SSH-ASKPASS-FULLSCREEN(1)

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version 1.3 · 2 versions
  • 1.3 · debian bookworm, debian trixie, ubuntu noble, ubuntu questing, ubuntu resolute, ubuntu stonking (latest)
  • 0.3 · ubuntu jammy
, in debian bookworm, debian trixie, ubuntu noble, ubuntu questing, ubuntu resolute, ubuntu stonking

🎀 ssh-askpass-fullscreen(1) 🎀

okay bestie, so this is the General Commands Manual page for ssh-askpass-fullscreen, section 1. it's a whole vibe and it's the little passphrase-popup friend your OpenSSH setup has been waiting for. let's get into it 💖

✨ NAME ✨

  • ssh-askpass-fullscreen — a simple replacement for ssh-askpass, written with gtk2 🫶

💅 SYNOPSIS 💅

ssh-askpass-fullscreen

that's it. that's the entire vibe check. no options, no arguments, nothing extra. it just is ✨

🦋 DESCRIPTION 🦋

okay so first, real talk: this manual page was written for the Debian distribution, and the reason is lowkey iconic — the original program doesn't have a manual page at all. so this one exists. you're welcome 🎀

gnome-ssh-askpass is a GTK-based passphrase dialog for use with OpenSSH. iykyk.

it is intended to be called by the ssh-add(1) program, and not invoked directly. like, it's not the one you launch yourself — it's the supportive bestie that ssh-add(1) calls in when it needs something from you.

and what it does is this: it lets ssh-add(1) obtain a passphrase from a user even if not connected to a terminal, assuming that an X display is available. no terminal? doesn't matter. still got you 💅

and this happens automatically in the case where ssh-add is invoked from your ~/.xsession or as one of the GUI startup programs, for example. it just. handles it. slay.

in order to be called automatically by ssh-add, ssh-askpass-fullscreen should be installed as /usr/bin/ssh-askpass

periodt. that's the path. no cap 🧚

🌸 ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES 🌸

these are the environment variables it recognizes, bestie:

  • GNOME_SSH_ASKPASS_GRAB_SERVER — causes ssh-askpass-fullscreen to grab the X server before asking for a passphrase.
  • GNOME_SSH_ASKPASS_GRAB_POINTER — causes ssh-askpass-fullscreen to grab the mouse pointer too, so the pointer will be grabbed as well.

these may have some benefit to security if you don't trust your X server. and also, important: the keyboard is always grabbed. always. non-negotiable 💅

👀 SEE ALSO

💜 AUTHOR 💜

this manual page was written by Marco Presi (Zufus) <zufus@debian.org>, for the Debian GNU/Linux system (but may be used by others), and it is based on the one for x11-ssh-askpass by Philip Hands and the one for gnome-ssh-askpass by Colin Watson <cjwatson@debian.org>. absolute icons, honestly 👑

and that's the page!! 💖 dated May 8, 2004, straight out of the SSH-ASKPASS-FULLSCREEN(1) General Commands Manual. mwah 🎀 bye bestie, go get that passphrase 🫶✨

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