Claude Dev Users: Multi-User Docker Development Environment

📖 Repository Overview

A production-ready Docker-based system that provides isolated development environments for multiple users, each with pre-configured Claude Code CLI (v2.0.36), SSH access, and Chromium browser automation via Chrome DevTools MCP. Managed through a Flask-based web admin panel.

Primary Location: /Users/Ollama/docker/claudedevusers GitHub URL: https://github.com/ZorroCheng-MC/claudedevusers (Private) Server IP: 192.168.12.130 Web Panel: http://192.168.12.130:8183 Version: 2.0 Final (ARM64 compatible) Last Updated: 2025-11-10

🎯 Key Features

Core Capabilities

✅ Multi-User Support: Isolated Docker containers for each user (alfred, ryan, zorro, tommy, derek)
✅ Web Admin Panel: Full-featured Flask UI for user/container management (Port 8183)
✅ Pre-configured Claude CLI: Each container has Claude Code CLI 2.0.36 ready to use
✅ Browser Automation: Individual Chromium instances with Chrome DevTools MCP
✅ SSH Access: Each user has dedicated SSH port (2222-2226)
✅ Persistent Storage: User workspaces and Claude configs preserved across rebuilds
✅ Real-time Monitoring: CPU, memory, network usage tracking
✅ ARM64 Compatible: Works on Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3 Macs)

Technical Stack

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  Web Panel (Flask, Port 8183)                   │
│  - Admin & User Dashboards                      │
│  - Container Lifecycle Management               │
│  - Real-time Status Monitoring                  │
└─────────────────┬───────────────────────────────┘
                  │
                  ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  User Containers (5 active users)               │
│  ├─ claudedev-alfred (Port 2222)                │
│  ├─ claudedev-ryan (Port 2223)                  │
│  ├─ claudedev-zorro (Port 2224)                 │
│  ├─ claudedev-tommy (Port 2225)                 │
│  └─ claudedev-derek (Port 2226)                 │
│                                                  │
│  Each Container (~3.09 GB):                     │
│  - Ubuntu 22.04 LTS                             │
│  - Node.js 20.x, Python 3.10                    │
│  - Claude Code CLI 2.0.36                       │
│  - Chromium 141.0.7390.37 (local instance)      │
│  - Chrome DevTools MCP                          │
│  - 4GB RAM, 2 CPUs                              │
│  - Persistent workspace volume                  │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

📁 Repository Structure

Root Files

File	Purpose	Lines
`README.md`	Main user documentation	13,948 bytes
`CLAUDE.md`	AI assistant reference (technical)	11,814 bytes
`Dockerfile`	User container image definition	3,957 bytes
`.gitignore`	Git exclusions	908 bytes
`.claude-credentials.env`	OAuth token template	315 bytes

Shell Scripts (Root Directory)

Script	Purpose	Size
`build-base-image.sh`	Build user container base image	1,304 bytes
`refresh-all-containers.sh`	Recreate all containers (preserves data)	3,731 bytes
`setup-all-users-claude.sh`	Initialize Claude config for all users	5,059 bytes
`auto-setup-claude-auth.sh`	Automated OAuth setup	6,189 bytes
`sync-credentials.sh`	Sync credentials between users	3,047 bytes
`fix-credentials-after-rebuild.sh`	Restore credentials post-rebuild	3,056 bytes
`update-claude-cli.sh`	Update Claude CLI without rebuilding	6,076 bytes
`check-claude-versions.sh`	Check Claude CLI versions across containers	5,227 bytes
`init-user-claude-config.sh`	Initialize single user Claude config	1,569 bytes
`setup-claude-token.sh`	Setup OAuth token	2,334 bytes

Web Panel Scripts

Script	Purpose	Size
`install-webpanel.sh`	Install Flask dependencies	1,082 bytes
`start-webpanel.sh`	Start web panel on port 8183	726 bytes
`restart-webpanel.sh`	Restart web panel	1,022 bytes

