Why Claude Code UI Is the Game-Changing AI Coding Interface You Need

Hello, I'm R‑Ge. Previously I shared a visual tool for Claude Code called Claudia, which was feature‑rich but hard to install and sluggish, so I abandoned it. Recently I discovered a better third‑party visual tool, Claude Code UI , which installs effortlessly, offers a clean interface, and delivers a smoother interaction.

The open‑source project is available at https://github.com/siteboon/claudecodeui and works with both Claude Code and Cursor CLI on desktop and mobile devices, allowing you to view and edit projects and sessions from anywhere.

Main Features

Responsive Design : Seamlessly works on desktop, tablet, and phone.

Interactive Chat Interface : Built‑in chat to communicate with Claude Code or Cursor.

Integrated Shell Terminal : Direct access to Claude Code or Cursor CLI.

File Manager : Interactive file tree with syntax highlighting and live editing.

Git Manager : View, stage, commit changes, and switch branches.

Session Management : Restore, create, delete, and rename sessions.

Model Compatibility : Supports Claude Sonnet 4, Opus 4.1, and GPT‑5.

Installation & Running

Claude Code UI requires Node.js v20+ and the Claude Code CLI or Cursor CLI. Follow these steps:

git clone https://github.com/siteboon/claudecodeui.git

cd claudecodeui npm install

cp .env.example .env

Edit the .env file to change the port if needed, or keep the defaults.

npm run dev

Then open your browser at http://localhost:5173/:

http://localhost:5173/

On first launch, set a username and password to create an account.

Function Preview

The home page shows project and session lists on the left, chat/shell/file/git controls on the top, AI assistant selection in the middle, and mode selection with a command line at the bottom.

Session management lets you restore, create, delete, and rename sessions. Tool settings allow you to configure available tools and manage MCP. Dark mode can be toggled in settings.

The top bar lets you switch to Shell, Files, or Source Control modes, each providing terminal access, file browsing/editing, and Git operations respectively.

Conclusion

In summary, Claude Code UI feels fast, precise, and powerful—far superior to the cumbersome Claudia. With just a few commands you get a clean, responsive interface that works on any device, breaking my previous bias against Claude Code visual tools. By adding a simple internal network mapping and domain, you can control Claude Code and Cursor CLI from a subway or a restaurant, making remote coding virtually effortless.