Claude Code Collaboration

Enable multiple people to collaborate on the same Claude Code session in real-time, with automatic user attribution.

Repository: https://github.com/jxandery/claude-code-collab

TL;DR

git clone https://github.com/jxandery/claude-code-collab.git
cd claude-code-collab
./setup.sh    # Interactive wizard — picks the right setup for you

That's it. The wizard asks if you're a host or collaborator and walks you through everything.

What This Does

• Multiple users can interact with one Claude Code session
• User attribution: Each prompt is automatically prefixed with [Username] (customizable with --prefix)
• Real-time: Everyone sees all interactions as they happen
• Simple setup: Run the setup wizard and follow the prompts

Demo

Host's Terminal            Shared Claude Code           Collaborator's Terminal
┌───────────────────┐     ┌────────────────────┐      ┌───────────────────────┐
│ [host]> Add auth  │ --> │ [host] Add auth    │  <-- │                       │
│                   │     │ Claude: Here's...  │      │                       │
│                   │     │                    │      │ [collaborator]> JWT?  │
│                   │     │ [collaborator] JWT?│      │                       │
└───────────────────┘     │ Claude: Sure...    │      └───────────────────────┘
                          └────────────────────┘

Getting Started

Option 1: Setup Wizard (Recommended)

./setup.sh

The wizard will:

1. Ask your role (host, collaborator, or local test)
2. Check prerequisites (tmux, SSH)
3. Set up SSH keys if needed
4. Install all scripts
5. Give you the exact commands to run

Option 2: Quick Local Test

Try the concept on your own machine in 2 minutes:

# Terminal 1: Start shared session
tmux new-session -s test-collab
claude-code
# Press Ctrl+B, then D to detach

# Terminal 2: Join as "host"
./join-claude-session.sh host test-collab

# Terminal 3: Join as "collaborator"
./join-claude-session.sh collaborator test-collab

Type in Terminal 2 or 3 — watch it appear with [host] or [collaborator] prefix!

Want a custom prefix? Add --prefix YourTag:

./join-claude-session.sh host test-collab --prefix JY

Option 3: Remote Collaboration

Host sets up a cloud server (one-time, ~30 min):

# 1. Create a DigitalOcean droplet (\$12/mo, \$200 free credit for new users)
# 2. Bootstrap the server:
scp server-bootstrap.sh root@YOUR_SERVER_IP:/tmp/
ssh root@YOUR_SERVER_IP 'bash /tmp/server-bootstrap.sh'
# ↑ Auto-generates a password and displays collaborator instructions
# 3. Connect:
join-claude-session-split.sh host YOUR_SERVER_IP claudeteam claude-collab

Collaborator just connects (~5 min):

# Add your SSH key to the server (one-time, enter password from host):
ssh-copy-id claudeteam@SERVER_IP

# Join:
join-claude-session-split.sh YourName SERVER_IP claudeteam claude-collab

# Or with a custom prefix:
join-claude-session-split.sh YourName SERVER_IP claudeteam claude-collab --prefix JY

Available Scripts

Troubleshooting

Run the diagnostic tool first:

diagnose.sh                    # Check local setup
diagnose.sh YOUR_SERVER_IP     # Check local + remote

brew install tmux       # macOS
sudo apt install tmux   # Linux

# Check what sessions exist
tmux ls

# Create the session
tmux new-session -s test-collab
claude-code
# Ctrl+B, D to detach

# See which key SSH is trying to use
setup-ssh.sh --check YOUR_SERVER_IP

# Show your public key to send to the host
setup-ssh.sh --show

# The session keeps running even if you disconnect.
# Simply run the join command again:
join-claude-session-split.sh YourName SERVER_IP claudeteam claude-collab

source ~/.zshrc   # or ~/.bashrc
# Scripts are in ~/bin — this adds it to your PATH

tmux Cheatsheet

tmux is the terminal multiplexer that makes this work. Here's what you need to know:

Key concept: Detaching is NOT the same as closing. When you detach (Ctrl+B, D), the session continues in the background. You can reconnect later.

Architecture

Host's Machine           Shared Server         Collaborator's Machine
┌──────────────┐        ┌───────────────┐        ┌──────────────────┐
│              │        │               │        │                  │
│ Input Script │─SSH───>│ tmux session  │<──SSH──│  Input Script    │
│ [host]>      │        │ Claude Code   │        │ [collaborator]>  │
└──────────────┘        │               │        └──────────────────┘
                        └───────────────┘

When You're Done

# Clean up local sessions
teardown.sh

# Clean up local + remote
teardown.sh YOUR_SERVER_IP

# To stop paying for the server:
# Go to DigitalOcean dashboard → Droplets → Destroy

FAQ

File Structure

claude-code-collab/
├── README.md                          # This file
├── setup.sh                           # Interactive setup wizard
├── install.sh                         # Script installer
├── server-bootstrap.sh                # One-command server setup
├── join-claude-session.sh             # Simple input mode
├── join-claude-session-split.sh       # Split-pane mode (recommended)
├── start-collaboration.sh             # Interactive wizard with password management
├── setup-ssh.sh                       # SSH key setup helper
├── add-collaborator.sh                # Add collaborator SSH key
├── diagnose.sh                        # Diagnostic tool
├── teardown.sh                        # Cleanup tool
├── LICENSE                            # MIT License
└── docs/                              # Detailed guides
    ├── digitalocean-setup.md          # Full DigitalOcean walkthrough
    ├── setup-for-host.md              # Host setup guide
    ├── setup-for-collaborator.md      # Collaborator setup guide
    ├── QUICK-TEST-LOCAL-MAC.md        # Local testing guide
    ├── tmate-setup.md                 # tmate quick-start guide
    └── tmate-vs-ssh-tmux.md           # Comparison guide

Documentation

Contributing

Pull requests welcome! See ideas for improvements.

License

MIT License - see LICENSE file

Support

• Issues: GitHub Issues
• Diagnostics: Run diagnose.sh for self-service troubleshooting