my-vault/.claude/commands/install-claudesidian-command.md

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allowed-tools: [Read, Write, Bash] description: Install claudesidian shell command to launch Claude Code from anywhere argument-hint: (optional shell: bash/zsh/fish)

Install Claudesidian Command

Creates a shell alias/function that allows you to run claudesidian from anywhere to open your vault in Claude Code.

Task

Install a shell command that:

1. Changes to your claudesidian vault directory
2. Launches Claude Code
3. Works from any directory in your terminal

Similar to having a quick launcher for your vault.

Process

1. Detect Current Setup

• Check which shell the user is using (bash/zsh/fish)
• Find the current working directory (vault path)
• Determine the appropriate config file

2. Create the Command

The command will be an alias that:

• Changes to the vault directory: cd /path/to/your/vault
• Tries to resume existing session: claude --resume 2>/dev/null
• Falls back to new session if no existing one: || claude
• All in one command with properly escaped path: (cd "/path/to/vault" && (claude --resume 2>/dev/null || claude))

Important: The path must be properly escaped to handle spaces and special characters.

This automatically enters resume mode if there's an existing session, or starts a new one if not.

3. Install to Shell Config

Add the alias to the appropriate config file:

• Bash: ~/.bashrc or ~/.bash_profile
• Zsh: ~/.zshrc
• Fish: ~/.config/fish/config.fish

4. Verify Installation

• Show the added line
• Remind user to reload their shell or source the config
• Provide test command

Shell Detection

Detects the user's default shell, with support for command-line override:

# Check if shell specified as argument (/install-claudesidian-command zsh)
if [ -n "$1" ]; then
  # User provided shell type as argument
  SHELL_TYPE="$1"
else
  # Auto-detect from $SHELL (user's default shell, not current shell)
  SHELL_TYPE=$(basename "$SHELL")
fi

# Validate shell type and set appropriate config file
case "$SHELL_TYPE" in
  zsh)
    CONFIG_FILE="$HOME/.zshrc"
    ;;
  bash)
    # Prefer .bashrc on Linux, .bash_profile on macOS
    if [ -f "$HOME/.bashrc" ]; then
      CONFIG_FILE="$HOME/.bashrc"
    else
      CONFIG_FILE="$HOME/.bash_profile"
    fi
    ;;
  fish)
    CONFIG_FILE="$HOME/.config/fish/config.fish"
    ;;
  *)
    echo "❌ Unsupported shell: $SHELL_TYPE"
    echo "   Supported shells: bash, zsh, fish"
    echo "   Usage: /install-claudesidian-command [bash|zsh|fish]"
    exit 1
    ;;
esac

echo "🐚 Installing for: $SHELL_TYPE"
echo "📝 Config file: $CONFIG_FILE"

Key improvements:

• Uses $SHELL to detect default shell (not $ZSH_VERSION/$BASH_VERSION which detect current session)
• Supports command-line argument to override auto-detection
• Shows detected shell and config file for transparency
• Validates shell type and provides clear error message for unsupported shells

Installation Steps

1. Detect shell: Use argument if provided, otherwise auto-detect from $SHELL
2. Get vault path: Use pwd to get current directory
3. Escape the path: Properly escape quotes and special characters for shell safety

   # Escape any double quotes in the path
   ESCAPED_PATH="${VAULT_PATH//\"/\\\"}"
   # Also escape backslashes
   ESCAPED_PATH="${ESCAPED_PATH//\\/\\\\}"
   

4. Check if already installed: Search config file for existing claudesidian alias
5. Create backup: Before modifying, create timestamped backup of config file

   # Create backup with timestamp
   BACKUP_FILE="$CONFIG_FILE.backup-$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)"
   cp "$CONFIG_FILE" "$BACKUP_FILE"
   echo "💾 Backup created: $BACKUP_FILE"
   

6. Add alias: Append to config file if not present, using double-quoted path
7. Show success message: With instructions to reload shell

Example Output

🔧 Installing claudesidian command...

📁 Vault path: /home/user/my-vault
🐚 Shell detected: zsh
📝 Config file: /home/user/.zshrc

💾 Backup created: /home/user/.zshrc.backup-20250107-143025

✅ Installed! Added to /home/user/.zshrc:
   alias claudesidian='(cd "/home/user/my-vault" && (claude --resume 2>/dev/null || claude))'

🔄 To activate, run:
   source ~/.zshrc

   Or start a new terminal session.

✨ Test it: Type 'claudesidian' from any directory!

Handling Special Characters

The implementation properly handles paths with:

• Spaces: /Users/noah/My Vault
• Quotes: /Users/noah/vault's backup
• Special characters that need escaping

Paths are double-quoted and any embedded quotes/backslashes are escaped.

Important Notes

• The command uses a subshell () so it returns to your original directory after
• Automatically tries to resume existing sessions, falls back to new session
• If alias already exists, ask user if they want to replace it
• Always show what will be added before modifying config files
• Always create timestamped backup of config file before modifying (format: YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS)
• Backups are kept indefinitely - users can manually clean up old backups if needed
• Show backup location so users know where to restore from if needed

Usage Examples

Install for your default shell (auto-detected):

/install-claudesidian-command

Install for specific shell (override auto-detection):

/install-claudesidian-command zsh
/install-claudesidian-command bash
/install-claudesidian-command fish

When to specify shell:

• You use multiple shells and want to install for a specific one
• Auto-detection picked the wrong shell
• You're setting up for someone else

How It Works

The alias uses a clever pattern:

alias claudesidian='(cd "/path/to/vault" && (claude --resume 2>/dev/null || claude))'

1. (cd "/path/to/vault" && ...) - Subshell that changes directory temporarily (path is double-quoted for safety)
2. claude --resume 2>/dev/null - Tries to resume existing session, suppresses error
3. || claude - If resume fails (no session), starts new session
4. After Claude exits, returns to original directory automatically