How do I handle tool permissions in automated scripts?

Use the --allowedTools flag to pre-approve specific tools like Bash, Read, or Write. For higher security, you can even restrict Bash to specific command patterns.

What is Claude Code Headless Mode?

Headless mode allows you to run Claude Code non-interactively using the -p or --print flag, making it possible to integrate Claude into scripts, cron jobs, and CI/CD pipelines.

Does headless mode support real-time streaming?

Yes, by setting --output-format to stream-json, Claude Code will provide newline-delimited JSON objects as the response is generated.

How can I get structured data from Claude Code?

You can use the --output-format json flag to receive responses as JSON objects. For even stricter control, use the --json-schema flag to force the output to match a specific structure.

Can I continue a conversation across multiple CLI calls?

Yes, by using the --continue flag to pick up the last session or by saving the session_id and using the --resume flag to return to a specific state.

Headless Mode for Claude Code

Name: Headless Mode for Claude Code
Author: hgeldenhuys

byhgeldenhuys

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Developer Tools

Automates Claude Code workflows using CLI flags and SDKs for CI/CD pipelines, scripting, and programmatic tool integration.

This skill enables developers to run Claude Code non-interactively, making it ideal for automation, continuous integration, and building custom tools on top of Anthropic's CLI. It provides comprehensive guidance on managing sessions, capturing structured JSON output, and auto-approving tools for seamless execution in headless environments like GitHub Actions or local scripts. By leveraging these programmatic capabilities, teams can integrate Claude's reasoning directly into their development lifecycle for tasks like automated PR reviews, test fixing, and documentation generation.

Key Features

01Non-interactive execution via the --print flag

02Structured JSON output with schema validation support

03Customizable system prompts for domain-specific automation

041 GitHub stars

05Advanced session management including resume and fork capabilities

06Granular tool auto-approval for secure, unattended execution

Use Cases

01Batch processing source files for documentation or linting updates

02Building custom developer utilities using the TypeScript or Python SDKs

03Automated pull request reviews and bug fixing in CI/CD pipelines

What are Skills?·How to Install

Install with 🐟 Skill.Fish

npx skillfish add hgeldenhuys/claude-code-sdk headless-mode

For use in Claude.ai and ChatGPT

Download Skill