hostserrer for macOS, Windows and Linux
Hosts File Manager for macOS, Windows and Linux
Manage your system hosts file from a single structured library. Group records into composable packages, inspect side-by-side diffs before writing, and isolate changes to a dedicated managed block. Free, open source, with automatic backups before every apply.
- Diff preview before every write
- Automatic backup before apply
- Isolated managed block
Free software · MIT · not sold
Coming soon
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows and Linux
- Built with
- TypeScript on Electron and React
- Writes
- One marked block, nothing else
- Network
- Manual diagnostics only
A central record library instead of duplicate files
Traditional hosts managers swap entire files, forcing you to hunt down and update the same IP across multiple copies. hostserrer treats each IP mapping as an independent record in a central library. Update an IP once, and every package referencing it updates instantly.
- IP address, hostnames, and notes unified in a single row
- Real-time input validation to prevent syntax and formatting errors
- Usage counter showing how many packages reference each record
- Built-in ping, traceroute, and DNS propagation lookups
Composable packages stacked with clear priority
Packages are curated selections from your record library. Activate multiple packages simultaneously with deterministic precedence—higher-priority packages cleanly override earlier ones. Stack a base blocklist, local dev environments, and staging overrides without manual conflict editing.
- Toggle individual records on or off without removing them from packages
- Filter library records and perform bulk selections or status toggles
- Drag-and-drop stack reordering where higher positions take precedence
- Status bar displays pending additions and removals before applying
Inspect the full diff before anything touches disk
The preview dialog displays the exact changes before writing. Conflicting hostnames are highlighted with the winning package and the overridden source clearly identified. Existing entries outside the block that would shadow your rules are flagged and safely handled with optional commenting.
- Unified or side-by-side diff views, for changes only or the whole file
- Explicit conflict resolution showing winning and overridden packages
- Optional commenting for upstream entries that would shadow the managed block
- Restores original upstream lines byte-for-byte when active rules change
Dedicated managed block preserves existing entries
All changes written by hostserrer are strictly contained between two designated marker comments. Docker configs, VPN routes, and manual system entries outside these markers remain untouched. Disabling all packages completely removes the block and restores the clean file.
- Block header documents the exact package stack used to generate it
- Overridden records are preserved as annotated comments explaining precedence
- Automatic timestamped backups before each write, plus baseline restoration
- Verifies writes by reading back and comparing disk contents before completion
See it working
Take a look at the user interface of the application.
How every FlosForge app works
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No telemetry
No analytics, no crash reporting, no usage pings. Not configurable — simply absent.
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Local storage only
Your data stays on your own device, stored in private application sandboxes under your control.
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Open exports
Everything exports to standard formats you own (CSV, GPX, JSON, Markdown), with zero lock-in.
Getting it running
Clone the repository from GitHub and run it locally. Because it is distributed as open source, you can audit the complete codebase before giving it access to your hosts file.
Before you start
hostserrer modifies your system hosts file, which controls local hostname resolution for all applications. An incorrect entry can misroute network traffic or cause connectivity issues. Always run the demo first, inspect the diff before applying changes, and use the Restore option to revert to your original hosts file baseline whenever needed.
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Clone the repository
Clone the complete source code, including the engine and desktop UI.
git clone https://github.com/dimitriostzr/host-file-editor-crossplatform.git -
Install dependencies
Install project dependencies using npm from the project root.
cd host-file-editor-crossplatform && npm install -
Explore in isolated demo mode
Launch a self-contained sandbox with preconfigured sample records and packages. It writes to a temporary directory without requiring administrative privileges, clearly badged in the title bar.
npm run demo:app -
Run against your system hosts file
Launch the app in live mode. Applying changes will trigger your OS elevation prompt (Touch ID, osascript, UAC, or pkexec) only when committing writes.
npm start -
Or specify a custom hosts target
Point the app at any arbitrary hosts file path to test configurations or manage custom server environments.
HOSTSERRER_HOSTS_PATH=/tmp/sandbox-hosts npm start
Free software · MIT · not sold
Free and open source
hostserrer is released under the MIT License. It is not sold — there is no paid version, no licence key and no tier — and the licence is the whole arrangement. In plain terms:
- Free and open source software: no licenses to purchase, no paywalls, and no subscription tiers.
- Full freedom to use, inspect, modify, and distribute for personal or commercial workflows.
- Redistributed copies and derivatives must keep the original copyright notice and the MIT licence text.
- Provided as-is without warranty. Always review the generated diff preview before applying changes to system files.
Read the MIT licence text The LICENSE file in the repository
Free, and the source is public
hostserrer for macOS, Windows and Linux is free software, published in full on GitHub. Clone it, audit it, or fork it. It is offered without a support commitment, so read the README first and try it on a machine you can afford to experiment with.
No account, no telemetry, nothing reported back.