# claude-better-cli

This skill documents a drop-in Claude CLI replacement with lower memory use and shorter startup. It helps when evaluating a compatible CLI switch.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 787 installs · ★ 88
- Author: reason-machines
- License: not stated · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/reason-machines/trending-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/claude-better-cli/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-09
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/claude-better-cli

## What it does

claude-better-cli documents a Claude CLI reimplementation intended to preserve command forms, flags, exit codes, and shell workflows. Its examples cover `claude --help`, `claude auth status`, an interactive `claude chat` session, and one-shot input through `claude -p`.

The skill explains binary placement through `PATH` or an alias, reuse of `ANTHROPIC_API_KEY` and `~/.claude/`, plus JSON parsing with `jq`. Its implementation notes mention a zero-copy output path, lazy subsystem startup, bounded session allocation, and a precomputed command registry.

Source code and the binary are supplied to selected customers on request. Without that access, installing the skill alone does not provide the replacement CLI.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add reason-machines/trending-skills --skill claude-better-cli -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/claude-better-cli/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/claude-better-cli/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add reason-machines/trending-skills --skill claude-better-cli -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/claude-better-cli/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add reason-machines/trending-skills --skill claude-better-cli -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/claude-better-cli/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install reason-machines/trending-skills claude-better-cli
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/claude-better-cli/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add reason-machines/trending-skills --skill claude-better-cli -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/reason-machines/trending-skills --path skills/claude-better-cli
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/claude-better-cli/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add reason-machines/trending-skills --skill claude-better-cli -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/reason-machines/trending-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/claude-better-cli/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- replace Claude CLI calls in shell scripts
- check authentication with `claude auth status`
- open an interactive session using `claude chat`
- pipe a file into `claude -p`
- parse JSON output with `jq`

## Example prompts
- Explain how to switch a shell script from Claude CLI to `claude-better` without changing its commands.
- Show how to run `claude auth status` and verify the current authentication state.
- Give me a one-shot example that feeds `input.txt` to `claude -p` and returns JSON.

## Similar
- [better-auth-best-practices](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/better-auth-best-practices.md) — skill · 126700 installs
- [make-interfaces-feel-better](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/make-interfaces-feel-better.md) — skill · 73400 installs
- [better-auth-security-best-practices](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/better-auth-security-best-practices.md) — skill · 48000 installs
- [better-ui](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/better-ui.md) — skill · 39300 installs
- [better-auth](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/better-auth.md) — skill · 3600 installs
- [nuxt-better-auth](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/nuxt-better-auth.md) — skill · 2000 installs

From the same set: [reason-machines/trending-skills](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/reason-machines/trending-skills.md) — 199 cards

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NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md