[
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "I%27ve%20setup%20claude%20code%20and%20fakechat%20and%20it%20works%20when%20I%27m%20in%20claude%20code%20in%20the%20terminal.%20but%20when%20I%20exit%2C%20it%20seems%20to%20stop%20responding.%20can%20it%20be%20run%20headlesss%20and%20is%20this%20supported%20option%3F"
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "Yes \u2014 Claude Code *can* run headlessly (i.e. non-interactively / without UI) and this is an officially supported mode. It\u2019s designed for automation, scripts, CI/CD pipelines, remote servers, etc. Here\u2019s how it works and some of the caveats you might be hitting.\n\n---\n\n## \u2705 What \u201cheadless\u201d mode means\n\nHeadless mode is about running Claude Code *programmatically* \u2014 you give it a prompt (or stream of prompts), it executes, returns output, and exits. No interactive UI, no permission prompts unless pre-approved, and suitable for non-local environments. ([code.claude.com](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/headless?utm_source=openai))\n\nKey aspects:\n\n- Use the `claude` CLI with the `-p` (or `--print`) flag. That tells it to run in non-interactive mode. Example:  \n  `claude -p \"Stage my changes and write a set of commits\"` ([docs.claude.com](https://docs.claude.com/en/docs/claude-code/sdk/sdk-headless?utm_source=openai))  \n- You can also resume or continue conversations via `--resume` or `--continue`. ([code.claude.com](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/headless?utm_source=openai))  \n- Other flags control output format (`--output-format`), which tools are allowed automatically, system prompt additions, etc. ([code.claude.com](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/headless?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\n## \u2699\ufe0f Running headless in the background / remote\n\nIf \u201cexit\u201d means closing the terminal (CTRL-D, `exit`, or closing SSH session), you may lose the running session unless you use one of the usual survival tools:\n\n- Run inside `tmux`, `screen`, or `dtach` to keep the session alive after logout. ([reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/ClaudeAI/comments/1s01wbd/claude_code_how_to_skip_mcp_server_trust_prompt/?utm_source=openai))  \n- Use a service manager (e.g. `systemd`) if you want it to auto-restart, run on boot, etc.  \n- Make sure all external prompts are pre-approved (tools, permissions, etc.), since in headless mode there's no one to answer interactive questions. ([reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/ClaudeAI/comments/1s01wbd/claude_code_how_to_skip_mcp_server_trust_prompt/?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\n## \u26a0\ufe0f Possible reasons it \u201cstops responding\u201d after exit\n\nBased on your description, here are likely explanations for what you saw:\n\n1. **Running in interactive mode by default**  \n   If you don\u2019t use `-p` (or `--print`), Claude Code expects human interaction and may hang waiting for input, tool approvals, etc. When you \u201cexit\u201d or close terminal, it stops.  \n\n2. **TTY / stdin not available**  \n   Without an interactive terminal (TTY), prompts or input requirements (e.g. tool approval) can block or fail.  \n\n3. **Permissions or trust tolerances**  \n   Some components, especially for MCP servers (tool plugin servers Anthropic uses), may require trust confirmation. Without TTY, those may fail if not already trusted. ([reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/ClaudeAI/comments/1s01wbd/claude_code_how_to_skip_mcp_server_trust_prompt/?utm_source=openai))\n\n4. **Session or environment setup issues**  \n   Environment variables (`ANTHROPIC_API_KEY`, paths, etc.) may not be properly set in the background. If authentication or config is missing, the process might fail quietly.  \n\n---\n\n## \ud83d\udd27 Best practices to \u201crun Claude Code headless/background reliably\u201d\n\nHere\u2019s what you can do to make it run smoothly even after exiting terminal:\n\n| Step | Description |\n|---|-------------|\n| Use `-p`/`--print` | Always invoke headless mode. Example: `claude -p \"...\" --output-format json` ([docs.claude.com](https://docs.claude.com/en/docs/claude-code/sdk/sdk-headless?utm_source=openai)) |\n| Pre-approve tools & permissions | Use flags like `--allowedTools`, `--permission-mode acceptEdits`, etc. to avoid runtime prompts. ([docs.claude.com](https://docs.claude.com/en/docs/claude-code/sdk/sdk-headless?utm_source=openai)) |\n| Use `--bare` for CI contexts | Skips loading user configs/hooks/plugins to make behavior predictable. ([code.claude.com](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/headless?utm_source=openai)) |\n| Run in `tmux` or `screen` | Keep the process alive after disconnection. |\n| Redirect stdout/stderr to logs | So you can inspect if something hung or failed. |\n| Use environment variables or settings files for auth | Make sure `ANTHROPIC_API_KEY` is set and accessible. |\n\n---\n\nIf you want, I can help you set up a small example for headless/background mode using `systemd` (or `cron`, or whatever works best), tailored to your OS. Do you want that?"
    }
]