Claude Dev Setup

Complete Claude Code CLI integration with session management and APEX cognitive framework. One skill to set up coding agents with persistent task tracking.

Complete package for coding agents: Claude Code CLI integration, session management, and APEX cognitive framework.

What This Skill Does

Installs and configures:

1. Session Tracking — memory/claude-code-sessions.md for background task management
2. AGENTS.md Section — Workflow documentation for all coding agents
3. APEX Stack Reference — How to add cognitive framework to project CLAUDE.md files
4. OAuth Token Handling — Automatic token extraction and usage

Prerequisites

• Node.js 18+
• Claude Pro/Max subscription (for OAuth token)
• OpenClaw agent workspace

OAuth Token (CRITICAL)

Where the Token Lives

Claude Code stores its OAuth token in:

~/.claude/.credentials.json

Token Format

sk-ant-oat01-xxxxx...

How to Get the Token

Option 1: Extract from credentials file (RECOMMENDED)

# Extract the accessToken from credentials
cat ~/.claude/.credentials.json | grep -o '"accessToken":"[^"]*"' | cut -d'"' -f4

Option 2: Authenticate via browser (first-time setup)

claude setup-token
# Opens browser for OAuth flow
# Paste authorization code when prompted

ALWAYS Use the Token When Calling Claude Code

Every Claude Code CLI call MUST include the token:

# ✅ CORRECT - Token set explicitly
export CLAUDE_CODE_OAUTH_TOKEN="sk-ant-oat01-xxxxx..."
claude --print --dangerously-skip-permissions "your task"

# ❌ WRONG - Token not set, will fail in non-interactive mode
claude --print "your task"

Automatic Token Extraction

Add to your shell profile for automatic token loading:

# Add to ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc
export CLAUDE_CODE_OAUTH_TOKEN=$(cat ~/.claude/.credentials.json 2>/dev/null | grep -o '"accessToken":"[^"]*"' | cut -d'"' -f4)

For Agent Executors

When using the exec tool, always extract and set the token:

exec({
  command: "export CLAUDE_CODE_OAUTH_TOKEN=$(cat ~/.claude/.credentials.json | grep -o '\"accessToken\":\"[^\"]*\"' | cut -d'\"' -f4) && claude --print --dangerously-skip-permissions 'Task description'",
  background: true,
  yieldMs: 10000
})

Or pre-extract and use:

// First, extract token
exec({
  command: "cat ~/.claude/.credentials.json | grep -o '\"accessToken\":\"[^\"]*\"' | cut -d'\"' -f4"
})

// Then use in all subsequent calls
exec({
  command: "CLAUDE_CODE_OAUTH_TOKEN=sk-ant-oat01-xxx claude --print --dangerously-skip-permissions 'Task'"
})

Architecture

Agent Workspace
├── AGENTS.md                          # + Session management section
├── memory/
│   └── claude-code-sessions.md         # NEW: Session registry
└── skills/
    ├── claude-code-cli-openclaw/       # CLI integration
    ├── apex-stack-claude-code/         # Cognitive framework
    └── claude-dev-setup/               # THIS SKILL

System Level
└── ~/.claude/.credentials.json         # OAuth token (DO NOT COMMIT)

Session Management

Registry Format

Sessions are tracked in memory/claude-code-sessions.md:

| Session ID | Label | Task | Started | Status |
|------------|-------|------|---------|--------|
| tender-nexus | build-auth | Build auth module | 2026-03-24 08:50 UTC | running |

Starting a Background Task (CORRECT WAY)

// Step 1: Extract token from credentials
// Step 2: Use in Claude Code call
exec({
  command: "CLAUDE_CODE_OAUTH_TOKEN=$(cat ~/.claude/.credentials.json | grep -o '\"accessToken\":\"[^\"]*\"' | cut -d'\"' -f4) claude --print --dangerously-skip-permissions 'Task description'",
  background: true,
  yieldMs: 10000
})

After starting, log the session:

1. Note sessionId from response
2. Append to memory/claude-code-sessions.md
3. Report to user: "Started X (session: label)"

Checking Status

When user asks "what's the status?":

process({ action: "log", sessionId: "session-id" })

Label Naming Convention

• build-feature-X — Building a new feature
• refactor-Y-module — Refactoring code
• fix-bug-Z — Bug fix
• test-coverage-A — Adding tests
• cleanup-legacy-B — Removing old code

Quick Tasks (< 30 seconds)

For simple tasks, use direct exec without tracking:

exec({
  command: "CLAUDE_CODE_OAUTH_TOKEN=$(cat ~/.claude/.credentials.json | grep -o '\"accessToken\":\"[^\"]*\"' | cut -d'\"' -f4) claude --print --dangerously-skip-permissions 'Quick fix'",
  timeout: 60
})

AGENTS.md Integration

After installing this skill, your AGENTS.md gets a new section:

## 🤖 Claude Code CLI Sessions

You have access to Claude Code CLI for coding tasks.

