TUI keybindings

dssh’s TUI is built on Bubble Tea. Keys are context-sensitive, so the same key can do different things depending on the focused pane or open dialog.

Global

Active everywhere unless overridden by a form or dialog.

Key	Action
Tab / Shift+Tab	Switch focus between the left and right panes
← / →	Switch top-level tabs where the focused control allows it
Ctrl+L	Toggle the SQLite / ssh_config source (only in both mode)
Ctrl+P	Collapse or expand the right grouping pane
?	Hide or show contextual key hints
Esc	Clear the focused filter, cancel the current form, or quit
Ctrl+C	Quit immediately

Note

q no longer quits the TUI as of v2.1.0 — use Esc or Ctrl+C. This frees q to be typed into filters and form fields without ambiguity.

Two-pane layout

Every tab starts with a 50/50 split. The left pane contains connections or form fields. The right pane either filters by group or assigns groups to a connection.

Press Ctrl+P to collapse the grouping pane and give the left pane the full width; press it again to expand the pane. This preference, like key-hint visibility, persists between TUI sessions.

Collapsing the grouping pane selects (No Groups) and restores the full connection list. In Create or an active Edit form, it discards unsaved group-assignment changes so hidden assignments cannot be saved.

A terminal size of at least 80×20 is required. Smaller terminals show a size warning instead of stacking or clipping the panes.

Search terms, cursors, filtered connections, and pane focus persist as you move between tabs for the current TUI session.

Filter groups

Connect, the Edit list, and Delete use the right pane as a group filter.

Key	Action
(type to filter)	Filter the group list by name
↑ / ↓	Select a group and filter connections immediately
PgUp / PgDn	Page through groups
Ctrl+N	Create a group
Ctrl+R	Rename the selected group
Ctrl+D	Delete the selected group; its connections are kept
Esc	Clear the group search, or quit when the search is empty

The pinned (No Groups) row removes the group constraint and shows all connections. It does not mean “unassigned connections.” Connection text filters and group filters are applied together.

Each group shows its assigned-connection count for the active SQLite or current ssh_config source. Connection text searches do not change these counts.

The selected two-line group row uses one continuous │ marker across its name and count.

Assign groups

Create and an active Edit form replace the filter with Assign Groups. A connection can belong to any number of groups.

Key	Action
↑ / ↓	Navigate groups
PgUp / PgDn	Page through groups
Space	Toggle the selected assignment
Ctrl+N	Create and assign a new group

Rename and delete are unavailable in assignment mode. Assignments are saved with the connection; leaving the form without saving discards the draft.

Ctrl+S uses the same validation, passphrase, assignment, and persistence flow as the form’s Save button.

Connect tab

Key	Action
(type to filter)	Fuzzy-filter connections by name, user, or host
↑ / ↓	Navigate connections
PgUp / PgDn	Page through connections
Enter	Connect to the selected host
Esc	Clear the connection filter, or quit when the filter is empty

Create tab

The left pane is a wizard with Name, User, Host, Port, Directory, ProxyJump, and, for password auth, Password fields.

Key	Action
↑ / ↓	Move between fields
← / →	Toggle Save To when focused; otherwise switch tabs where allowed
Ctrl+T	Toggle key ↔ password auth (disabled in ssh_config-only mode)
Enter	Advance, confirm Save To, or submit on the Save button
Ctrl+S	Validate and save from either pane
Esc	Cancel and return

Switching to password auth while Save To is visible forces the target to SQLite because ssh_config entries cannot hold encrypted passwords.

The ProxyJump field accepts any value that ssh -J accepts: user@bastion, bastion.example.com, or a chain such as jump1,jump2. Leave it empty for a direct connection.

Edit tab

Editing has two phases: select a connection, then edit its fields.

List phase

The list uses the same connection and group filters as Connect.

Key	Action
(type to filter)	Fuzzy-filter connections
↑ / ↓	Navigate connections
PgUp / PgDn	Page through connections
Enter	Open the selected connection
Esc	Clear the connection filter, or quit when the filter is empty

Form phase

All Create fields, including ProxyJump, are editable. The right pane changes to Assign Groups with the connection’s current assignments selected.

Key	Action
↑ / ↓	Move between fields
← / →	Switch tabs when the current field is empty or Save is focused
Ctrl+T	Toggle key ↔ password auth
Enter	Advance or submit on the Save button
Ctrl+S	Validate and save from either pane
Esc	Cancel and return to the list

Delete tab

The Delete list uses the same connection and group filters as Connect, with a triple confirmation to prevent accidents.

Key	Action
(type to filter)	Fuzzy-filter connections
↑ / ↓	Navigate and reset the confirmation sequence
PgUp / PgDn	Page through connections
Enter	Press three times on the same item within 1 second to delete
Esc	Clear the connection filter, or quit when the filter is empty

Each press starts a 1-second timer. Moving the cursor, changing either filter, changing pane focus, or letting the timer expire resets the count.

The center separator stays red. With the left pane focused, the title and selected connection use the orange warning accent. The Delete search / and cursor stay orange even when the right pane is focused.

Group dialogs

Create, rename, and delete open as dialogs over the existing panes.

Key	Action
Enter	Confirm the group action
Esc	Cancel and return to the same panes

Deleting a group removes its assignments, never its connections.

Passphrase dialog

Shown when saving your first password (2 fields) or unlocking existing passwords (1 field). It appears over the panes and captures all input while open.

Key	Action
↓ / Tab	Next field, or advance to Submit
↑ / Shift+Tab	Previous field
Enter	Advance, or submit when focused on Submit
Esc	Cancel and return to the form

Config dialog

Shown on first launch and on dssh config. It also captures all input.

Key	Action
↑ / ↓	Navigate the current radio group
Enter	Select the highlighted option or advance
Esc	Go back one step, or cancel on the first step
Ctrl+C	Cancel the whole dialog