Last updated: Aug 12, 2025, 01:09 PM UTC

Claude Code UI - Project Overview

Executive Summary

Claude Code UI is a web-based graphical interface for Anthropic's Claude Code CLI, providing a responsive, mobile-friendly UI that makes AI-assisted coding accessible across all devices. This open-source project (GPL v3) bridges the gap between command-line power and modern web interfaces, enabling developers to interact with Claude Code through a familiar chat interface, file explorer, and integrated terminal.

Core Purpose

Problem Statement

Claude Code CLI, while powerful, requires terminal expertise and is limited to desktop environments. Many developers want:

  • Mobile access to AI coding assistance
  • Visual project management without terminal commands
  • Persistent session management across devices
  • Integrated file browsing and editing
  • Git operations through a GUI

Solution

Claude Code UI provides a full-featured web interface that:

  • Works on any device with a browser (desktop, tablet, mobile)
  • Maintains all Claude Code CLI functionality
  • Adds visual tools for project and session management
  • Provides integrated file editing with syntax highlighting
  • Enables Git operations through a visual interface

Technical Architecture

Technology Stack

Backend (Node.js/Express)

  • Express Server: RESTful API endpoints for project management
  • WebSocket Server: Real-time bidirectional communication for chat
  • Claude CLI Integration: Child process spawning and management
  • SQLite Database: User authentication and session persistence
  • File System API: Secure file browsing and editing capabilities
  • Git Integration: Programmatic Git operations via child processes

Frontend (React/Vite)

  • React 18: Modern component-based UI with hooks
  • Vite: Fast build tooling and HMR development
  • Tailwind CSS: Utility-first responsive styling
  • CodeMirror 6: Advanced code editor with language support
  • XTerm.js: Full terminal emulator in the browser
  • React Router: Client-side routing for SPA navigation

System Integration

User Browser ←→ React App ←→ Express API ←→ Claude CLI
                    ↓            ↓              ↓
               WebSocket    SQLite DB    File System

Key Features

1. Project Management

  • Auto-discovery of Claude Code projects from ~/.claude/projects/
  • Visual project browser with metadata and session counts
  • Project operations: create, rename, delete, organize
  • Smart navigation with recent projects tracking

2. Chat Interface

  • Real-time streaming responses via WebSocket
  • Full conversation history with timestamps
  • Session persistence and resumption
  • Multi-format support (text, code blocks, file references)
  • Voice input support (experimental)

3. File Explorer & Editor

  • Interactive file tree with expand/collapse navigation
  • In-browser file editing with syntax highlighting
  • Support for 6+ programming languages (JS, Python, HTML, CSS, JSON, Markdown)
  • File operations: create, rename, delete, move
  • Live file watching for external changes

4. Git Integration

  • Visual Git status display
  • Stage/unstage changes through UI
  • Commit with message input
  • Branch switching and management
  • Diff viewing for changed files

5. Terminal Access

  • Full XTerm.js terminal emulator
  • Direct Claude Code CLI access
  • Persistent shell sessions
  • Copy/paste support with clipboard integration
  • WebGL rendering for performance

6. Mobile Optimization

  • Responsive design for all screen sizes
  • Touch-friendly interface with swipe gestures
  • Bottom navigation bar for thumb accessibility
  • PWA capabilities (add to home screen)
  • Adaptive layout with collapsible sidebar

Security Model

Default Security Stance

  • All tools disabled by default: Prevents automatic execution of potentially harmful operations
  • Manual tool enablement: Users must explicitly enable each tool category
  • Persistent settings: Tool preferences saved locally per user
  • Sandboxed execution: Claude CLI runs in separate process with limited permissions

Authentication System

  • JWT-based authentication with refresh tokens
  • SQLite database for user management
  • BCrypt password hashing
  • Session persistence across devices
  • Optional multi-user support

File System Access

  • Restricted to project directories only
  • No access to system directories
  • Path traversal prevention
  • Read/write permissions based on user context

