Shell Integration

Open a new terminal after first init or install-shell. These instructions describe the repository source; the new management commands need this source or a release containing them.

Where to type commands

1. If Claude's chat is open, type /exit in Claude to return to the terminal.
2. At the terminal shell prompt (% or $), run cpf, choose the profile action, then select Exit when finished.
3. At the terminal, run claude to start a new session.

cpf is a shell command; entering it in Claude's chat sends chat text instead of switching profiles. Installing shell integration does not import the default ~/.claude account or sign in. See importing your existing account.

Command	Behavior
claude [args]	Launch Claude under the selected profile
cpf	Open the list/switch/add/rename/remove menu
cpf work	Change active profile to work without launching Claude
cpf --list	List profiles
cpf add work2	Add a profile
cpf rename wrok2 work2	Rename a profile after its Claude sessions are closed
cpf remove work2	Delete a profile after confirmation
cpf --help	Show management command usage

The cpf menu needs an interactive terminal. A single argument always selects a profile, including names such as add, rename, remove, and list. Use cpf --list for listing. The older claude-pick command still selects an active profile without launching Claude. See profile management for adding accounts and renaming.

With multiple profiles, interactive claude shows a picker with the active profile selected. Single-profile and noninteractive launches use the active profile immediately. The picker and profile notice go to stderr; Claude output passes through. Ctrl-C cancels selection.

Arguments including --help, --version and spaces, as well as exit status, pass through. CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR is set only in the Claude child process.

Installation and repair

For the published npm version:

npx ai-profile-switch@latest install-shell

To install changes from this checkout, run this from its root instead:

node bin/cli.mjs install-shell

Open a new terminal afterward so the cpf function loads the updated management interface. The command installs the version it runs from; @latest does not install unpublished source changes.

This copies the runtime into ~/.claude-profiles/_runtime and adds a source line to shell configuration. Active source lines are not duplicated. If the integration appears only in a comment or printed text, rerunning install-shell reconnects it. Existing custom overrides after the active source line are preserved. Read and switch commands do not edit shell files.

Shell	Config file
zsh	$ZDOTDIR/.zshrc when ZDOTDIR is set; otherwise ~/.zshrc
bash	~/.bashrc
fish	$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/fish/config.fish when set; otherwise ~/.config/fish/config.fish
PowerShell	~/Documents/PowerShell/Microsoft.PowerShell_profile.ps1, or an existing WindowsPowerShell profile

Detection uses the current shell and existing config files. Run install-shell again after adding a shell. Configure WSL separately inside WSL. Missing Node.js or runtime files produce a repair instruction and an error status.

Profile launch hooks

The current shell runs the matching pre-launch.sh, pre-launch.fish or pre-launch.ps1 in the profile directory. Hook environment changes apply to Claude without remaining in the calling shell. A failed hook stops the launch.

The existing bash/zsh __claude_switch_launch(profile, args...) override call point remains supported. Keep a custom override after the integration source line.

Switching profiles does not change an already running Claude session. Update notifications are optional.