jeanCode.nvim

Warning: This is a vibe coding project. Built entirely through conversation with Claude Code. It works, but expect rough edges. PRs welcome.

A Neovim plugin that integrates Claude Code directly into your editor as a side panel. Zero dependencies.

Features

• Toggle Claude Code in a split or floating window with a single keypress
• Automatic git root detection for project-aware sessions
• Context awareness via .jeancode_buffers file — Claude always knows what files you have open
• Session persistence — hide and reshow the panel without losing your conversation
• Automatic file reloading when Claude edits your code
• Send visual selections directly to Claude with file path and line numbers
• Window navigation with <C-w> and vim-tmux-navigator support
• Auto insert mode when focusing the Claude panel

Requirements

• Neovim >= 0.10
• Claude Code CLI installed and available in PATH

Installation

lazy.nvim

{
  "thbits/jeanCode.nvim",
  cmd = { "JeanCode", "JeanCodeNew", "JeanCodeSend", "JeanCodeLayout", "JeanCodeFloat" },
  keys = {
    { "<leader>cc", "<cmd>JeanCode<cr>", desc = "Toggle Claude Code" },
    { "<leader>cs", "<cmd>JeanCodeSend<cr>", mode = "v", desc = "Send to Claude" },
    { "<leader>cl", "<cmd>JeanCodeLayout<cr>", desc = "Toggle Claude layout" },
    { "<leader>cf", "<cmd>JeanCodeFloat<cr>", desc = "Toggle Claude float" },
  },
  opts = {},
  config = function(_, opts)
    require("jeancode").setup(opts)
  end,
}

Local development

{
  "thbits/jeanCode.nvim",
  dir = "~/path/to/jeanCode.nvim",
  cmd = { "JeanCode", "JeanCodeNew", "JeanCodeSend", "JeanCodeLayout", "JeanCodeFloat" },
  keys = {
    { "<leader>cc", "<cmd>JeanCode<cr>", desc = "Toggle Claude Code" },
    { "<leader>cs", "<cmd>JeanCodeSend<cr>", mode = "v", desc = "Send to Claude" },
    { "<leader>cl", "<cmd>JeanCodeLayout<cr>", desc = "Toggle Claude layout" },
    { "<leader>cf", "<cmd>JeanCodeFloat<cr>", desc = "Toggle Claude float" },
  },
  opts = {},
  config = function(_, opts)
    require("jeancode").setup(opts)
  end,
}

Configuration

Below is the full default configuration:

require("jeancode").setup({
  -- The CLI command to run
  command = "claude",

  -- Window appearance and behavior
  window = {
    position = "right",      -- "right", "left", "bottom", or "float"
    width = 0.30,            -- Width as fraction of screen (for "right"/"left")
    height = 0.30,           -- Height as fraction of screen (for "bottom")
    float = {                -- Floating window options (for "float")
      width = 0.8,
      height = 0.8,
      border = "rounded",
    },
    enter_insert = true,     -- Auto enter insert mode in the Claude panel
    hide_numbers = true,     -- Hide line numbers in the Claude panel
    hide_signcolumn = true,  -- Hide the sign column in the Claude panel
  },

  -- How :JeanCodeSend sends selections
  send_mode = "reference", -- "reference" (file + line/col range, saves tokens) or "content" (full code block)

  -- Extra CLI arguments passed to the claude command
  cli = {
    args = {},  -- e.g. {"--dangerously-skip-permissions", "--verbose"}
  },

  -- Git integration
  git = {
    auto_detect_root = true,  -- Set cwd to git root of the current file
  },

  -- File watching (auto-reload when Claude edits files)
  refresh = {
    enable = true,
    updatetime = 100,          -- Reduced updatetime while Claude is active
    timer_interval = 1000,     -- Polling interval in ms
    show_notifications = true, -- Show "Buffer reloaded" notifications
  },

  -- Default keymaps (set to false to disable)
  keymaps = {
    toggle = "<leader>cc",  -- Toggle the Claude panel
    send = "<leader>cs",    -- Send visual selection to Claude
  },
})

Configuration Examples

Right side panel (default)

opts = {
  window = { position = "right", width = 0.30 },
}

Bottom horizontal split

opts = {
  window = { position = "bottom", height = 0.40 },
}

Left side panel

opts = {
  window = { position = "left", width = 0.25 },
}

Floating window

opts = {
  window = {
    position = "float",
    float = { width = 0.8, height = 0.8, border = "rounded" },
  },
}

Skip permissions (auto-accept mode)

opts = {
  cli = { args = { "--dangerously-skip-permissions" } },
}

Multiple CLI flags

opts = {
  cli = { args = { "--dangerously-skip-permissions", "--verbose" } },
}

Send full code content instead of references

By default, :JeanCodeSend sends only the file path and line/column range (Claude reads the file itself). To send the full code block instead:

opts = {
  send_mode = "content",
}

Custom keymaps

opts = {
  keymaps = {
    toggle = "<C-,>",
    send = "<leader>cs",
  },
}

Disable default keymaps

opts = {
  keymaps = {
    toggle = false,
    send = false,
  },
}

Then map manually:

vim.keymap.set("n", "<leader>cc", "<Plug>(jeancode-toggle)")
vim.keymap.set("v", "<leader>cs", "<Plug>(jeancode-send)")

Commands

Command	Description
:JeanCode	Toggle the Claude Code panel
:JeanCodeNew	Start a fresh Claude session
:JeanCodeSend	Send visual selection to Claude (use in visual mode)
:JeanCodeLayout	Cycle panel position: right → bottom → left → float → right
:JeanCodeFloat	Toggle Claude Code as a floating window
:JeanCodeContext	Force update the .jeancode_buffers file

How It Works

Terminal Management

The plugin uses vim.fn.termopen() to run Claude Code in a Neovim terminal buffer. The buffer is created with bufhidden=hide so Claude keeps running when you toggle the panel off.

Context Awareness

When Claude starts, the plugin tells it (via --append-system-prompt) to read a .jeancode_buffers_<pid> file in /tmp. This file is automatically updated whenever you open or close buffers in Neovim. Claude reads it before each response to know what files you're working on. Each Neovim instance gets its own file (keyed by PID), so multiple instances don't conflict. Stale files from dead Neovim instances are cleaned up automatically.

Session Persistence

Each session gets a UUID. Toggling the panel off/on preserves the conversation. Use :JeanCodeNew to start a completely fresh session.

File Watching

When Claude edits files on disk, the plugin detects changes and auto-reloads affected buffers. This uses a combination of checktime polling and FileChangedShellPost autocmds.

Navigation

From the Claude terminal panel:

Key	Action
<C-w>h/j/k/l	Navigate to adjacent windows
<C-h/j/k/l>	vim-tmux-navigator support (if installed)
<leader>cc	Toggle panel off (works from terminal mode)

License

MIT