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Multi-Project Mode

CCManager's multi-project mode allows you to manage multiple git repositories from a single interface, making it easy to work across different projects without running multiple CCManager instances.

Overview

In multi-project mode, CCManager discovers all git repositories within a specified root directory and presents them in an organized interface. You can quickly switch between projects, manage their worktrees, and maintain active AI assistant sessions across all projects simultaneously.

Setup

Environment Variable

Multi-project mode requires setting the CCMANAGER_MULTI_PROJECT_ROOT environment variable:

export CCMANAGER_MULTI_PROJECT_ROOT="/path/to/your/projects"

This should point to a directory containing your git repositories. CCManager will recursively search this directory for all git projects.

Running in Multi-Project Mode

npx ccmanager --multi-project

If the environment variable is not set, CCManager will display an error message with instructions.

Features

Project Discovery

CCManager automatically discovers git repositories by:

  • Recursively scanning the root directory
  • Identifying directories containing .git folders
  • Excluding git worktrees (they're managed separately within their parent project)
  • Caching discovered projects for better performance

Recent Projects

Frequently accessed projects are tracked and displayed at the top of the project list:

  • Projects are automatically added to recent list when selected
  • Recent projects persist between sessions
  • Stored in ~/.config/ccmanager/recent-projects.json
  • No limit on the number of recent projects shown

Search Functionality

Both the project list and worktree menu support Vi-like search:

  • Press / to enter search mode
  • Type to filter items in real-time
  • Press ESC to cancel and clear the search
  • Press Enter to exit search mode while keeping the current filter
  • Use arrow keys to navigate filtered results

Session Management

CCManager maintains separate session managers for each project:

  • Sessions persist when switching between projects
  • Each project tracks its own active, busy, and waiting sessions
  • Session counts are displayed in the format [active/busy/waiting]
  • Sessions continue running in the background when navigating away

Navigation Flow

  1. Project List View

    • Shows all discovered projects
    • Recent projects appear at the top
    • All other projects listed alphabetically below
    • Number keys (0-9) for quick selection
    • R to refresh project list
    • Q to quit

  2. Worktree Menu

    • Shows all worktrees for the selected project
    • Session counts displayed for the project
    • Standard worktree operations available
    • B to go back to project list
    • Number keys (0-9) for quick worktree selection

  3. Session View

    • Full terminal emulation with your AI assistant
    • Standard session controls apply

Architecture

Key Components

ProjectManager Service

  • Handles project discovery and caching
  • Manages recent projects list
  • Provides project filtering and search

GlobalSessionOrchestrator

  • Maintains session managers for all projects
  • Coordinates session lifecycle across projects
  • Provides session count aggregation

ProjectList Component

  • Displays discovered projects with search
  • Handles project selection
  • Shows recent projects section

Data Structures

interface GitProject {
  path: string;        // Absolute path to git repository
  name: string;        // Project name (directory name)
  relativePath: string; // Path relative to root directory
  isValid: boolean;    // Whether it's a valid git repo
}

interface RecentProject {
  path: string;        // Absolute path
  name: string;        // Project name
  lastAccessed: number; // Unix timestamp
}

Configuration

Config Files

Multi-project configuration is stored in platform-specific locations:

  • Linux/macOS: ~/.config/ccmanager/
  • Windows: %APPDATA%/ccmanager/

Recent Projects File

The recent-projects.json file maintains the list of recently accessed projects:

[
  {
    "path": "/home/user/projects/my-app",
    "name": "my-app",
    "lastAccessed": 1703001234567
  },
  {
    "path": "/home/user/projects/another-project",
    "name": "another-project",
    "lastAccessed": 1703001234566
  }
]

Performance Considerations

Project Discovery Optimization

  • Projects are discovered in parallel using a worker pool pattern
  • Discovery results are cached to avoid repeated filesystem operations
  • Common ignore patterns (node_modules, .git internals) are skipped

Session Management

  • Only active project's sessions are in the foreground
  • Background sessions consume minimal resources
  • Session state is preserved when switching projects

Troubleshooting

Projects Not Appearing

  1. Verify the directory contains a .git folder
  2. Check that CCMANAGER_MULTI_PROJECT_ROOT points to the correct directory
  3. Try refreshing the project list with R
  4. Ensure you have read permissions for the directories

Environment Variable Issues

If you see "CCMANAGER_MULTI_PROJECT_ROOT environment variable is not set":

  1. Set the environment variable: export CCMANAGER_MULTI_PROJECT_ROOT="/your/path"
  2. Add it to your shell profile for persistence
  3. Ensure the path exists and is accessible

Performance Issues

If project discovery is slow:

  1. Consider using a more specific root directory
  2. Exclude large non-project directories from the root path
  3. Check for symbolic links causing circular references

Best Practices

  1. Organize Projects: Keep git repositories in a dedicated directory structure
  2. Use Recent Projects: Take advantage of the recent projects feature for quick access
  3. Keyboard Navigation: Learn the number key shortcuts for faster navigation
  4. Search Efficiently: Use / search to quickly filter large project lists
  5. Session Management: Be aware that sessions continue running when you switch projects

Integration with Existing Features

Multi-project mode works seamlessly with all existing CCManager features:

  • Command presets apply to all projects
  • Status hooks work across all sessions
  • Keyboard shortcuts remain consistent
  • Worktree operations function normally within each project
  • Devcontainer support works per-project

Future Enhancements

Planned improvements for multi-project mode:

  • Project grouping and categorization
  • Global session overview across all projects
  • Project-specific configuration overrides
  • Batch operations across multiple projects
  • Project templates and initialization