A Simple Guide to Installing SSHPass on Ubuntu and macOS

2 September 2018

Introduction #

SSHPass is a nifty little tool that lets you automate SSH login by bypassing the usual password prompt. While it’s super convenient for scripting, bear in mind that it’s not ideal for a multi-user setup due to security concerns. However, if you’re using it on your personal development machine, it’s pretty harmless.

How to Install SSHPass on Ubuntu #

Installing SSHPass on Ubuntu is as straightforward as it gets. All you need to do is open up your terminal and run the following command:

sudo apt-get install sshpass

Installing SSHPass on macOS #

Setting up SSHPass on a Mac requires a bit more legwork because there’s no official macOS version. But don’t fret; it’s not too complicated. First off, you need to have Xcode and command-line tools installed on your system.

How to Install Using Homebrew #

Unfortunately, the standard Homebrew repository doesn’t offer sshpass. However, there’s an alternative formula that you can use. Open your terminal and execute the following command:

brew install https://raw.githubusercontent.com/kadwanev/bigboybrew/master/Library/Formula/sshpass.rb

That’s it! You’ve successfully installed SSHPass on your machine, be it Ubuntu or macOS. Happy scripting!

For more information, you can check out these useful resources:

• SSHPass Official Documentation
• Homebrew Official Site

Remember, while SSHPass is a handy tool, it’s not the most secure option out there. So be cautious about where and how you use it.