I’ve spent years maintaining a text file of server addresses, copying and pasting commands into Terminal, or scrolling through command history hoping to find the right connection string. Shuttle addresses this problem by putting all your SSH connections directly in your menu bar.
Shuttle is a free, open-source utility that creates a customizable menu of SSH shortcuts. Click the menu bar icon, select your server, and it automatically launches Terminal with the connection already established. The app works by reading a JSON configuration file at ~/.shuttle.json where you define your hosts, organize them into groups, and specify connection parameters.
The configuration is straightforward. A basic setup might include servers grouped by project or client, each with a label and SSH command. You can organize connections into nested menus, add custom SSH arguments, and even include terminal commands that run after connecting. The JSON format makes it easy to version control your server list or share configurations across your team.
What I appreciate about Shuttle is its focused simplicity. The app does exactly one thing and stays out of your way while doing it. There’s no preferences window, no complex UI, just your menu bar icon and your server list. This minimalist approach means the app uses virtually no system resources when idle and responds instantly when you need it.
The project has been around since 2013 and accumulated over 4,600 stars on GitHub, demonstrating sustained community appreciation. However, there’s an important caveat - the last official release was version 1.2.9 in October 2016. The app still works perfectly on modern macOS versions, but active development has stopped. For a utility this focused, that’s not necessarily a problem. SSH hasn’t fundamentally changed, and the app’s core functionality remains completely relevant.
Some limitations worth noting: Shuttle requires manual JSON editing for configuration, which some users might find less intuitive than a graphical preferences panel. The app also only supports basic SSH connections - if you need advanced features like SSH key management, port forwarding configuration, or connection persistence, you’ll want to look at more comprehensive tools like Royal TSX or Termius.
For developers working with remote servers, particularly those managing multiple environments across different projects, Shuttle provides exactly what’s needed without unnecessary complexity. The menu bar placement means your connections are always one click away, and the JSON configuration integrates naturally into dotfiles repositories.
Shuttle is available as a free download from the project website or GitHub releases. The app is released under the MIT License, and the source code is fully available for those who want to modify or extend functionality. It requires macOS 10.10 or newer and works seamlessly across Intel and Apple Silicon Macs.
If you’re a developer who frequently SSHs into servers and values simple, focused tools over feature-heavy applications, Shuttle eliminates the friction from a daily task. It’s the kind of utility that becomes invisible once installed - you simply click and connect, exactly as it should be.
