Make Claude Scriptable Again: Introducing dash-p

Overview

dash-p is a command-line tool and a library built with TypeScript. Its main goal is to make Claude Code scriptable by controlling the real interactive interface that users see on their screens. The idea is simple. If a human can talk to the application through its window, a developer should be able to automate that same process. Unlike other tools that try to fake requests or skip login steps, dash-p runs the official Claude command. It sends input and reads output just like a person would. It acts as a bridge to make the local session work well with other programs.

Benefits

The main advantage of dash-p is that it uses the real application. It does not bypass security or use fake network calls. This means it uses the same login flow and session context as the official software. Developers can integrate Claude into their workflows without needing special API keys or workarounds. It also offers a clean way to get data back. Users can choose to get plain text, structured JSON, or a stream of messages. This flexibility helps teams build custom tools that rely on Claude's intelligence.

Use Cases

Dash-p is useful for developers who want to automate tasks within their coding environment. For example, a developer might want to summarize an entire code repository without opening the app manually. They can run a command to get a quick summary. Another use case is answering specific questions like math problems or color names and getting the answer in a format a computer can read. The tool also works well for reading session transcripts. If a user wants to verify that the output matches what was actually shown on the screen, dash-p can compare the scraped text against the saved session file. This is helpful for ensuring accuracy in automated reports.

Pricing

There is no official pricing listed for dash-p. It is available as an open-source project on GitHub. Users can install it for free using standard package managers like npm. Since it relies on the official Claude CLI, users must have their own account and subscription to use the underlying AI features.

Vibes

The project is described as a research experiment rather than an official product from Anthropic. The creators emphasize that users must respect the terms of service and use their own accounts. Reviews and public feedback highlight the tool's effectiveness in bridging the gap between the interactive UI and programmatic access. However, some users note that screen-scraping methods have limits. For example, complex markdown formatting like code fences might not be captured with perfect byte-for-byte accuracy. Despite this, the community sees it as a powerful way to bring Claude's capabilities into custom scripts.

Additional Information

dash-p is not affiliated with Anthropic. It is an independent project created by a developer named ybouane. The tool requires Node.js version 20 or higher to run. It also depends on a package called node-pty to handle the terminal interface. On some systems, users may need to install a C++ toolchain to compile the necessary binaries. The project is hosted on GitHub and is intended for developers who want to experiment with automating Claude Code sessions.