Add blog: echokit_pty - Giving Claude Code a Remote Control

Introduce echokit_pty, a WebSocket bridge that transforms Claude Code CLI into a programmable service with a clean JSON API. The article covers architecture, use cases, and getting started guide.

🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)

Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

Author: alabulei1

doc/dev/2026-02-25-echokit-pty-intro.md

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+---
+slug: echokit-pty-websocket-claude-code
+title: "echokit_pty: Giving Claude Code a Remote Control"
+tags: [echokit-pty, claude-code, websocket, developer-tools]
+---
+
+Claude Code is amazing. It writes code, fixes bugs, runs tests, explains errors. But it lives in your terminal. To use it, you type commands, get responses. It's a CLI tool, designed for terminal workflows.
+
+But what if you want to build something on top of Claude Code? What if you want a web app? A mobile interface? A physical device? Voice control?
+
+That's why we built **echokit_pty**.
+
+## What Is echokit_pty?
+
+**echokit_pty** is the web version of Claude Code with a superpower: a WebSocket interface.
+
+It handles Claude Code's input and output, turning its CLI into a WebSocket service. Suddenly, Claude Code isn't just a terminal app—it's a service that *any application* can talk to.
+
+**What makes it special?**
+- Full Claude Code capabilities (file editing, command execution, tool use)
+- **Clean JSON API for integrations**. Check out the full API documentation [here](https://github.com/second-state/echokit_pty?tab=readme-ov-file#api).
+- Bidirectional streaming (real-time responses)
+- Runs locally
+- Open source and extensible
+
+## The Problem: Claude Code Is Trapped in the Terminal
+
+Claude Code was designed as a CLI tool. You run it in your terminal, type commands, get responses. This works great for terminal workflows.
+
+But what if you want to:
+- Build a web app that uses Claude Code?
+- Control Claude Code from your phone?
+- Create a physical device that talks to Claude Code?
+- Integrate Claude Code into another tool?
+
+That's where echokit_pty comes in.
+
+## The Solution: PTY + WebSocket
+
+The bridge is **echokit_pty**.
+
+**What does "pty" mean?**
+
+PTY stands for "pseudo-terminal"—a Unix concept that allows a program to control a terminal as if a user were typing.
+
+echokit_pty uses this technology to create a bridge between:
+- **WebSocket clients** → send JSON commands
+- **Claude Code CLI** → executes the commands
+- **Response streaming** → sends results back
+
+## How It Works
+
+echokit_pty is built with Rust. Here's the architecture:
+
+```
+┌─────────────────┐     WebSocket      ┌──────────────┐
+│   Any Client    │ ◄─────────────────► │ echokit_pty  │
+│  (Web, Mobile,  │     (ws://localhost)│   (Rust)     │
+│   Device, etc.) │                     └──────┬───────┘
+└─────────────────┘                            │
+                                               │ PTY
+                                               ↓
+                                        ┌──────────────┐
+                                        │ Claude Code  │
+                                        │    CLI       │
+                                        └──────────────┘
+```
+
+**The flow:**
+1. echokit_pty starts a WebSocket server (default: `ws://localhost:3000/ws`)
+2. Clients connect via WebSocket and send JSON commands
+3. echokit_pty forwards commands to Claude Code CLI through a pseudo-terminal
+4. Claude Code executes the command
+5. Results stream back through the WebSocket in real-time
+
+**Example:**
+```json
+// Client sends
+{"type": "command", "content": "run the tests"}
+
+// echokit_pty forwards to Claude Code
+
+// Results stream back
+{"type": "response", "content": "Running tests...\n142 passed, 3 failed"}
+```
+
+## Use Cases: What Can You Build?
+
+The beauty of echokit_pty is that it turns Claude Code into a *platform*. Here's what you can build:
+
+### Voice-Controlled Coding
+Speak commands, Claude Code executes, hear results. Perfect for hands-free workflows. This is what EchoKit + echokit_pty enables. But it's just one implementation. For more details, check out EchoKit's full integration [documentation](https://echokit.dev/docs/use-cases/claude-code).
+
+### Web Apps
+Build a web interface for Claude Code. No terminal required. Just open a browser, connect to the WebSocket, and start coding. Great for presentations, teaching, or developers who prefer GUIs.
+
+### Mobile Apps
+Control Claude Code from your phone. Run tests while walking. Check build status from the couch. Deploy from anywhere. Your coding environment fits in your pocket.
+
+### Pair Programming Platforms
+Create a web app where multiple people can interact with Claude Code simultaneously. Real-time collaboration, shared context, better than screen sharing.
+
+### Teaching & Demos
+Show Claude Code in presentations without terminal windows cluttering the screen. A clean web interface for live coding demos, tutorials, and workshops.
+
+### Custom Developer Tools
+Build your own tools on top of Claude Code. Automations, dashboards, integrations—anything you can imagine. The WebSocket interface makes Claude Code a building block.
+
+### IDE Integrations
+Embed Claude Code directly into your IDE. VS Code extension, JetBrains plugin, custom editor—give Claude Code a proper home in your development environment.
+
+## Getting Started
+
+**Installation:**
+
+First, clone and build echokit_pty:
+
+```bash
+git clone https://github.com/second-state/echokit_pty.git
+cd echokit_pty
+cargo build --release --bin echokit_cc
+```
+
+**Running echokit_pty:**
+
+Set your workspace directory and start the server:
+
+```bash
+ECHOKIT_WORKING_PATH="/path/to/your/workspace" \
+./target/release/echokit_cc -c ./run_cc.sh -b "localhost:3000"
+```
+
+The WebSocket server will start on `ws://localhost:3000/ws`.
+
+![](./2026-02-25-echokit-pty.jpg)
+
+## The Vision
+
+Claude Code is the most capable AI coding assistant today. But it shouldn't be trapped in a terminal.
+
+echokit_pty is the bridge that sets Claude Code free.
+
+Imagine what we can build:
+
+- Voice-controlled coding assistants
+- Mobile apps for coding on the go
+- Web-based teaching tools
+- Custom developer workflows
+- AI-powered IDE integrations
+
+All built on top of echokit_pty.
+
+**Claude Code as a platform, not just a tool.**
+
+---
+
+**Ready to build something?**
+
+Start with the [echokit_pty repository](https://github.com/second-state/echokit_pty). See EchoKit's full integration [documentation](https://echokit.dev/docs/use-cases/claude-code) for a complete example. Join our [Discord community](https://discord.gg/Fwe3zsT5g3) to share your ideas.