Claude Code Chooser - TUI project picker and launcher for Claude Code

claude-chooser.sh

#!/bin/bash
# Claude Code Chooser - TUI project picker and launcher for Claude Code
# Shows recent Claude projects, lets you pick model/effort/mode, then launches claude.
#
# https://gist.github.com/gatopeich/2b4e805f44791fc817bc043eb82ecaac
# Author: gatopeich @ github
#
# Usage: claude-chooser.sh
#
# Kitty terminal integration:
#   # Desktop launcher (~/.local/share/applications/claude-kitty.desktop):
#   Exec=kitty --class claude-kitty -T "Claude Code" --session ~/.config/kitty/claude-session.conf
#
#   # Session file (~/.config/kitty/claude-session.conf) - new tabs also open chooser:
#   launch /path/to/claude-chooser.sh
#
# Optional: set window icon on X11 with xseticon.py:
#   https://gist.github.com/gatopeich/9d0c61cae0a4e01b23b0afc543c27fbb
#
# Requires: dialog, claude, python3 (for session discovery)

ICON="$HOME/.local/share/icons/claude-code.png"
EXTRA_FILE="$HOME/.config/claude-chooser-extra-args"

# Dialog theme: override color7 (WHITE) to actual white for dialog backgrounds
printf '\033]4;7;#f0f0f0\007'
printf '\033]4;15;#ffffff\007'
export DIALOGRC="$HOME/.config/claude-chooser-dialogrc"

# Extract recent project paths from Claude sessions, sorted by most recent session activity
DIRS=$(python3 -c "
import json, glob, os

seen = set()
for f in sorted(glob.glob(os.path.expanduser('~/.claude/projects/*/*.jsonl')), key=os.path.getmtime, reverse=True):
    try:
        with open(f) as fh:
            for line in fh:
                rec = json.loads(line)
                path = rec.get('cwd') or rec.get('projectPath') or ''
                if os.path.isdir(path) and path not in seen:
                    seen.add(path)
                    print(path)
                    break
        if len(seen) >= 10: break
    except: pass
" 2>/dev/null)

# Browse directories using dialog menus
browse_dir() {
    local cur="${1:-$HOME}"
    while true; do
        local items=(">>> SELECT THIS FOLDER <<<" "$cur" ".." "Parent directory")
        while IFS= read -r d; do
            items+=("$(basename "$d")/" "")
        done < <(find "$cur" -maxdepth 1 -mindepth 1 -type d 2>/dev/null | sort)
        local pick=$(dialog --clear --title "Browse: $cur" \
            --menu "Choose directory:" 0 0 0 \
            "${items[@]}" \
            3>&1 1>&2 2>&3) || return 1
        if [ "$pick" = ">>> SELECT THIS FOLDER <<<" ]; then
            echo "$cur"
            return 0
        elif [ "$pick" = ".." ]; then
            cur=$(dirname "$cur")
        else
            cur="$cur/${pick%/}"
        fi
    done
}

# State
DANGEROUS=off
EXTRA=$(cat "$EXTRA_FILE" 2>/dev/null)

while true; do
    # Build single menu
    MENU=()
    i=0
    while IFS= read -r d; do
        [ -n "$d" ] && MENU+=("$d" "") && ((i++))
        [ $i -ge 10 ] && break
    done <<< "$DIRS"
    MENU+=("Browse..." "")
    MENU+=("---" "─────────────────────")
    if [ "$DANGEROUS" = "on" ]; then
        MENU+=("[X] Dangerous mode" "skip all permissions")
    else
        MENU+=("[ ] Dangerous mode" "skip all permissions")
    fi
    if [ -n "$EXTRA" ]; then
        MENU+=("EXTRA" "args: $EXTRA")
    else
        MENU+=("EXTRA" "args...")
    fi

    PICK=$(dialog --clear --title "Claude Code" \
        --menu "Select project to launch, or toggle options:" 0 0 0 \
        "${MENU[@]}" \
        3>&1 1>&2 2>&3) || exit 1

    case "$PICK" in
        "---") continue ;;
        *"Dangerous mode")
            [ "$DANGEROUS" = "off" ] && DANGEROUS=on || DANGEROUS=off
            continue ;;
        "EXTRA")
            EXTRA=$(dialog --clear --title "Extra args" \
                --inputbox "Claude arguments (e.g. --continue --model opus):" 8 60 "$EXTRA" \
                3>&1 1>&2 2>&3) || EXTRA=""
            echo "$EXTRA" > "$EXTRA_FILE"
            continue ;;
        "Browse...")
            DIR=$(browse_dir "$HOME") || continue
            break ;;
        *)
            DIR="$PICK"
            break ;;
    esac
done

# Restore original terminal colors
printf '\033]4;7;#6e7781\007'
printf '\033]4;15;#8c959f\007'
clear

CLAUDE_ARGS=""
if [ "$DANGEROUS" = "on" ]; then
    CLAUDE_ARGS="$CLAUDE_ARGS --dangerously-skip-permissions"
    printf '\033]11;#fcf3cf\007'
    printf '\033]10;#1a1a1a\007'
fi
[ -n "$EXTRA" ] && CLAUDE_ARGS="$CLAUDE_ARGS $EXTRA"

# Set window icon (optional: requires xseticon and xdotool)
xseticon $(xdotool getactivewindow 2>/dev/null) "$ICON" 2>/dev/null

printf '\033]0;Claude on %s\007' "$(basename "$DIR")"
[ -n "$TMUX_PANE" ] && tmux rename-window -t "$TMUX_PANE" "✳$(basename "$DIR")" 2>/dev/null
cd "$DIR" && claude $CLAUDE_ARGS
echo ""
echo "  [Claude exited. Press Enter to close, or scroll up to review output]"
read