First run

This page walks through going from an empty grid to your first live Claude Code session.

1. Point at a projects folder

When Helmsman opens, it asks for a projects folder. Choose the folder on your Mac that holds your repositories. Helmsman remembers it, so you only do this once.

2. Spawn a session into a cell

The main view is a grid of cells. Pick an empty cell and spawn a session into it. Helmsman launches a fresh Claude Code session, in a real terminal, with the working directory set to the project you chose.

3. Work in the cell

The cell is a true interactive terminal, not a read-only log. Type a prompt, answer a question, paste a path. It behaves exactly like the Claude Code you already run in your terminal, because it is the same claude, just embedded.

4. Add more sessions

Repeat for other projects. You can run up to twelve sessions per page, one per cell, all visible in the same window, with more on the next page. See The session grid for how the layout behaves.

5. Focus and step back

Bring any cell into focus to give it your full attention, then step back to the grid to watch them all at a glance. See Focus and steer.

When you are done with a session, close its cell to free it for the next one.