skm-node v2.0

Modern SSH Key Manager — Secure, fast, and developer-friendly

A complete rewrite with TypeScript, Ed25519 support, interactive CLI, and modern best practices.

✨ Features

• 🔐 Ed25519 by default — More secure, faster, shorter keys (RSA/ECDSA also supported)
• 🎯 Interactive CLI — Beautiful prompts with inquirer
• 🔄 Auto SSH sync — Seamless switching between keys
• 📋 Rich key info — Fingerprints, creation dates, algorithm details
• 🗑️ Safe deletion — Confirmation prompts before removing keys
• 📤 Export ready — Easy public key export for GitHub/GitLab
• 🛡️ Passphrase support — Optional key encryption
• 📝 TypeScript — Full type safety and better DX

🚀 Installation

npm install -g skm-node

Requirements: Node.js >= 18.0.0

📖 Quick Start

Initialize

skm init

Create a Key (Recommended: Ed25519)

# Interactive mode (prompts for email)
skm create github
# With email
skm create github -e your@email.com
# With passphrase
skm create github -e your@email.com -p
# RSA key (if needed for legacy systems)
skm create legacy -e your@email.com -t rsa -b 4096

List Keys

skm ls

Output:

Managed SSH keys:
→ github (active)
Email: your@email.com
Type: ed25519
Fingerprint: SHA256:xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Created: Mon Jan 15 2024
Passphrase: No
work
Email: work@company.com
Type: rsa (4096 bits)
Fingerprint: SHA256:yyyyyyyyyyyyy
Created: Tue Jan 16 2024
Passphrase: Yes

Switch Keys

skm use work

View Fingerprint

skm fingerprint github

Export Public Key

skm export github
# Copy output and paste to GitHub/GitLab SSH keys settings

Delete Key

skm delete github
# Confirms before deletion

🔧 Commands

Command	Description
skm init	Initialize configuration
skm create <name>	Create new SSH key
skm ls / skm list	List all managed keys
skm use <name>	Activate a key
skm delete <name> / skm rm <name>	Delete a key
skm fingerprint <name>	Show key fingerprint
skm export <name>	Export public key
skm --help	Show help

🎯 Create Command Options

skm create <name> [options]
Options:
-e, --email <email> Email for the key
-t, --type <type> Key type: ed25519 (default), rsa, ecdsa
-b, --bits <bits> Key bits for RSA (default: 4096)
-p, --passphrase Prompt for passphrase

🔒 Security Best Practices

Why Ed25519?

Algorithm	Security	Speed	Key Size	Recommendation
Ed25519	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	68 chars	Recommended
ECDSA	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	~150 chars	Good alternative
RSA	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐	3000+ chars	Legacy only

Passphrase Recommendation

For keys used on personal devices without automation:

skm create personal -e me@email.com -p

For CI/CD or automated deployments, use no passphrase and restrict key permissions instead.

📁 File Structure

~/.skm/
├── config.json # SKM configuration
├── github/
│ ├── id_ed25519 # Private key
│ └── id_ed25519.pub # Public key
└── work/
├── id_rsa
└── id_rsa.pub
~/.ssh/
├── id_ed25519 # Currently active private key (symlink/copy)
└── id_ed25519.pub # Currently active public key

🛠️ Development

# Clone
git clone https://github.com/liees/skm-node.git
cd skm-node
# Install
npm install
# Build
npm run build
# Test
npm test# Lint
npm run lint
npm run format

🧪 Testing

# Run all tests
npm test# Watch mode
npm run test:watch
# With coverage
npm test -- --coverage

📄 License

MIT License — see LICENSE for details.

🤝 Contributing

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch: git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature
3. Commit changes: git commit -am 'Add amazing feature'
4. Push: git push origin feature/amazing-feature
5. Create a Pull Request

🙏 Acknowledgments

• Original concept by liees
• Rewritten with modern best practices and TypeScript

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Made with ❤️ for developers who manage multiple SSH keys