claude-zellij-prompt

name	claude-zellij-prompt
description	Use when requesting feedback or review from a subscription-backed interactive Claude Code session through Zellij, including prompt delivery, terminal-output capture, blocked Claude UI, timeouts, and temporary-session cleanup.

Claude Zellij Prompt

Use interactive claude in an ephemeral Zellij pane. Preserve the prompt; the caller's sandbox and configuration govern tools and permissions.

Preconditions

• Run from the sandboxed repository Claude should inspect.
• Require claude, jq, GNU timeout, and Zellij whose zellij action list-panes --help documents --json. Do not invoke list-panes --json before the session exists.
• Never use claude --print, API credentials, --dangerously-skip-permissions, or tool restrictions.

Session Contract

Use a collision-resistant name, a private temporary Zellij socket directory, and unconditional cleanup. Identify a ready focused shell pane, then type the static claude command there.

set -euo pipefail
temp_dir="$(mktemp -d)"
session="pi-claude-feedback-$(date +%s)-$RANDOM"
timeout_seconds="${CLAUDE_ZELLIJ_TIMEOUT_SECONDS:-600}"
deadline=$((SECONDS + timeout_seconds))
export ZELLIJ_SOCKET_DIR="$temp_dir/zellij"
export ZELLIJ_SOCK_DIR="$ZELLIJ_SOCKET_DIR"
cleanup() {
  zellij delete-session --force "$session" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
  rm -rf "$temp_dir"
}
trap cleanup EXIT INT TERM HUP
mkdir -p "$ZELLIJ_SOCKET_DIR"

zellij attach --create-background "$session"
while :; do
  remaining=$((deadline - SECONDS))
  if ((remaining <= 0)); then
    printf 'TIMEOUT session=%s phase=pane-discovery\n' "$session" >&2
    exit 124
  fi
  pane=$(
    ZELLIJ_SESSION_NAME="$session" timeout "${remaining}s" zellij action list-panes --json 2>/dev/null |
      jq -r 'map(select(.is_plugin == false and .is_focused == true)) | first | .id // empty'
  ) || true
  if ((SECONDS >= deadline)); then
    printf 'TIMEOUT session=%s phase=pane-discovery\n' "$session" >&2
    exit 124
  fi
  test -n "$pane" && break
  sleep 0.2
done
ZELLIJ_SESSION_NAME="$session" zellij action write-chars --pane-id "$pane" claude
ZELLIJ_SESSION_NAME="$session" zellij action send-keys --pane-id "$pane" Enter

Launching static claude and submitting Enter are required before prompt polling. Set CLAUDE_ZELLIJ_TIMEOUT_SECONDS from the caller's deadline when it differs from 600 seconds, and use the same $deadline while polling ZELLIJ_SESSION_NAME="$session" zellij action dump-screen --full --pane-id "$pane" until Claude visibly reaches its prompt. Inspect the UI—never hardcode a prompt glyph/regex. Keep every capture under $temp_dir, outside the repository, so the same trap removes sockets and captures. Poll intervals are acceptable; fixed sleeps do not prove readiness.

Deliver and Capture the Prompt

After the interactive prompt is visible, paste the prompt as data and submit it. Quote it; never shell-evaluate it or add instructions.

ZELLIJ_SESSION_NAME="$session" zellij action paste --pane-id "$pane" "$prompt"
ZELLIJ_SESSION_NAME="$session" zellij action send-keys --pane-id "$pane" Enter

Continue polling full scrollback. Complete only after visible feedback and idle input; return the final full capture.

Blocked States

If the capture shows a permission dialog, user question, authentication failure, or other input-needed UI, stop. Do not respond, auto-approve, bypass permissions, or mutate the prompt. Return the full capture as blocked, then clean up.

On deadline expiry, report the session name, timeout, and latest capture; cleanup still runs.

Quick Reference

Need	Command
Isolate temporary server	Set ZELLIJ_SOCKET_DIR and ZELLIJ_SOCK_DIR under $temp_dir
Bound every wait	Set one $deadline, wrap each external poll with timeout, and recheck before accepting success
Start temporary session	zellij attach --create-background "$session"
Start interactive Claude	zellij action write-chars ... claude, then Enter
Send arbitrary multiline prompt	zellij ... action paste --pane-id "$pane" "$prompt"
Submit	zellij ... action send-keys --pane-id "$pane" Enter
Capture response	zellij ... action dump-screen --full --pane-id "$pane"
Always remove session	zellij delete-session --force "$session"

Common Mistakes and Rationalizations

Shortcut	Required behavior
“Print mode is faster.”	Use interactive Claude in its pane.
“The default Zellij socket is simpler.”	Use the private socket directory; never expose unrelated sessions.
“Checking time between polls is enough.”	Bound each Zellij call with its remaining budget and recheck before accepting a pane.
“A created session means Claude is ready.”	Type static claude, submit Enter, then poll for its visible prompt.
“A fixed name or repo capture is simpler.”	Use a unique name and temporary capture.
“Shell-building prompts or approval is safe.”	Use quoted paste; never respond.

Red Flags

Stop before print mode, prompt changes, approval keystrokes, shell evaluation, or session leaks.