claude-code-cli

Original：🇺🇸 English
Translated

Claude Code CLI usage for automated/headless execution in Daytona sandboxes. Use when running Claude Code commands, configuring authentication, or setting up non-interactive mode.

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Sourceseanchiuai/multishot
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NPX Install

npx skill4agent add seanchiuai/multishot claude-code-cli

Tags

Translated version includes tags in frontmatter
claude-code-cliheadless-executionauthentication-configurationnon-interactive-modesandbox-deployment

SKILL.md Content

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Claude Code CLI

Source: Claude Code CLI Reference, Headless Usage

Installation

bash
# Native (recommended)
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash

# NPM (deprecated)
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
Verify: 
claude --version

Authentication

Environment Variables

VariableDescriptionPriority
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY
API key from console.anthropic.comHigh (overrides OAuth)
CLAUDE_CODE_OAUTH_TOKEN
OAuth token for subscription authNormal
Warning: Setting 
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY
bypasses subscription and uses pay-as-you-go API rates.

For Headless/Sandbox Use

Since Claude Code requires browser-based OAuth, use one of:
  1. API Key (recommended for CI/sandboxes):
    bash
    export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="sk-ant-..."
claude -p "your prompt"
  2. OAuth Token Transfer (from authenticated machine):
    bash
    # On local machine: authenticate normally, then copy token
# Location: ~/.config/claude-code/auth.json
# Transfer to sandbox via environment variable
export CLAUDE_CODE_OAUTH_TOKEN="token-from-auth-json"

Check Current Auth

In interactive mode: 
/status

Non-Interactive Mode (-p / --print)

For automated execution, use 
-p
flag:
bash
claude -p "your prompt here"
This runs the prompt and exits (no REPL).

Essential Flags

Core Flags

FlagDescriptionExample
-p, --print
Non-interactive mode, exit after response
claude -p "explain this"
-c, --continue
Continue most recent conversation
claude -c -p "now fix it"
-r, --resume <id>
Resume specific session
claude -r "abc123" "continue"
--model <name>
Set model (
sonnet
, 
opus
, or full name)
claude --model opus -p "..."

Permission & Security

FlagDescription
--dangerously-skip-permissions
Skip ALL permission prompts (use with caution)
--allowedTools <tools>
Auto-approve specific tools without prompting
--disallowedTools <tools>
Block specific tools entirely
--permission-mode <mode>
Start in specific mode (e.g., 
plan
)

Tool Control

bash
# Allow specific tools (comma-separated)
claude -p "fix the bug" --allowedTools "Read,Edit,Bash"

# Allow with prefix matching (e.g., any git command)
claude -p "commit changes" --allowedTools "Bash(git:*)"

# Disable all tools
claude -p "explain this" --tools ""

# Use only specific tools
claude -p "review code" --tools "Read,Grep,Glob"

Output Formats

FlagValueDescription
--output-format
text
Plain text (default)
json
JSON with metadata
stream-json
Newline-delimited JSON streaming
bash
# Get JSON output
claude -p "summarize" --output-format json

# Parse with jq
claude -p "summarize" --output-format json | jq -r '.result'

# Structured output with schema
claude -p "list functions" --output-format json \
  --json-schema '{"type":"object","properties":{"functions":{"type":"array","items":{"type":"string"}}}}'

System Prompt

FlagDescription
--system-prompt <text>
Replace entire system prompt
--append-system-prompt <text>
Add to default prompt (recommended)
--system-prompt-file <path>
Load replacement from file
--append-system-prompt-file <path>
Append from file
bash
# Append custom instructions (keeps defaults)
claude -p "review this" --append-system-prompt "Focus on security vulnerabilities"

# Replace entire prompt
claude -p "task" --system-prompt "You are a Python expert"

Budget & Limits

FlagDescription
--max-budget-usd <amount>
Maximum spend (print mode only)
--max-turns <n>
Limit agentic turns (print mode only)
bash
claude -p "refactor this file" --max-budget-usd 5.00 --max-turns 10

Session Management

bash
# Get session ID from output
session_id=$(claude -p "start review" --output-format json | jq -r '.session_id')

# Resume later
claude -p "continue" --resume "$session_id"

# Continue most recent
claude -p "what was I doing?" --continue

Recommended Sandbox Configuration

For running in Daytona sandboxes:
bash
# Full automated execution with tool access
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="sk-ant-..." claude -p "Create a hello world Python script" \
  --dangerously-skip-permissions \
  --output-format json \
  --max-turns 20

# Or with specific tool allowlist
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="sk-ant-..." claude -p "Fix the bug in auth.py" \
  --allowedTools "Read,Edit,Bash,Grep,Glob" \
  --output-format json

# With OAuth token instead
CLAUDE_CODE_OAUTH_TOKEN="token..." claude -p "Explain this codebase" \
  --dangerously-skip-permissions

Exit Codes

CodeMeaning
0Success
1Error (check stderr)

Piped Input

bash
# Pipe file content
cat src/main.ts | claude -p "explain this code"

# Pipe command output
git diff | claude -p "review these changes"

# Pipe multiple files
cat src/*.ts | claude -p "find security issues"

Common Patterns

Code Review

bash
git diff HEAD~1 | claude -p "Review these changes for bugs and improvements" \
  --append-system-prompt "Focus on security and performance" \
  --output-format json

Bug Fix

bash
claude -p "Fix the failing test in tests/auth.test.ts" \
  --allowedTools "Read,Edit,Bash(npm test:*)" \
  --max-turns 15

Code Generation

bash
claude -p "Create a REST API endpoint for user registration" \
  --dangerously-skip-permissions \
  --max-turns 30

Explanation Only (No Tools)

bash
cat complex-file.ts | claude -p "Explain how this works" --tools ""

Error Messages to Watch For

In sandbox output, watch for:
  • "Authentication failed"
    - Invalid token/key
  • "OAuth token has expired"
    - Need fresh token
  • "Invalid API key"
    - Check ANTHROPIC_API_KEY
  • "Rate limit exceeded"
    - Back off and retry
  • "Context length exceeded"
    - Reduce input size

Notes

  • Skills/slash commands (like 
    /commit
    ) only work in interactive mode, not with 
    -p
  • -p
    mode exits after completion; use 
    --continue
    for multi-step tasks
  • --dangerously-skip-permissions
    gives full tool access - use in trusted environments only
  • Output buffering: Claude streams output, buffer at ~100ms for IPC efficiency