Claude Code keeps coding while you're away. Check in from your phone.
Not a "remote control" — a mobile dev cockpit.
npx commandmateFrom install to mobile monitoring in 60 seconds. macOS / Linux · Node.js v20+ · npm · git · tmux · openssl
AI writes code for you — but you're stuck watching a terminal, afraid to walk away. Close the lid and every session dies. CommandMate keeps it alive, and puts the controls on your phone.
Of course, it works great on desktop too — the two-column layout gives you a full overview of all sessions and worktrees at a glance.
| Feature | What it does | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Auto Yes Mode | Agent runs without stopping for confirmations | No babysitting — Claude Code keeps working while you're away |
| Git Worktree Sessions | One session per worktree, parallel execution | Multiple tasks progress simultaneously |
| Mobile Web UI | Full session control from any browser | Monitor and steer from your phone |
| File Viewer | Browse worktree files from the browser | Review code changes without touching your PC |
| Markdown Editor | Edit Markdown files in the browser | Update AI instructions on the go |
| Screenshot Instructions | Attach images to your prompts | Snap a bug → "Fix this" — the agent sees the screenshot |
| Token Authentication | SHA-256 hashed token + HTTPS + rate limiting | Secure remote access — no credentials leaked, brute-force protected |
| Scheduled Execution | Cron-based auto-run via CMATE.md | Daily reviews, nightly tests — Claude Code works on a schedule |
| Scenario | How CommandMate helps |
|---|---|
| Couch coding | Start a task on your PC, then monitor and steer from the sofa |
| Commute review | Review AI-generated code changes on the train |
| Overnight runs | Let Claude Code work all night — check progress from bed |
| Visual bug fix | Snap a UI bug on your phone, send it with "Fix this" |
| Parallel tasks | Run multiple worktree sessions, manage them all from one dashboard |
| Feature | CommandMate | Remote Control (Official) | Happy Coder | claude-squad | Omnara |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auto Yes Mode | Yes | No | No | Yes (TUI only) | No |
| Git Worktree Management | Yes | No | No | Yes (TUI only) | No |
| Parallel Sessions | Yes | No (1 only) | Yes | Yes | No |
| Mobile Web UI | Yes | Yes (claude.ai) | Yes | No | Yes |
| File Viewer | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Markdown Editor | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Screenshot Instructions | Yes | No | No | Not possible | No |
| Scheduled Execution | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Survives Laptop Close | Yes (daemon) | No (terminal must stay open) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Token Authentication | Yes | N/A (Anthropic account) | N/A (app) | No | N/A (cloud) |
| Free / OSS | Yes | Requires Pro/Max | Free + Paid | Yes | $20/mo |
| Runs 100% Locally | Yes | Via Anthropic API | Server-routed | Yes | Cloud fallback |
| Top Page | Worktree (History) | Worktree (Terminal) |
|---|---|---|
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 |
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Runs 100% locally. No external server, no cloud relay, no account required. The only network traffic is Claude CLI's own API calls.
- Fully open-source (MIT License)
- Local database, local sessions
- For remote access, use a tunneling service (Cloudflare Tunnel, ngrok, Pinggy), a VPN, or an authenticated reverse proxy
See the Security Guide and Trust & Safety for details.
flowchart LR
A["Browser / Phone"] -->|HTTP| B["CommandMate Server"]
B --> C["Session Manager"]
C -->|"spawn / attach"| D["tmux sessions\n(per worktree)"]
D --> E["Claude Code CLI"]
C <-->|"read / write"| F[("Local DB\n& State")]
Each Git worktree gets its own tmux session, so multiple tasks run in parallel without interference.
Quick Start (detailed)
# Install & start in one command
npx commandmate
# Or install globally
npm install -g commandmate
commandmate init
commandmate start --daemonOpen http://localhost:3000 in your browser.
See the CLI Setup Guide for details.
CLI Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
commandmate init |
Initial setup (interactive) |
commandmate init --defaults |
Initial setup (default values) |
commandmate init --force |
Overwrite existing configuration |
commandmate start |
Start the server (foreground) |
commandmate start --daemon |
Start in background |
commandmate start --dev |
Start in development mode |
commandmate start -p 3001 |
Start on a specific port |
commandmate stop |
Stop the server |
commandmate stop --force |
Force stop (SIGKILL) |
commandmate status |
Check status |
Run separate servers per Issue/worktree with automatic port allocation.
