Terminal Setup for Claude Code: Shells, Multiplexers, and IDE Integration

Which Shell to Use

Claude Code works with bash, zsh, and fish. Use whatever you are comfortable with — there is no Claude-Code-specific shell configuration needed. If you are not already on zsh, this is a good time to switch. Most macOS and Linux systems default to bash; zsh has better tab completion and is the standard for modern development.

chsh -s /bin/zsh  # macOS
chsh -s /usr/bin/zsh  # Linux

tmux for Persistent Sessions

Run Claude Code inside tmux so sessions persist if your terminal crashes or you get disconnected:

tmux new -s claude
claude
# Work as normal
# If terminal dies, tmux attach -t claude to pick up where you left off

tmux also lets you detach and reattach without losing your session state. Useful for long-running refactors where you want to check on progress from a different machine.

VS Code Terminal

Claude Code integrates with VS Code's integrated terminal. Open a terminal in VS Code (Ctrl+`), run claude, and the session runs inside your editor context. This gives you the benefit of Claude Code operating with awareness of your open files and editor state.

The VS Code extension for Claude Code (when available) adds additional awareness — it can see your open tabs, active file, and git state directly rather than having to read it from disk.

Screen Sharing in Claude Code Sessions

For pairing scenarios, Claude Code supports terminal sharing through tunnels. Start a session and share the tunnel URL with a collaborator who can observe or take over the session. Useful for code reviews and async collaboration.