Integration with Sasha Ecosystem

Potential Synergies

  1. Unified AI Assistant Interface

    • Claude Code UI could serve as the technical implementation interface for Sasha
    • Chat interface patterns could be reused for Sasha's knowledge management UI
    • File explorer could browse Sasha's knowledge base structure

  2. Shared Components

    • WebSocket communication layer for real-time interactions
    • Session management system for conversation persistence
    • File browsing and editing capabilities for knowledge documents
    • Authentication and user management infrastructure

  3. Technical Foundation

    • React/Vite frontend stack aligns with modern web standards
    • Express backend provides scalable API foundation
    • SQLite database suitable for local/embedded deployments
    • Mobile-first design supports Sasha's accessibility goals

Architecture Alignment

Both Claude Code UI and Sasha share:

  • Conversational Interface: Natural language interaction with AI
  • File System Integration: Direct access to local documents
  • Session Persistence: Maintaining context across interactions
  • Multi-device Support: Responsive design for all platforms
  • Security-first Approach: Safe defaults with explicit permissions

Deployment Considerations

Local Development

# Quick start
npm install
npm run dev
# Access at http://localhost:3001

Production Deployment

  • Single Node.js process handles both frontend and backend
  • Static asset serving through Express
  • WebSocket upgrade for real-time features
  • Environment-based configuration (.env file)
  • Optional Docker containerization support

Resource Requirements

  • Minimal: 512MB RAM, 1 CPU core
  • Recommended: 1GB RAM, 2 CPU cores
  • Storage: 100MB for application + project files
  • Network: HTTP/WebSocket on configurable port

Development Status

Current Version: 1.5.0

  • Stable release with core features complete
  • Active development and community contributions
  • Regular updates following Claude Code CLI releases
  • Comprehensive documentation and screenshots

Community & Support

  • Repository: github.com/siteboon/claudecodeui
  • License: GPL v3 (open source)
  • Contributors: Open to community contributions
  • Sponsor: Siteboon (AI-powered website builder)

Strategic Value for Sasha

Technology Transfer Opportunities

  1. UI/UX Patterns

    • Proven chat interface design
    • Mobile-responsive layouts
    • Touch interaction patterns
    • Session management flows

  2. Backend Architecture

    • WebSocket real-time communication
    • Process management for AI interactions
    • File system abstraction layer
    • Security and authentication model

  3. Frontend Components

    • Code editor for technical content
    • File tree explorer for navigation
    • Terminal emulator for advanced users
    • Responsive design system

Potential Integration Paths

  1. Direct Integration: Use Claude Code UI as the technical interface within Sasha
  2. Component Reuse: Extract and adapt specific components for Sasha's needs
  3. Architecture Blueprint: Use as reference implementation for Sasha's web UI
  4. Parallel Development: Maintain as separate but complementary tool

Recommendations

For Sasha Development

  1. Study Implementation: Review Claude Code UI's approach to:

    • Real-time AI communication
    • Session and conversation management
    • File system integration
    • Mobile-first responsive design

  2. Consider Adoption: Evaluate using Claude Code UI as:

    • Technical interface for developer users
    • Reference implementation for Sasha UI
    • Testing ground for UI/UX patterns

  3. Leverage Components: Potentially reuse:

    • WebSocket communication layer
    • Authentication system
    • File browsing components
    • Chat interface patterns

Integration Strategy

  1. Phase 1: Run Claude Code UI alongside Sasha for technical tasks
  2. Phase 2: Share authentication and session management
  3. Phase 3: Unified interface with mode switching
  4. Phase 4: Fully integrated knowledge + code assistant

Conclusion

Claude Code UI represents a mature, production-ready web interface for AI-assisted coding that aligns well with Sasha's goals of making AI assistance accessible across devices. Its open-source nature, modern architecture, and proven functionality make it a valuable reference or potential component for the Sasha ecosystem. The project demonstrates best practices in building responsive, secure, and user-friendly interfaces for AI interactions, providing both inspiration and practical solutions for Sasha's development.