# sshex: SSH to VM with Path Synchronization

A simple Bash/Zsh function to SSH into a remote machine and automatically `cd` into a directory that mirrors your current local path, relative to your home directory.

## Usage

1.  **Save the function:** Add this entire block to your shell's configuration file (e.g., `~/.bashrc`, `~/.zshrc`, or `~/.bash_profile`).

2.  **Source your config:** After saving, apply the changes by running `source ~/.bashrc` (or your respective file), or simply open a new terminal session.

3.  **Execute the command:**
    From your local machine, navigate to a directory like `/Users/user133/Projects/my-app`.
    Then, run `sshex <your_vm_user>@<your_vm_host>`:

    ```bash
    cd ~/Projects/my-app
    sshex user@my-vm-ip
    ```
    This will SSH into `user@my-vm-ip` and attempt to change the directory to `/home/user/Projects/my-app`.

    **Note:** The script automatically handles the conversion of your local `~` (home directory) path to the remote `~` path.

---

## The Script

```bash
# Function to SSH to a VM and switch to a similar path
#
# Usage: sshex <user>@<host>
# Example: sshex myuser@192.168.1.100
# Example: sshex admin@dev-server.example.com
sshex() {
    if [ -z "$1" ]; then
        echo "Usage: sshex <user>@<host>"
        echo "Example: sshex myuser@192.168.1.100"
        return 1
    fi

    # Get the current working directory on your local machine
    local_current_path=$(pwd)

    # Calculate the target path on the remote VM.
    # This assumes that your local home directory structure
    # should mirror the remote home directory structure.
    #
    # ${local_current_path/#$HOME/}: Removes the local home directory prefix (e.g., /Users/user133/)
    #                                from the current path.
    # ${target_path#/}: Removes any leading slash that might remain after the above substitution.
    #                   This makes the path relative to the VM's home directory.
    target_path="${local_current_path/#$HOME/}"
    target_path="${target_path#/}" # Remove leading slash (if present)

    echo "Attempting to SSH to '$1' and navigate to: ~/$target_path"

    # Execute the SSH command:
    # -t: Forces pseudo-terminal allocation, essential for interactive shells.
    # cd \"~/$target_path\": Changes directory on the VM.
    #                          '~/' ensures it's relative to the VM user's home directory.
    #                          Quotes are crucial for paths with spaces or special characters.
    # && exec bash -l: If 'cd' is successful, replace the SSH session with a new interactive login shell.
    # || exec bash -l: If 'cd' fails (e.g., directory doesn't exist on VM), fall back to a login shell
    #                  in the VM's default home directory.
    ssh -t "$1" "cd \"$target_path\" && exec bash -l || exec bash -l"
}
```

# Important Notes

SSH Keys: For the best experience, ensure you have SSH keys set up for passwordless login to your VM. This makes the sshex command truly seamless.

Path Mapping: This script assumes your desired remote path is relative to your remote home directory (e.g., /home/youruser/). If your remote projects are in a different base path (e.g., /opt/projects), you'd need to modify the target_path logic slightly, but for mirroring local home directory structures, this works perfectly.

Directory Existence: If the exact target directory (~/path/to/my-app) doesn't exist on the VM, the cd command will fail, and the script will gracefully drop you into your VM's default home directory.

Shell Compatibility: This script is written for Bash/Zsh compatibility.