Directories

claudedevusers/
├── .claude/                    # Project-level Claude config
│   └── settings.local.json     # 3,287 bytes
├── webpanel/                   # Flask web application
│   ├── app.py                  # Main Flask app (25,031 bytes)
│   ├── generate-password.py   # Password hash generator (647 bytes)
│   ├── users.json.example      # User database template (1,207 bytes)
│   └── templates/              # HTML templates (login, admin, user)
├── users/                      # Per-user persistent configs
│   ├── .claude-template/       # Template for new users
│   ├── alfred/                 # Alfred's Claude config
│   ├── ryan/                   # Ryan's Claude config
│   ├── zorro/                  # Zorro's Claude config
│   ├── tommy/                  # Tommy's Claude config
│   └── derek/                  # Derek's Claude config
├── chromium-browser/           # Chromium-related files
├── docs/                       # Additional documentation
│   ├── QUICK_START.md
│   ├── SETUP_GUIDE.md
│   └── QUICK_REFERENCE.md

🛠️ Key Technologies

Docker Architecture

Base Image: ~3.09 GB per container

OS: Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
Runtime: Node.js 20.19.5, Python 3.10
User: devuser (non-root with sudo)
Resources: 4GB RAM, 2 CPUs per container
Restart Policy: Unless stopped manually

Claude Code Integration

Version: 2.0.36 (pre-installed and authenticated)

OAuth Token: Pre-configured via CLAUDE_CODE_OAUTH_TOKEN
Config Storage: Bind-mounted from users/{username}/claude/
Persistence: Credentials survive container rebuilds
MCP Support: Chrome DevTools MCP for browser automation

Browser Automation

Chromium: Version 141.0.7390.37

Installation: Via Playwright at /opt/ms-playwright/chromium-1194/
Location: Symlinked to /usr/local/bin/chromium
Remote Debugging: Port 9222 (local to each container)
MCP Integration: Chrome DevTools MCP connects to localhost:9222

Web Panel

Framework: Flask (Python)

Port: 8183 (web interface)
Authentication: SHA256 password hashing, session-based
Auto-refresh: User dashboard (5s), Admin dashboard (10s)
Docker SDK: Python Docker library for container control

📋 Default Users & Credentials

User Containers

Username	Container Name	SSH Port	Web Password	SSH Password
alfred	claudedev-alfred	2222	password	devuser
ryan	claudedev-ryan	2223	password	devuser
zorro	claudedev-zorro	2224	password	devuser
tommy	claudedev-tommy	2225	password	devuser
derek	claudedev-derek	2226	password	devuser

Admin Access

Web Panel: admin / admin
URL: http://192.168.12.130:8183 (or http://localhost:8183 from server)

⚠️ Security Note: Change default passwords immediately in production!

👥 FOR END USERS (Derek, Ryan, etc.)

New to this system? This section is for you! Everything you need to know to use your personal development environment.

🆕 What You Get

You have your own private development container with:

✅ Pre-installed AI assistant (Claude Code CLI) - ready to use, no setup
✅ Your own workspace - all your files are saved permanently
✅ Web browser automation - built-in Chromium for testing websites
✅ Full Ubuntu environment - Node.js, Python, git, and common dev tools
✅ 4GB RAM, 2 CPUs - dedicated resources just for you

Your Container Details:

If you are…	Your SSH Port	Container Name	Login Username
Derek	2226	claudedev-derek	derek
Ryan	2223	claudedev-ryan	ryan
Tommy	2225	claudedev-tommy	tommy
Zorro	2224	claudedev-zorro	zorro
Alfred	2222	claudedev-alfred	alfred

🌐 Option 1: Using the Web Dashboard (Easiest)

Step 1: Open your web browser and go to:

http://192.168.12.130:8183

(If you’re on the same machine as the server, you can also use: http://localhost:8183)

Step 2: Login with your credentials:

Username: Your name (e.g., derek, ryan)
Password: password (ask admin to change this)

Step 3: You’ll see your personal dashboard with:

✅ Container status (running/stopped)
✅ Resource usage (CPU, memory)
✅ Control buttons (Start, Stop, Restart)
✅ Connection information

What You Can Do:

Click Start to start your container
Click Stop to stop your container
Click Restart if something goes wrong
See real-time CPU and memory usage

💻 Option 2: Connecting via SSH (For Developers)

Step 1: Find your SSH port from the table above

Step 2: Open Terminal and run:

# If connecting from another computer:
ssh devuser@192.168.12.130 -p XXXX

# If on the same machine as the server:
ssh devuser@localhost -p XXXX

# Examples (from another computer):
ssh devuser@192.168.12.130 -p 2226  # For Derek
ssh devuser@192.168.12.130 -p 2223  # For Ryan

# Examples (from the same machine):
ssh devuser@localhost -p 2226  # For Derek
ssh devuser@localhost -p 2223  # For Ryan

Step 3: Enter password when prompted:

Password: devuser

You’re in! You should see something like:

Welcome to Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
devuser@claudedev-derek:~$

🤖 Using Claude Code (Your AI Assistant)

Once you’re connected via SSH, you have Claude Code CLI ready to use:

Basic Commands

1. Start an AI chat:

claude chat

You can ask questions, get help with code, discuss ideas, etc.