### OAuth Token (Required)

**Token location:** `~/.claude/.credentials.json`

**ALWAYS extract and use the token:**
```bash
CLAUDE_CODE_OAUTH_TOKEN=$(cat ~/.claude/.credentials.json | grep -o '"accessToken":"[^"]*"' | cut -d'"' -f4) claude --print --dangerously-skip-permissions 'task'

Session Tracking

All background sessions tracked in memory/claude-code-sessions.md.

Before starting: Check for running sessions After starting: Log session ID + label On completion: Update status column

When User Asks Status

1. Read sessions file
2. Find session by label
3. Poll for output
4. Summarize progress

## APEX Stack for Projects

The cognitive framework (`apex-stack-claude-code`) should be added to project CLAUDE.md files, not agent memory.

### Adding to a Project

```bash
cd /path/to/your/project

# If CLAUDE.md doesn't exist:
cat ~/.openclaw/workspace-YOURS/skills/apex-stack-claude-code/SKILL.md > CLAUDE.md

# If CLAUDE.md exists, append:
cat ~/.openclaw/workspace-YOURS/skills/apex-stack-claude-code/SKILL.md >> CLAUDE.md

What APEX Stack Does

Layer	Purpose
APEX	Cognitive modes (precision, execution, architecture, creative)
MEMORIA	Persistent memory for project context
ARCHITECT	Autonomous execution loop

Project CLAUDE.md Structure

# Project: [Name]

## Overview
[1-2 sentences]

## Tech Stack
- Language: ...
- Framework: ...

[APEX Stack content appended here]

Complete Workflow

User gives task
    ↓
Agent reads memory/claude-code-sessions.md (check for conflicts)
    ↓
Agent extracts token: cat ~/.claude/.credentials.json | grep accessToken
    ↓
Agent starts: exec({ command: "CLAUDE_CODE_OAUTH_TOKEN=xxx claude ...", background: true })
    ↓
Agent logs session to claude-code-sessions.md
    ↓
Agent reports: "Started X (session: build-feature-X)"
    ↓
User: "What's the status?"
    ↓
Agent reads sessions file → polls process → summarizes

Installation Checklist

Run this after installing the skill:

• Claude Code CLI installed: which claude
• Authenticated: check ~/.claude/.credentials.json exists
• Token extractable: cat ~/.claude/.credentials.json | grep accessToken
• Session file created: memory/claude-code-sessions.md
• AGENTS.md updated with session section
• APEX Stack added to project CLAUDE.md (if applicable)

Security Notes

• OAuth token stored in ~/.claude/.credentials.json (valid 1 year)
• NEVER commit CLAUDE_CODE_OAUTH_TOKEN to git
• ALWAYS extract token from credentials file, never hardcode
• Add .claude/ to .gitignore
• Sessions are local to each agent workspace
• MEMORIA explicitly forbids storing credentials

Troubleshooting

"Authentication failed" or "No token"

# Check if credentials exist
ls -la ~/.claude/.credentials.json

# If missing, run setup
claude setup-token

"command not found: claude"

# Install Claude Code CLI
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

# Verify installation
which claude
claude --version

Token works in terminal but not in exec

The token must be exported in the same shell session:

# ✅ CORRECT - Same session
CLAUDE_CODE_OAUTH_TOKEN=xxx claude --print "task"

# ❌ WRONG - Separate commands
export CLAUDE_CODE_OAUTH_TOKEN=xxx
claude --print "task"  # Token not available

Token Efficiency

Method	Tokens/Task	Cost
Raw API (full context)	10,000-50,000	Per-token
Claude Code (tool-based)	~500	Flat-rate (Max sub)

Savings: 80-90% reduction in token usage.

Related Skills

Install these alongside for full capability:

• self-improving — Learn from corrections
• claude-code-cli-openclaw — CLI integration details
• apex-stack-claude-code — Cognitive framework

Files in This Skill

claude-dev-setup/
├── SKILL.md              # This file
├── sessions-template.md  # Template for claude-code-sessions.md
├── agents-section.md     # AGENTS.md section template
└── setup.sh              # Installation script

Publishing

To publish to ClawHub:

clawhub publish ./skills/claude-dev-setup \
  --slug claude-dev-setup \
  --name "Claude Dev Setup" \
  --version 1.1.0 \
  --changelog "Added explicit OAuth token extraction guide"

Feedback

• If useful: clawhub star claude-dev-setup
• Issues: Open issue on ClawHub
• Stay updated: clawhub sync