Compiling and running mosh on Dreamhost (Updated - 2025)

install-mosh.sh

#!/usr/bin/env bash
set -e

# Dreamhost Mosh Install Script
# Jay Williams (https://gist.github.com/jaywilliams/c9ffab789b3f622abc932dd4cfaaeef5)

# Based on the gracious work of:
# Paul R Alexander (https://gist.github.com/palexander/2975305)
# Sami Samhuri https://gist.github.com/samsonjs/4076746

PREFIX=$HOME/local
VERSION=1.4.0

# Create Source Directory
mkdir -p $PREFIX/src
cd $PREFIX/src

# Install Protocol Buffers
wget https://github.com/google/protobuf/releases/download/v2.6.1/protobuf-2.6.1.tar.gz
tar -xf protobuf-2.6.1.tar.gz
cd protobuf-2.6.1
./configure --prefix=$PREFIX
make
make install
cd ..
echo Removing source code...
rm -r protobuf-2.6.1

# Install Ncurses
wget https://invisible-mirror.net/archives/ncurses/ncurses-6.5.tar.gz
tar -xf ncurses-6.5.tar.gz
cd ncurses-6.5
./configure --prefix=$PREFIX --with-shared --without-debug  --without-normal
make
make install
cd ..
echo Removing source code...
rm -rf ncurses-5.9

# You'll need this setting to have mosh find the Protocol Buffer lib
export PKG_CONFIG_PATH=$PREFIX/lib/pkgconfig
export PATH=$PREFIX/bin:$PATH

# Install mosh (Link to our curses library)
wget https://github.com/mobile-shell/mosh/releases/download/mosh-$VERSION/mosh-$VERSION.tar.gz
tar -xf mosh-$VERSION.tar.gz
cd mosh-$VERSION
./configure --prefix=$PREFIX --with-curses=$PREFIX
make
make install
cd ..
echo Removing source code...
rm -r mosh-$VERSION

# Post-Install Notes
echo 'To connect to the mosh server, run this on your local machine:'
echo "    $ mosh --server=\"LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$PREFIX/lib $PREFIX/bin/mosh-server\" $USER@$(hostname -f)"

echo 'Or add following lines to your ~/.bashrc (or other applicable shell) file:'
echo "    export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$PREFIX/lib"
echo "    export PATH=$PREFIX/bin:\$PATH"
echo 'Afterwards, you can simply run this on your local machine:'
echo "    $ mosh $USER@$(hostname -f)"

Executed as is, you'll have a "local" directory under $HOME, like this:

local
├── bin
│   ├── mosh
│   ├── mosh-client
│   ├── mosh-server
│   └── protoc
├── include
│   └── google
├── lib
│   ├── libprotobuf-lite.a
│   ├── libprotobuf-lite.la
│   ├── libprotobuf-lite.so -> libprotobuf-lite.so.9.0.1
│   ├── libprotobuf-lite.so.9 -> libprotobuf-lite.so.9.0.1
│   ├── libprotobuf-lite.so.9.0.1
│   ├── libprotobuf.a
│   ├── libprotobuf.la
│   ├── libprotobuf.so -> libprotobuf.so.9.0.1
│   ├── libprotobuf.so.9 -> libprotobuf.so.9.0.1
│   ├── libprotobuf.so.9.0.1
│   ├── libprotoc.a
│   ├── libprotoc.la
│   ├── libprotoc.so -> libprotoc.so.9.0.1
│   ├── libprotoc.so.9 -> libprotoc.so.9.0.1
│   ├── libprotoc.so.9.0.1
│   └── pkgconfig
├── share
│   └── man
└── src
    ├── mosh-1.2.6
    ├── mosh-1.2.6.tar.gz
    ├── protobuf-2.6.1
    └── protobuf-2.6.1.tar.gz

thank you