2. Generate code:

claude code "write a Python function to calculate fibonacci"

Claude will create the code for you!

3. Edit existing files:

# First, create or navigate to your file
cd workspace
echo "def hello(): pass" > app.py

# Ask Claude to improve it
claude code "add error handling and logging to app.py"

4. Get help:

claude --help

Practical Examples

Example 1: Write a web scraper

cd workspace
claude code "create a Python script to scrape news headlines from BBC"

Example 2: Debug code

claude code "find and fix the bug in calculator.py"

Example 3: Explain code

claude chat
# Then type: "explain what this code does: [paste your code]"

Example 4: Build a project

claude code "create a REST API with Flask that has endpoints for user management"

📂 Your Workspace

Location: /home/devuser/workspace

This is YOUR personal folder where you save all your work:

cd workspace          # Go to your workspace
ls -la               # List your files
mkdir my-project     # Create a folder
cd my-project        # Enter the folder

Important:

✅ Everything in workspace is saved permanently (even if container restarts)
✅ Only you can access your workspace
❌ Don’t save files outside workspace - they’ll be lost on restart

🌍 Using the Browser Automation

Your container has a built-in Chromium browser for automation:

Example: Screenshot a website

claude code "use browser automation to take a screenshot of google.com"

The browser runs in the background and Claude can control it for you!

🆘 Common Tasks & Troubleshooting

How do I check if my container is running?

Web Dashboard Method:

Go to http://192.168.12.130:8183
Login with your username
Check status on your dashboard

SSH Method:

# Try to connect (from another computer)
ssh devuser@192.168.12.130 -p YOUR_PORT

# Or from the same machine:
ssh devuser@localhost -p YOUR_PORT

# If it says "Connection refused" → container is stopped
# If it asks for password → container is running

How do I start my stopped container?

Option 1 - Web Dashboard (recommended):

Login to http://192.168.12.130:8183
Click the Start button

Option 2 - Ask admin to run:

docker start claudedev-YOUR_USERNAME

How do I save my work?

Everything in /home/devuser/workspace is automatically saved! Just make sure you’re working in that folder:

cd ~/workspace       # Always work here
# Create your files/folders here

I forgot my password

Web Panel Password: Ask the admin to reset it via the web panel

SSH Password: It’s always devuser (cannot be changed via web panel)

My container is slow or stuck

Restart via web dashboard: Login → Click “Restart”
Or restart via SSH: Exit and reconnect
If still stuck: Ask admin to check the logs

How do I see what files I have?

cd ~/workspace
ls -lah              # List all files with details
tree                 # Show folder structure (if installed)
du -sh *             # See folder sizes

How much space/resources am I using?

Via SSH:

df -h                # Disk space
free -h              # Memory usage
top                  # CPU usage (press 'q' to exit)

Via Web Dashboard:

Login to http://192.168.12.130:8183
Your dashboard shows real-time CPU and memory usage

📚 Quick Reference Card

Save this for quick access:

# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════
# YOUR PERSONAL CHEAT SHEET
# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════

# SERVER INFO
Web Panel: http://192.168.12.130:8183
Server IP: 192.168.12.130

# 1. CONNECT TO YOUR CONTAINER
# From another computer:
ssh devuser@192.168.12.130 -p YOUR_PORT
# From the same machine:
ssh devuser@localhost -p YOUR_PORT
# Password: devuser

# 2. GO TO YOUR WORKSPACE (always work here!)
cd ~/workspace

# 3. USE CLAUDE AI
claude chat                    # Chat with AI
claude code "your request"     # Generate code
claude --help                  # Get help

# 4. FILE OPERATIONS
ls -la                         # List files
pwd                            # Where am I?
mkdir folder_name              # Create folder
cd folder_name                 # Enter folder
cd ..                          # Go up one level
nano file.txt                  # Edit file (Ctrl+X to exit)

# 5. CHECK SYSTEM
df -h                          # Disk space
free -h                        # Memory
top                            # CPU (press 'q' to quit)

# 6. EXIT
exit                           # Disconnect from SSH

🎓 Learning Path

New to this? Try these steps in order:

