oldj/SwitchHosts
SwitchHosts
SwitchHosts is a desktop application for managing and switching between multiple sets of system hosts file entries. It functions as a network environment switcher and an operating system hosts file manager, allowing users to map domain names to specific IP addresses for local DNS management.
The tool distinguishes itself through remote hosts synchronization, which fetches and updates local data from remote URLs on a defined schedule. It enables rapid configuration toggling via a main window and system tray menu to swap between different network routing sets instantly.
The application includes a specialized text editor with syntax highlighting and find-and-replace functionality. It provides capabilities for organizing host entries into groups and folders, backing up configuration data, and executing post-apply system commands to refresh network states and DNS caches.
Features
- Domain-to-IP Mappings - Changes host file entries to map domain names to specific IP addresses for testing and development.
- Development Environment Configurations - Rapidly swaps between different network routing configurations to move between local, staging, and production environments.
- Network Environment Switchers - Provides a tool for rapidly swapping DNS routing configurations to move between different development and production environments.
- Configuration Set Grouping - Organizes individual host entries into logical collections for rapid switching between different network environments.
- Host Configuration Management - Swaps between different sets of host file entries to change network routing for specific environments.
- Hosts File Managers - Uses post-apply commands and remote synchronization to keep local network mapping up to date without manual editing.
- Network Environment Switchers - Provides a main window and system tray menu to instantly swap between active host sets and update network routing.
- Folder-Based Organization - Allows organizing various network configurations into groups and folders to switch between environments rapidly.
- Remote Data Management - Fetches host data from remote sources manually, on a schedule, or during application startup.
- Remote Configuration Synchronization - Fetches and updates local hosts file data from remote URLs on a defined schedule.
- Shell Command Execution - Automatically executes system commands after applying configurations to refresh network states and update DNS caches.
- Remote Server Synchronization - Periodically fetches remote host data using timers to ensure local configurations match a central source of truth.
- Network Traffic Routing - Organizes complex sets of host entries into groups to manage traffic routing for multiple simultaneous projects.
- Developer Utilities - Open-source application for managing and switching hosts files.
- Development Utilities - Manage and toggle between multiple hosts file configurations.
