Feature request: --color CLI flag to set session color on launch
Feature request: --color CLI flag to set session color on launch
Summary
Add a --color <color> CLI flag (and/or a CLAUDE_SESSION_COLOR environment variable) that sets the session prompt bar color at launch, equivalent to running /color <color> manually after the session starts.
Motivation
The /color command is useful for visually distinguishing multiple concurrent Claude Code sessions (e.g. split panes in VS Code or multiple terminal windows). Currently the color can only be set interactively - there is no way to set it programmatically at launch time.
A common use case: two split-pane Claude Code sessions where the left pane should always be red and the right pane yellow. Without a CLI flag or env var, the user must type /color red or /color yellow manually at the start of every session.
Proposed API
CLI flag:
claude --color red
Environment variable (alternative or complementary):
CLAUDE_SESSION_COLOR=red claude
The env var form would allow VS Code terminal profiles or shell aliases to bake in a color without changing the launch command.
Available colors
Same set as the existing /color command: red, blue, green, yellow, purple, orange, pink, cyan, default.
Expected behavior
Session starts with the specified color already applied. No manual /color command needed.