Add URI handler for opening new sessions programmatically
Resolved 💬 1 comment Opened Feb 26, 2026 by tmthyhrr Closed Mar 7, 2026
Feature Request
Add URI handler paths to the Claude Code VS Code extension so that new sessions/tabs can be opened programmatically from the terminal.
Use Case
When working with git worktrees and multiple Claude Code sessions, it's common to need to open a new session tab in the current window — for example, as part of a "new session" handoff workflow where the current session preps context and then spawns a fresh one.
Current State
- The extension registers
claude-vscode.editor.open(Open in New Tab) andclaude-vscode.newConversation(New Conversation), but these can only be triggered from the command palette - The extension's URI handler (
vscode://anthropic.claude-code/...) only handles/install-plugin - VS Code's CLI has no
--commandflag to execute extension commands (microsoft/vscode#105487) - AppleScript keyboard simulation is unreliable with multiple windows
Proposed Solution
Add URI handler paths to the extension:
vscode://anthropic.claude-code/open → opens a new Claude Code tab
vscode://anthropic.claude-code/new-session → opens a new tab with fresh conversation
vscode://anthropic.claude-code/open?prompt=continue → opens with initial prompt
This would enable:
open "vscode://anthropic.claude-code/new-session"
Workaround
Opening new VS Code windows works via CLI (code /path), but opening a new tab in the same window has no reliable programmatic path.
Environment
- Claude Code v2.1.59 (VS Code extension)
- macOS
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