Fixing Claude Code CLI Doctor Command Terminal Errors

The Problem

This error occurs because the Claude Code CLI uses Ink for its terminal UI, which requires TTY (terminal) features that aren't available in all environments. The claude doctor command is particularly affected, often timing out or failing completely.

The Complete Solution

After extensive testing, I've developed a comprehensive fix that addresses all the underlying issues. This solution includes a wrapper script, proper environment configuration, and terminal settings that work across different platforms.

curl -sSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/vamfi/claude-orchestration/main/install.sh | bash

What This Fix Does

• Creates a wrapper script that bypasses TTY requirements
• Configures terminal settings to disable raw mode
• Sets environment variables to prevent Ink errors
• Provides a reliable claude-doctor command alias
• Installs 7 specialized orchestration agents as a bonus

Manual Installation

If you prefer to understand what's being installed, here's the manual process:

Step 1: Create the Doctor Wrapper

cat > ~/.claude/doctor-wrapper.sh << 'EOF'
#!/bin/bash
export FORCE_COLOR=0
export CI=true
export TERM=dumb
export NODE_NO_READLINE=1

CLAUDE_BIN=""
if [[ -x "$HOME/.claude/local/node_modules/.bin/claude" ]]; then
    CLAUDE_BIN="$HOME/.claude/local/node_modules/.bin/claude"
elif command -v claude &> /dev/null; then
    CLAUDE_BIN=$(which claude)
else
    echo "Error: Claude binary not found"
    exit 1
fi

"$CLAUDE_BIN" doctor 2>&1 || true
EOF

chmod +x ~/.claude/doctor-wrapper.sh

Step 2: Configure Settings

cat > ~/.claude/settings.json << 'EOF'
{
  "cliOptions": {
    "noRawMode": true,
    "disableInteractive": false,
    "forceColorSupport": false
  },
  "terminal": {
    "stdin": {
      "setRawMode": false,
      "resume": true,
      "isTTY": false
    }
  },
  "tools": {
    "enabled": true,
    "confirmBeforeRun": false
  },
  "doctor": {
    "timeout": 30000,
    "skipInteractive": true
  }
}
EOF

Step 3: Add Shell Alias

# For zsh users
echo "alias claude-doctor='~/.claude/doctor-wrapper.sh'" >> ~/.zshrc
source ~/.zshrc

# For bash users
echo "alias claude-doctor='~/.claude/doctor-wrapper.sh'" >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

Testing the Fix

After installation, you can test the fix with:

claude-doctor

Understanding the Root Cause

The issue stems from how Node.js applications handle terminal input/output. The Ink library used by Claude Code expects to control terminal features like cursor positioning and color output. When these features aren't available (like in CI environments or when piping output), Ink throws the "Raw mode not supported" error.

Our solution works by:

1. Setting environment variables that tell Ink we're in a CI environment
2. Disabling raw mode in the Claude Code settings
3. Using a wrapper script that ensures proper environment setup
4. Providing fallback behavior when TTY features aren't available

Platform Compatibility

This fix has been tested on:

• macOS 12+ (Monterey and later)
• Ubuntu 20.04+
• WSL2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux)
• GitHub Codespaces
• Docker containers

Troubleshooting

If you still encounter issues:

Check Node Version

node --version  # Should be 18+

Verify Installation

ls -la ~/.claude/doctor-wrapper.sh  # Should exist and be executable

Direct Wrapper Test

~/.claude/doctor-wrapper.sh

Environment Variable Test

FORCE_COLOR=0 CI=true TERM=dumb claude doctor

Bonus: Orchestration Agents

The installer also sets up a complete orchestration system with specialized agents for different tasks. These agents automatically activate based on your commands:

• orchestrator - Manages complex multi-step workflows
• researcher - Gathers documentation and best practices
• planner - Creates structured implementation plans
• implementer - Generates production-ready code
• tester - Creates comprehensive test suites
• reviewer - Performs code review and security checks
• memory - Preserves knowledge across sessions

Community Contribution

This fix was developed after encountering the issue repeatedly and seeing many others struggle with it in the Claude AI community. The solution is open source and available on GitHub. Feel free to contribute improvements or report issues.

Conclusion

Terminal compatibility issues can be frustrating, especially when they prevent essential tools from working. This fix provides a reliable workaround that maintains functionality while bypassing the problematic TTY requirements.

The Claude Code CLI is a powerful tool, and with this fix, you can use all its features without terminal errors getting in the way. Happy coding!