hcom 0.6.3

Launch multiple Claude Code instances (terminal, headless, or subagents) that communicate together in real time via hooks.

hcom — Claude Hook Comms

Launch multiple Claude Code instances (terminal, headless, or subagents) that communicate together in real time via hooks.

Start

Run without installing

uvx hcom 2

Run with installing

pip install hcom

hcom                      # UI

claude 'run hcom start'   # toggle hcom for any claude code

What it does

Adds hooks that enable instant messaging between claude code instances. Launch multiple terminals/headless/subagents that remain active, waiting to respond. Normal claude remains unaffected by hcom, but can opt-in (hcom start) or opt-out (hcom stop) at runtime. Safely remove hooks with hcom reset. Works on Mac, Linux, Windows, Android.

Commands

Command	Description
hcom	TUI dashboard
hcom <n>	Launch n instances
hcom start	Enable participation
hcom stop	Disable participation

Features

communicate with task tool subagents

claude 'use 3x task tool with task: say hi in hcom chat'
# Each subagent gets unique identity and can communicate with siblings
# Parent resumes with full conversation history

persistent headless instances

hcom 1 claude -p    # launch with default 30min timeout
hcom                # See what it's doing from dashboard
hcom stop           # Let it die earlier than timeout

.claude/agents in interactive claude window

HCOM_AGENT=code-writer hcom 1
HCOM_AGENT=reviewer hcom 1

@-mention: groups and direct

HCOM_TAG=cooltag hcom 2
hcom send '@cooltag hi, you both are cool'
hcom send '@john you are cooler'

toggle inside claude code

claude              # Normal Claude Code
'run hcom start'    # Opt-in to receive messages
'run hcom stop'     # Opt-out, continue as normal claude code

async push notifications from anywhere

# Any process can message claude instances with custom identity
hcom send --from background-worker 'i finished, now you go do stuff'

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All commands

Usage: hcom                           # TUI dashboard
       [ENV_VARS] hcom <COUNT> [claude <ARGS>...]
       hcom watch [--type TYPE] [--instance NAME] [--last N] [--wait SEC]
       hcom list [--json] [--verbose]
       hcom send "message"
       hcom stop [alias|all]
       hcom start [alias]
       hcom reset [logs|hooks|config]

Launch Examples:
  hcom 3             open 3 terminals with claude connected to hcom
  hcom 3 claude -p                                       + headless
  HCOM_TAG=api hcom 3 claude -p               + @-mention group tag
  claude 'run hcom start'        claude code with prompt also works

Commands:
  watch               Query recent events (JSON per line)
    --type TYPE       Filter by event type (message, status)
    --instance ALIAS  Filter by instance
    --last N          Limit to last N events (default: 20)
    --wait SEC        Block until a matching event arrives

  list                Show instance status/metadata
    --json            Emit JSON (one instance per line)
    --verbose         Include additional metadata

  send "msg"          Send message to all instances
  send "@alias msg"   Send to specific instance/group
    --from <name>     Custom external identity

  stop                Stop current instance (from inside Claude)
  stop <alias>        Stop specific instance
  stop all            Stop all instances

  start               Start current instance (from inside Claude)
  start <alias>       Start specific instance

  reset               Stop all + archive logs + remove hooks + clear config
  reset logs          Clear + archive conversation
  reset hooks         Safely remove hcom hooks from claude settings.json
  reset config        Clear + archive config.env

Environment Variables:
  HCOM_TAG=name               Group tag (creates name-* instances)
  HCOM_AGENT=type             Agent from .claude/agents/ (comma-separated for multiple)
  HCOM_TERMINAL=mode          Terminal: new|here|print|"custom {script}"
  HCOM_HINTS=text             Text appended to all messages received by instance
  HCOM_TIMEOUT=secs           Time until disconnected from hcom chat (default: 1800s / 30m)
  HCOM_SUBAGENT_TIMEOUT=secs  Subagent idle timeout (default: 30s)
  HCOM_CLAUDE_ARGS=args       Claude CLI defaults (e.g., '-p --model opus "hello!"')

  ANTHROPIC_MODEL=opus # Any env var passed through to Claude Code

  Persist Env Vars in `~/.hcom/config.env`

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Requirements

• Python 3.10+
• Claude Code

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Terminal Options

Default Terminals

• macOS: Terminal.app
• Linux: gnome-terminal, konsole, or xterm
• Windows (native) & WSL: Windows Terminal / Git Bash
• Android: Termux

Terminal Mode

• HCOM_TERMINAL=new - New terminal windows (default)
• HCOM_TERMINAL=here - Current terminal window
• HCOM_TERMINAL="open -a iTerm {script}" - Custom terminal

Custom Terminal

Your custom command just needs to:

1. Accept {script} as a placeholder that will be replaced with a script path
2. Execute that script with bash

Custom Terminal Examples

ttab (new tab instead of new window in Terminal.app)

HCOM_TERMINAL="ttab {script}"

wttab (new tab in Windows Terminal)

HCOM_TERMINAL="wttab {script}"

More

# Wave Terminal Mac/Linux/Windows. From within Wave Terminal:
HCOM_TERMINAL="wsh run -- bash {script}"

# Alacritty macOS:
HCOM_TERMINAL="open -n -a Alacritty.app --args -e bash {script}"

# Alacritty Linux:
HCOM_TERMINAL="alacritty -e bash {script}"

# Kitty macOS:
HCOM_TERMINAL="open -n -a kitty.app --args {script}"

# Kitty Linux
HCOM_TERMINAL="kitty {script}"

# tmux with split panes and 3 claude instances in hcom chat
HCOM_TERMINAL="tmux split-window -h {script}" hcom 3

# WezTerm Linux/Windows
HCOM_TERMINAL="wezterm start -- bash {script}"

# Tabs from within WezTerm
HCOM_TERMINAL="wezterm cli spawn -- bash {script}"

# WezTerm macOS:
HCOM_TERMINAL="open -n -a WezTerm.app --args start -- bash {script}"

# Tabs from within WezTerm macOS
HCOM_TERMINAL="/Applications/WezTerm.app/Contents/MacOS/wezterm cli spawn -- bash {script}"

Android (Termux)

#1. Install:
    Termux from F-Droid (not Google Play)
#2. Setup:
   pkg install python nodejs
   npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-cli
   pip install hcom
#3. Enable:
   echo "allow-external-apps=true" >> ~/.termux/termux.properties
   termux-reload-settings
#4. Enable: 
    "Display over other apps" permission for visible terminals
#5. Run: 
    `hcom 2`

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License

MIT