Week 1: Connect via SSH, explore the workspace

# From your computer:
ssh devuser@192.168.12.130 -p YOUR_PORT
cd workspace
ls -la

Week 2: Try basic Claude commands

claude chat
# Ask: "explain what SSH is"

Week 3: Generate your first code

claude code "create a hello world Python script"
python3 hello.py

Week 4: Build a small project

claude code "create a todo list app with Python"

Week 5+: Explore advanced features (MCP, browser automation)

💬 Who to Ask for Help

Can’t login to web panel? → Ask admin (alfred)
Container won’t start? → Check web dashboard first, then ask admin
How to use Claude better? → Check Claude Code docs
SSH connection issues? → Verify container is running on web dashboard
General Docker questions? → Ask admin or check this doc

🚀 Quick Start Workflow (For Admins)

Initial Setup

cd /Users/Ollama/docker/claudedevusers

# 1. Build base image (includes Claude CLI + Chromium)
./build-base-image.sh

# 2. Install Flask dependencies
./install-webpanel.sh

# 3. Create all user containers
./refresh-all-containers.sh

# 4. Start web management panel
./start-webpanel.sh

# 5. Access admin panel
open http://192.168.12.130:8183
# Or from the server machine: http://localhost:8183

Connecting to User Container

Via SSH:

# From remote computer:
ssh devuser@192.168.12.130 -p 2222  # Password: devuser

# From server machine:
ssh devuser@localhost -p 2222  # Password: devuser

Via Claude Code:

# From remote computer:
ssh://devuser@192.168.12.130:2222/home/devuser/workspace

# From server machine:
ssh://devuser@localhost:2222/home/devuser/workspace

Using Claude CLI

# SSH into container
ssh devuser@localhost -p 2222

# Use Claude CLI (pre-authenticated)
claude chat
claude code "write a python function"

# Check MCP servers
claude mcp list

💡 Common Operations

Update Claude CLI (Without Rebuilding)

# Check current versions
./check-claude-versions.sh

# Update all containers to latest
./update-claude-cli.sh latest

# Update specific container
./update-claude-cli.sh 2.0.37 alfred

# Rollback if needed
./update-claude-cli.sh 2.0.36

Rebuild Containers (Preserves Data)

# 1. Rebuild base image with updates
./build-base-image.sh

# 2. Recreate all containers (workspaces preserved)
./refresh-all-containers.sh

Manage via Web Panel

Start/Stop Containers: Click buttons in admin/user dashboard
Add New User: Admin → “Add New User” → Fill form
Reset Password: Admin → Find user → “Reset PW”
Delete User: Admin → Find user → “Delete” (optional: delete volume)

Monitor Container Status

# View running containers
docker ps | grep claudedev-

# Check specific container logs
docker logs claudedev-{username}

# View resource usage
docker stats claudedev-{username}

🔧 Advanced Configuration

Environment Variables (Inside Containers)

CLAUDE_CODE_OAUTH_TOKEN="sk-ant-oat01-..."  # Pre-configured
PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH=/opt/ms-playwright  # System browsers

MCP Configuration

Location: /home/devuser/.claude.json (new format for CLI 2.0.36+)

Add Chrome DevTools MCP:

# Inside container
claude mcp add --scope user -- chrome-devtools \
  npx -y chrome-devtools-mcp@latest --browser-url=http://localhost:9222

Persistent Storage

Workspace Volume: {username}-workspace (Docker volume)

Location: /home/devuser/workspace
Preserved during container rebuilds

Claude Config: users/{username}/claude/ (Bind mount)

Host location editable directly
Contains MCP configs, credentials
Survives container deletion

📊 Architecture Decisions

Why Individual Browsers?

v2.0 Design: Each container has its own Chromium instance

✅ ARM64 compatibility (Apple Silicon)
✅ Full isolation between users
✅ No shared dependencies
✅ Simpler architecture

v3.0 (Deprecated): Attempted shared browser container

❌ Incompatible with ARM64
❌ Playwright MCP issues on Apple Silicon
Reverted to v2.0

Why Bind Mounts for Claude Config?

Host-side editing: Modify configs without SSH
Persistence: Survives container deletion
Easy backup: Simple file copy on host
Per-user customization: Each user can have unique MCP servers

Why Flask Web Panel?

