Quickstart

Before you can access your Nest container, you'll need to apply for one at https://dashboard.hackclub.app. If you haven't already, you'll be asked to verify your age through Hack Club Auth. Age verification is handled by Hack Club Auth, not by Nest itself.

You'll be asked to pick a username, paste your public SSH key, and tell us what you'll use Nest for. Nest uses SSH keys instead of passwords: they're more secure, and once set up you never type a password again.

Important: only ever paste your public key (the file ending in .pub). Never paste your private key (the matching file with no extension). Your public key is safe to share; your private key is not and should never leave your machine.

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If you're not sure how to find your public SSH key, here's how:

1. Check whether you already have a key.

Linux/macOS:

cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub

Windows (PowerShell):

type $env:USERPROFILE\.ssh\id_ed25519.pub

Windows (Command Prompt):

type %USERPROFILE%\.ssh\id_ed25519.pub

If it prints a long string starting with ssh-ed25519, you already have a key. Copy that entire line and skip to submitting it.

If you get "No such file or directory," you might have no key, or you might have an older RSA key. Run the same command again with id_rsa.pub instead of id_ed25519.pub. If that prints a string starting with ssh-rsa, use it instead.

If you have a SSH key copy it and skip step 2 and 3.

2. Generate a key (only if you don't have one).

If neither command returned a key, create one:

ssh-keygen -t ed25519

You can press Enter at each prompt to accept the defaults (this creates the key with no passphrase). Adding a passphrase when prompted is optional but more secure, since it protects the key if your machine is ever compromised.

3. Display your public key so you can copy it.

Linux/macOS:

cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub

Windows (PowerShell):

type $env:USERPROFILE\.ssh\id_ed25519.pub

Windows (Command Prompt):

type %USERPROFILE%\.ssh\id_ed25519.pub

Copy the entire line starting with ssh-ed25519 and paste it into the application.

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Once submitted, your application may take up to 72 hours for an admin to review. You'll be notified whether it's approved or rejected. If it's rejected, you can should ask an admin in #nest-help on Slack.

Once approved, SSH into your container with (replace username):

ssh username@hackclub.app

The first time you connect, you'll see a message about the host's authenticity and a prompt asking whether to continue. Type yes and press Enter. You'll only be asked this once.

If you instead get Permission denied (publickey), the key you submitted probably doesn't match the one on your machine, or your SSH agent isn't using it. Check that the public key in the dashboard matches the output of the cat/type command above.

Congratulations, you're now inside your Nest container and can start hosting your projects.

You can also manage your container at https://dashboard.hackclub.app. If you're unsure about the dashboard, read the Dashboard guide.