claude-log: Browse Claude Code conversation logs in Emacs

Overview

Claude Code stores complete conversation transcripts as JSONL files under ~/.claude/projects/. These files are machine-readable but not human-friendly. claude-log renders them as plain Markdown files under ~/.claude/rendered/, so that standard tools -- consult-ripgrep, Dired, grep -- work natively on readable content.

The package provides a session browser that lists all your Claude Code conversations, grouped by project and sorted most-recent-first. Sessions are lazily rendered on first access: you pick a session, and claude-log converts its JSONL transcript into a well-structured Markdown file with headings for each turn, collapsible tool calls, and thinking blocks. For active conversations, a file watcher keeps the rendered buffer updated in real time.

Key capabilities:

• Session browser with project grouping and per-session preview (date, project, first message).
• Rendered Markdown mirror with readable filenames, organized by project.
• Full-text search via consult-ripgrep or any grep tool on the rendered directory.
• Live updates via file-notify as conversations progress.
• Outline navigation to fold/unfold tool calls, thinking blocks, and tool results.
• Smart tool summaries showing the most relevant input for each tool call (file path for Read/Write, command for Bash, pattern for Grep, etc.).

Installation

Requirements: Emacs 29.1 or later, and markdown-mode 2.6 or later.

package-vc (built-in since Emacs 30)

(package-vc-install "https://github.com/benthamite/claude-log")

Elpaca

(use-package claude-log
  :ensure (claude-log :host github :repo "benthamite/claude-log"))

straight.el

(straight-use-package
 '(claude-log :type git :host github :repo "benthamite/claude-log"))

Quick start

(use-package claude-log
  :ensure (claude-log :host github :repo "benthamite/claude-log")
  :bind (("C-c l b" . claude-log-browse-sessions)
         ("C-c l l" . claude-log-open-latest)
         ("C-c l d" . claude-log-open-rendered-directory)))

Run M-x claude-log-browse-sessions to pick a project and session. The session opens as a rendered Markdown buffer with folding support. Press n/p to jump between turns, TAB to toggle a section, and C to collapse all tool sections at once.

Documentation

For a comprehensive description of all user options, commands, and functions, see the manual.

License

claude-log is licensed under the GPL-3.0-or-later. See COPYING.txt for details.