Simplicity: Lightweight, easy to maintain
Docker SDK: Native Python library for container control
No external dependencies: Self-contained solution
Real-time updates: JavaScript polling for status

🏷️ Tags Analysis

Content Classification:

Type: repository (GitHub codebase)
Primary Topics:
- docker - Container orchestration
- infrastructure - Development environment setup
- claude-code - Claude CLI integration
- multi-user - Shared system design
Technical Characteristics:
- devops - Automation, deployment
- automation - Scripts, web panel
- technical - Implementation-focused
- actionable - Production-ready

Why These Tags:

repository: GitHub project with source code
docker: Core technology for containerization
infrastructure: Provides development environment platform
claude-code: Integrates Claude Code CLI 2.0.36
development: Developer-focused tooling
multi-user: Supports multiple isolated users
devops: Infrastructure as code, automation
automation: Scripted workflows, web management
technical: Complex technical implementation
actionable: Ready to deploy and use
inbox: Newly captured, needs review

Technology Stack Tags:

Python - Flask web panel, scripts
Shell - Bash automation scripts (20+ files)
Dockerfile - Container definitions
Flask - Web framework
Docker - Container runtime

Find Similar Infrastructure Projects:

/semantic-search "multi-user docker development environment"

Find Claude Code Integration Examples:

/semantic-search "Claude Code CLI automation deployment"

Find DevOps Automation:

/semantic-search "container orchestration web panel management"

Find Browser Automation with MCP:

/semantic-search "Chromium Playwright MCP integration"

📝 Use Cases

1. Multi-Developer Environment

Scenario: Team needs isolated development environments Solution: Each developer gets dedicated container with:

Pre-configured Claude Code CLI
Isolated workspace
Individual resource limits
SSH access for remote work

2. Claude Code Training/Demos

Scenario: Teaching multiple users how to use Claude Code Solution:

Quick user creation via web panel
Pre-authenticated Claude CLI (no setup needed)
Browser automation ready out-of-box
Easy reset/cleanup between sessions

3. Shared Server Infrastructure

Scenario: Single machine serving multiple remote developers Solution:

Resource-constrained containers (4GB RAM, 2 CPUs each)
SSH tunneling for secure remote access
Web panel for self-service container management
Persistent storage for long-term projects

4. CI/CD Testing Environment

Scenario: Need reproducible environments for testing Solution:

Consistent base image across all containers
Easy rebuild with refresh-all-containers.sh
Automated Claude CLI updates
Docker volumes for test artifacts

Internal Docs (in docs/ folder):

QUICK_START.md - Quick setup guide
SETUP_GUIDE.md - Detailed installation
QUICK_REFERENCE.md - Command cheat sheet

External Resources:

📈 Repository Metrics

Total Files: 20+ shell scripts, 1 Dockerfile, Flask app
Container Size: ~3.09 GB per user
Active Users: 5 (alfred, ryan, zorro, tommy, derek)
Supported Platforms: macOS ARM64 (Apple Silicon)
Last Commit: 2025-11-10 (Initial commit)
Author: alfred.lau@gemini.demo.hkmci.com

🚨 Important Notes

Security Considerations

Change default passwords (admin, all users)
Restrict web panel access (currently listens on 0.0.0.0:8183)
Use SSH keys instead of passwords for production
Review gitignored files (users.json, .credentials.json)

Maintenance Tasks

Monitor disk space (3GB per user + workspaces)
Update Claude CLI regularly (update-claude-cli.sh)
Backup user configs (users/ directory)
Review container logs for issues

Known Limitations

ARM64 only: Designed for Apple Silicon
No HTTPS: Web panel uses HTTP (add reverse proxy for production)
Manual scaling: Adding users requires script execution
Resource limits: Each user gets 4GB RAM (not configurable via UI)

🎯 Next Steps

For New Users

Clone repository to local machine
Run initial setup scripts
Change admin password
Create first user via web panel
Test SSH connection
Test Claude CLI inside container

For Existing Deployment

Update Claude CLI to latest version
Review and update default passwords
Document custom MCP configurations
Set up automated backups
Configure firewall rules for production

Potential Enhancements

Add HTTPS support for web panel
Implement user quotas (disk, CPU, memory)
Add container auto-cleanup for inactive users
Create API for programmatic user management
Add monitoring dashboard with metrics history

Captured: 2025-11-10 Source: https://github.com/ZorroCheng-MC/claudedevusers (Private) Status: Production Ready (v2.0 Final) Platform: macOS ARM64 Team: HKMCI Gemini Demo

Private Document