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
commandmate start --issue 123 |
Start server for Issue #123 worktree |
commandmate start --issue 123 --auto-port |
Start with automatic port allocation |
commandmate start --issue 123 -p 3123 |
Start on a specific port |
commandmate stop --issue 123 |
Stop server for Issue #123 |
commandmate status --issue 123 |
Check status for Issue #123 |
commandmate status --all |
Check status for all servers |
Requires gh CLI to be installed.
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
commandmate issue create |
Create a new issue |
commandmate issue create --bug |
Create with bug report template |
commandmate issue create --feature |
Create with feature request template |
commandmate issue create --question |
Create with question template |
commandmate issue create --title <title> |
Specify issue title |
commandmate issue create --body <body> |
Specify issue body |
commandmate issue create --labels <labels> |
Add labels (comma-separated) |
commandmate issue search <query> |
Search issues |
commandmate issue list |
List issues |
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
commandmate docs |
Show documentation |
commandmate docs -s <section> |
Show a specific section |
commandmate docs -q <query> |
Search documentation |
commandmate docs --all |
List all available sections |
See commandmate --help for all options.
Troubleshooting & FAQ
If you switch between npm and standalone versions of Claude CLI, the path may change. CommandMate auto-detects the new path on the next session start. To set a custom path, add CLAUDE_PATH=/path/to/claude to .env.
commandmate start -p 3001Check tmux sessions directly. CommandMate manages sessions with the naming format mcbd-{tool}-{worktree}:
# List all CommandMate sessions
tmux list-sessions | grep mcbd
# View session output (without attaching)
tmux capture-pane -t "mcbd-claude-feature-123" -p
# Attach to inspect (detach with Ctrl+b then d)
tmux attach -t "mcbd-claude-feature-123"
# Kill a broken session
tmux kill-session -t "mcbd-claude-feature-123"Note: When attached, avoid typing directly into the session — this can interfere with CommandMate's session management. Use
Ctrl+bthendto detach and operate through the CommandMate UI instead.
Claude Code sets CLAUDECODE=1 to prevent nesting. CommandMate removes this automatically, but if it persists, run: tmux set-environment -g -u CLAUDECODE
Q: How do I use CommandMate from my phone?
A: CommandMate runs a web server on your PC. To access it from your phone, your phone and PC must be on the same network (Wi-Fi). Run commandmate init and enable external access — this sets CM_BIND=0.0.0.0. Then open http://<your-PC-IP>:3000 in your phone's browser.
Q: Can I access it from outside my home network? A: Yes. Use a tunneling service to securely expose your local server without opening router ports:
- Cloudflare Tunnel — free, requires Cloudflare account
- ngrok — free tier available, easy setup
- Pinggy — no sign-up required, simple SSH-based tunnel
Alternatively, a VPN or an authenticated reverse proxy (Basic Auth, OIDC, etc.) also works. Do not expose the server directly to the internet without authentication.
Q: Does it work on iPhone / Android? A: Yes. CommandMate's Web UI is responsive and works on any modern mobile browser (Safari, Chrome, etc.). No app install required.
Q: Is tmux required? A: CommandMate uses tmux internally to manage CLI sessions. You don't need to operate tmux directly — CommandMate handles it for you.
Q: What about Claude Code's permissions? A: Claude Code's own permission settings apply as-is. CommandMate does not expand permissions. See Trust & Safety for details.
Q: Can multiple people use it? A: Currently designed for individual use. Simultaneous multi-user access is not supported.
Developer Setup
For contributors or those building a development environment:
git clone https://github.com/Kewton/CommandMate.git
cd CommandMate
./scripts/setup.sh # Auto-runs dependency check, env setup, build, and launchgit clone https://github.com/Kewton/CommandMate.git
cd CommandMate
./scripts/preflight-check.sh # Dependency check
npm install
./scripts/setup-env.sh # Interactive .env generation
npm run db:init
npm run build
npm startNote:
./scripts/*scripts are only available in the development environment. For global installs (npm install -g), use thecommandmateCLI.
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
| CLI Setup Guide | Installation and initial setup |
| Web App Guide | Basic web app operations |
| Quick Start | Using Claude Code commands |
| Concept | Vision and problems solved |
| Architecture | System design |
| Deployment Guide | Production environment setup |
| UI/UX Guide | UI implementation details |
| Trust & Safety | Security and permissions |
Bug reports, feature suggestions, and documentation improvements are welcome. See CONTRIBUTING.md for details.
MIT License - Copyright (c) 2026 Kewton