SFTP runs over SSH, which makes it the safest default for most Linux servers, VPSes and shared hosts. DockBird speaks it natively in Swift, with no bundled runtime and no shell-out to the system ssh binary, so connections open in well under a second and the app stays small.
The first time you reach a server DockBird shows its host key fingerprint and asks you to confirm it, exactly the way the ssh command does. Accepted keys are stored per host, and a changed key raises the prompt again instead of silently connecting. Passwords and passphrases go into the macOS Keychain, never into a plain file.
Once connected, the remote pane behaves like Finder: sort by name, size or date, filter with ⌘F, press Space for Quick Look, and drag files in either direction. Folder drops are expanded into per-file transfers so a whole project uploads in one gesture, and the destination pane refreshes itself when the batch lands.
How to connect
- Press ⌘N or click the plus next to Servers in the sidebar.
- Choose the SFTP tile.
- Fill in: Name · Host and port · Username · Password or private key file (with optional passphrase) · Initial path.
- Click Save, then double-click the server. Approve the host key or certificate prompt if one appears.