hydra

🥈Silver

Hydra is a CLI tool that manages parallel AI coding sessions using tmux and git worktree. It enables developers to work on multiple code branches simultaneously, improving productivity. Integrates with AI coding assistants like ChatGPT, Claude, and Cursor.

2810Updated 1mo ago

Intermediate30min to implementautomation

Saves ~240 min per use

Quick InstallView Source

git clone https://github.com/Someblueman/hydra.git

Works with:

Claude

Overview

About This Skill

Hydra is a tmux and git worktree orchestrator that creates isolated parallel coding environments for each branch, one session and worktree per head. It provides fast branch switching, pre-configured layouts (default, dev, full), and optional integration with AI coding assistants like Claude, ChatGPT, and Aider. Developers can spawn multiple sessions with specific AI tools, manage them through a dashboard or interactive TUI, and broadcast commands across all sessions. The tool persists AI tool selection per-head and supports YAML configuration for custom window/pane layouts and startup commands, making it ideal for teams managing complex multi-branch workflows with AI-assisted development.

How to Use

["Install Hydra and dependencies: `brew install tmux git && pip install hydra-cli`","Navigate to your project directory and initialize Hydra: `hydra init`","Create parallel worktrees: `hydra branch feature/new-feature main` (repeat for each branch)","Launch the session: `hydra start -n 3 -a claude` (adjust number of panes and AI assistant as needed)","Use `hydra switch <branch-name>` to move between worktrees within the session"]

Use Cases

Managing multiple feature branches simultaneously with isolated tmux sessions

Running parallel AI coding sessions with different AI agents per branch

Switching between branches and their development environments instantly

Broadcasting commands and tests across multiple active sessions

Setup & Installation

Quick Install

No install command available. Check the GitHub repository for manual installation instructions.

Alternative Install (Git Clone)

git clone https://github.com/Someblueman/hydra

Requirements

Claude Code or compatible AI agent
Works with: Claude

Quick Start Guide

Install the Skill

Copy the install command above and run it in your terminal.

Open Your AI Agent

Launch Claude Code, Cursor, or your preferred AI coding agent.

Try It Out

Use the prompt template or examples below to test the skill.

Customize

Adapt the skill to your specific use case and workflow.

Usage Examples

Prompt Template

Use Hydra to create a parallel coding environment for [PROJECT_NAME]. Set up [NUMBER] tmux panes, each with a separate git worktree branch for [BRANCH_1], [BRANCH_2], and [BRANCH_3]. Configure each pane to connect to [AI_ASSISTANT_NAME] (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, or Cursor) for AI-powered code assistance. Ensure all worktrees are synced with the latest changes from [REMOTE_REPO_URL].

Example Output

```
Hydra parallel coding session initialized for 'E-Commerce API' project.

Setup Summary:
- Created 3 tmux panes in a single window (horizontal split)
- Worktrees created for branches:
  1. feature/payment-gateway (pane 0)
  2. bugfix/cart-validation (pane 1)
  3. refactor/auth-service (pane 2)
- Each pane connected to Claude Code for AI assistance
- All worktrees synced with main branch (commit: a1b2c3d)

Current Status:
Pane 0 (feature/payment-gateway):
- Working on Stripe integration (file: src/payments/stripe.js)
- AI suggestion: "Consider adding webhook validation for security"

Pane 1 (bugfix/cart-validation):
- Fixing quantity overflow bug in cart service
- AI suggestion: "Add input sanitization for quantity field"

Pane 2 (refactor/auth-service):
- Restructuring JWT validation logic
- AI suggestion: "Consider using middleware for auth checks"

Next Steps:
1. Run 'hydra sync' to pull latest changes from remote
2. Use 'hydra commit -m "[message]"' to commit changes in current pane
3. Switch between panes with Ctrl+b arrow keys
4. Close session with 'hydra kill' when done
```