channel-messenger

channel-messenger-plugin

This Claude Code plugin provides a channel that bridges Claude Code sessions with a messaging API via WebSocket.

The messaging API source code is available at dickdavis/channel-messenger.

Setup

1. Configure environment variables

The server reads CHANNEL_MESSENGER_HOST and CHANNEL_MESSENGER_TOKEN from the environment, falling back to ~/.claude/channels/messenger/.env.

Create the .env file:

mkdir -p ~/.claude/channels/messenger
cat > ~/.claude/channels/messenger/.env << 'EOF'
CHANNEL_MESSENGER_HOST=http://localhost:3000
CHANNEL_MESSENGER_TOKEN=your-token-here
EOF
chmod 600 ~/.claude/channels/messenger/.env

Replace the values with your actual API host and token.

2. Install the plugin

From the marketplace

Installing from the marketplace is not possible during the research preview.

Local development (Research Preview)

Clone the repository and install dependencies:

cd /path/to/channel-messenger-plugin
bun install

Export the plugin root so Claude Code can locate the channel:

export CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT=/path/to/channel-messenger-plugin

Register the MCP server globally so it can be loaded from any project:

claude mcp add messenger -s user -- bun run --cwd /path/to/channel-messenger-plugin server.ts

Note: The MCP server maintains a persistent WebSocket connection. If your OS suspends the process when the computer locks or sleeps, the connection will drop. Take measures to prevent this — for example, use tools like tmux with tmuxinator to run caffeinate on project start:

# Runs on project start, always
on_project_start: caffeinate -i &

3. Launch Claude Code with the channel

From any project directory:

claude --dangerously-load-development-channels server:messenger

Usage

Once enabled, the plugin automatically:

1. Registers a new session with the messaging API
2. Connects via WebSocket to receive messages in real-time
3. Delivers incoming messages to Claude as channel notifications

Receiving messages

Incoming messages appear as <channel source="messenger"> notifications in your Claude Code session. Claude will see the message content along with metadata like chat_id, message_id, and sender info.

Sending messages

Tool - reply

Send a message back through the messenger channel.

Use the reply tool to respond to the latest message

Parameters:

• text (required) - Message text to send

Permissions

The plugin supports remote permission handling. When Claude Code needs approval to use a tool, the plugin forwards the permission request to the messaging API over WebSocket. The remote user can then allow or deny the request.

• If the remote user allows the request, Claude proceeds with the tool call.
• If the remote user denies the request, Claude is informed and will not proceed.
• If the WebSocket is disconnected when a permission request arrives, or disconnects while requests are pending, those requests are automatically denied.