CLI Authentication, the Right Way

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 09:57:00 +0400

I SSH into a fresh dev VM and run claude to start a session in there. The CLI prints a login URL with http://localhost:54213/callback buried in the query string, tries to open a browser on the remote box, and starts waiting for a callback. There is no browser on this box. The CLI catches the failure, prints Paste code here if prompted, and hangs. I copy the URL into the browser on my laptop, log in, and the consent page hands me a one-time code instead of a redirect. I paste it back over SSH. It works. It is also 2009 wearing a 2026 t-shirt.

OAuth on ABGEO's Personal website

CLI Authentication, the Right Way