# claude.sh

> Claude Code rewritten as a ~1,500-line bash script with zero npm dependencies, using only curl and jq to interact with the Anthropic API.

claude.sh is a minimal, dependency-free reimplementation of Claude Code as a single bash script. It replaces ~380,000 lines of TypeScript and 266 npm packages with roughly 1,500 lines of shell script, requiring only `curl` and `jq`. The tool provides a full REPL loop for interacting with Claude models, including real-time streaming, tool execution, and session management — all with instant startup and no Node.js runtime.

- **Real-time streaming** via FIFO pipe so text appears as Claude generates it, providing a responsive interactive experience
- **6 built-in tools** (Bash, Read, Edit, Write, Glob, Grep) enabling Claude to read, write, and search files and run shell commands
- **Tool chaining** supports up to 25 tool calls per turn, allowing complex multi-step tasks
- **Permission prompting** asks before running non-safe commands, with `y/n/a` options and configurable permission modes (`ask`, `allow`, `deny`)
- **CLAUDE.md loading** reads project instructions from CLAUDE.md files up the directory tree for project-aware context
- **Git-aware context** injects branch name, status, and recent commits into the system prompt automatically
- **Session save/resume** auto-saves conversations on exit and allows resuming by ID or interactive list
- **Retry with backoff** handles 429/529 rate limit errors with exponential backoff
- **Cost tracking** displays per-turn and session token cost totals
- **Slash commands** including `/help`, `/cost`, `/model`, `/clear`, `/save`, `/resume`, `/commit`, and `/diff`
- **Pipe mode** allows non-interactive use: `echo "explain this" | ./claude.sh`
- **Modular architecture** split across `api.sh`, `json.sh`, `tools.sh`, and `tui.sh` for maintainability

To get started, clone the repository, make the script executable with `chmod +x claude.sh`, set your `ANTHROPIC_API_KEY` environment variable, and run `./claude.sh`. Optionally install `ripgrep` for better search and `python3` for the edit tool.

## Features
- Real-time streaming via FIFO pipe
- 6 tools: Bash, Read, Edit, Write, Glob, Grep
- Tool chaining up to 25 calls per turn
- Permission prompting before non-safe commands
- CLAUDE.md project instruction loading
- Git-aware context injection
- Session save and resume
- Exponential retry on rate limits
- Per-turn and session cost tracking
- Slash commands (/help, /cost, /model, /clear, /save, /resume, /commit, /diff)
- Pipe mode for non-interactive use
- Configurable model and token limits via environment variables

## Integrations
Anthropic Claude API, curl, jq, ripgrep (optional), python3 (optional), git

## Platforms
MACOS, LINUX, API, CLI

## Pricing
Open Source

## Links
- Website: https://github.com/jdcodes1/claude-sh
- Documentation: https://github.com/jdcodes1/claude-sh
- Repository: https://github.com/jdcodes1/claude-sh
- EveryDev.ai: https://www.everydev.ai/tools/claude-sh