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Darab Ahmed
Doc
CS-02
Employer
i2c Inc.
Role
Design and build
Status
In use

Multi-Manager: from SFTP client to AI tooling hub

A desktop app that restored server access after off-the-shelf clients stopped working, then gave AI assistants controlled access to servers, Jira, Confluence, Bitbucket and TeamCity through MCP.

  • Java
  • JavaFX
  • SSH
  • SFTP
  • MCP

Context

Engineers reach servers through a non-standard authentication flow that is required for compliance.

Problem

After a security change, WinSCP and other off-the-shelf clients no longer worked with that flow. Every file transfer and server task had to be done by hand over SSH from the command line.

Approach

Version 1: SFTP Manager

A JavaFX desktop app with SSH and SFTP sessions built around the required authentication flow. It brought back a graphical workflow for file transfer and server access.

Version 2: server access for AI assistants

I wrote MCP servers so that AI assistants such as Claude could work on the database, web and QA servers through the same controlled sessions that engineers use.

Version 3: Multi-Manager

I added MCP integrations for self-hosted Jira, Confluence, Bitbucket and TeamCity. At the time, the official Atlassian integrations did not support the Data Center editions. The app now hosts a plugin that bundles several tools and skills so they work as one workflow, so I renamed it Multi-Manager.

Architecture

How Multi-Manager grewVersion 1 is a desktop SFTP and SSH client for the required authentication flow. Version 2 adds MCP servers so AI assistants can use the database, web and QA servers through the same sessions. Version 3 adds MCP integrations for Jira, Confluence, Bitbucket and TeamCity, bundled as one plugin.VERSION 1SFTP ManagerJavaFX desktop appSSH and SFTP sessions for therequired authentication flowVERSION 2Server access for AIMCP servers on the same sessionsdatabase, web and QA serversfor Claude and other assistantsVERSION 3Multi-ManagerMCP for self-hosted Jira, Confluence,Bitbucket and TeamCityone plugin with tools and skillsShared base: controlled SSH sessions. AI access goes through them, never around them.
How the app grew: each version reuses the same controlled sessions. Scroll sideways to see all of it.

Stack

  • Java
  • JavaFX
  • SSH
  • SFTP
  • MCP

What I learned

  • A small tool that removes a daily problem is a good base to extend. Each later feature reused the same sessions.
  • AI access to servers should go through the same controlled sessions that engineers use, never around them.