Introducing ZeroHost CLI: Ephemeral Text Sharing from Your Terminal

npm install -g zerohost-cli

The most common request since launch has been a terminal client. Copying build logs, debugging output, or a config file out of a shell and into a browser tab breaks whatever you were doing.

The ZeroHost CLI puts ephemeral sharing on the command line, where the content already is.

Why We Built a CLI Tool

Sharing an error log with a teammate or a config example with a contractor should not require leaving the shell you are already in.

Traditional sharing platforms compound the problem:

• Pastebin: Cluttered with ads, no privacy guarantees
• GitHub Gist: Tied to GitHub, public by default
• Slack/Discord: Creates permanent searchable history
• Email: Leaves audit trails and forwarding chains

The CLI pipes straight into the tools you already use, and every share it creates carries an expiry.

Terminal Integration

Share anything from your terminal in seconds:

# Share text directly
zerohost "Hello, world!"

# Share a file
zerohost --file config.json

# Share command output (the most powerful feature)
ls -la | zerohost --expires 1h
npm run build 2>&1 | zerohost --burn
git diff | zerohost --password review

# Interactive mode with your editor
zerohost --interactive

Privacy by Design

Just like our web service, the CLI follows our zero-data retention philosophy:

• Automatic Expiry: Content disappears after 1 hour to 30 days
• No Permanent Storage: No backups, no logs, no audit trails
• Burn After Reading: Self-destruct after first view
• Password Protection: Encrypt sensitive content
• No Content Analytics: We don't track what you share

Developer-Friendly Features

The details that matter day to day:

Syntax Highlighting: Automatic detection of file types for proper syntax highlighting in the browser.

Flexible Expiry: Choose from 1 hour to 30 days (Pro plan includes extended options).

QR Codes: Generate QR codes for easy mobile sharing with --qr.

Clipboard Integration: Auto-copy URLs to clipboard with --copy.

Smart File Detection: Automatically detects file types for optimal display.

Real-World Use Cases

For Developers

• Debug Sharing: npm run build 2>&1 | zerohost --expires 1d
• Code Reviews: git diff | zerohost --password review --expires 2h
• Configuration: zerohost --file .env.example --expires 1h
• Error Logs: tail -100 error.log | zerohost --burn

For DevOps Engineers

• System Diagnostics: uname -a | zerohost
• Container Logs: docker logs container-name | zerohost --expires 6h
• Performance Data: top -n 1 | zerohost --password ops
• Network Config: ifconfig | zerohost --burn

For System Administrators

• Process Monitoring: ps aux | grep nginx | zerohost
• Disk Usage: df -h | zerohost --expires 1d
• Security Audits: zerohost --file audit-report.txt --password security

Getting Started

Installation

Install it like any npm package:

# Install globally
npm install -g zerohost-cli

# Or use without installing
npx zerohost-cli "Hello, world!"

# Verify installation
zerohost --version

Basic Usage

Start sharing immediately with the free tier (10 shares per day):

# Share simple text
zerohost "This message will self-destruct in 24 hours"

# Share with custom expiry
zerohost "Quick update" --expires 1h

# Share a file
zerohost --file README.md

# Pipe command output
echo "Hello from $(hostname)" | zerohost

Developer Features

Authenticate with your ZeroHost Pro account for API access and advanced features:

# Login with your API key
zerohost --login

# Check your status
zerohost --config

# Now use Developer features
zerohost --file secret.txt --password mypass --expires 7d --burn

Integration Examples

CI/CD Pipelines

Share build artifacts and logs automatically:

# GitHub Actions
- name: Share Build Log on Failure
  if: failure()
  run: |
    npm run build 2>&1 | zerohost --expires 24h --password "build-${{ github.run_number }}"

# GitLab CI
script:
  - npm test 2>&1 | zerohost --expires 1d || true

Development Workflows

Integrate into your daily development routine:

# Share git patches
git format-patch HEAD~1 --stdout | zerohost --expires 2h

# Share database dumps (anonymized)
mysqldump --no-data mydb | zerohost --password schema

# Share performance profiles
node --prof app.js && node --prof-process *.log | zerohost --burn

Security and Compliance

ZeroHost CLI provides automatic compliance with data protection regulations:

• GDPR: No personal data retention beyond necessity
• SOX: Eliminates permanent audit trails of sensitive data
• HIPAA: Ensures healthcare data doesn't persist inappropriately

The CLI enforces data minimization in the architecture rather than in a policy document. Content is built to disappear, not to accumulate.

Try It Today

Install it and share your next build log without opening a browser:

npm install -g zerohost-cli

Resources

• npm Package
• Developer Documentation
• API Documentation
• Account Dashboard
• ZeroHost CLI Support