Get started

1. Connect a repository

Open Stagekeeper and sign in with GitHub. On Projects, choose New project, select or paste the GitHub repository, and check its branch and display name.

The connection instructions show a project token and the MCP server URL. Save the token in secure storage: its value is shown only once. Follow that screen's instructions for the terminal that will start Claude Code.

2. Install the plugin

Run these commands in your terminal, in this order. Install the plugin before using its commands in Claude Code.

Then follow the token screen to set the token for your shell. A repository .env file is not loaded for this connection. Keep the value out of chats and Git commits.

3. Connect Claude Code

From the same terminal, change to the repository directory and start Claude Code. Enter this in the Claude Code prompt, not the terminal:

The setup reads the repository, prepares its configuration and agent instructions, and shows the changes before writing. Give it the MCP server URL from Stagekeeper when asked.

Follow the setup's restart and connection checks before continuing. If the repository is already connected, rerun setup to preserve its settings and repair missing connection details.

4. Add an item and continue

On the project's Backlog tab, add an item with enough detail for the dev agent to act on it. In your connected Claude Code session, enter:

Follow the session's prompts to choose its policy. Keep that session open while it runs. With the default gates, the Inbox waits for you before planning and implementation; open the gate there, then continue in Claude Code.

A gate is one reason to wait. A commit that needs you, a recorded acceptance failure, or an execution limit can also pause progress. Read what runs automatically and what waits for you.

Return to the same connection

Restarting a terminal does not expire a token. If its environment variable is gone, set the same saved, active value again before starting Claude Code. If you lost the value, create a replacement in Stagekeeper and revoke the old token when you no longer use it.

A user token can connect repositories you own from one shell. It has the agent toolset and cannot approve gates. Compare project, user, and owner tokens.