# Remote Terminal - Documentation Overview
Complete guide to all Remote Terminal documentation.
## 📚 Documentation Structure
### Quick Access
| Document | Purpose | Read Time |
|----------|---------|-----------|
| **[README.md](../README.md)** | Project overview and introduction | 5 min |
| **[QUICK_START.md](QUICK_START.md)** | Get running in 5 minutes | 5 min |
| **[INSTALLATION.md](INSTALLATION.md)** | Detailed setup instructions | 15 min |
| **[USER_GUIDE.md](USER_GUIDE.md)** | Complete feature walkthrough | 30 min |
| **[FEATURE_REFERENCE.md](FEATURE_REFERENCE.md)** | All MCP tools reference | 20 min |
| **[TROUBLESHOOTING.md](TROUBLESHOOTING.md)** | Common problems & solutions | As needed |
### Old Documentation (Archived)
The following documents contain outdated information and should NOT be referenced:
- ~~CLAUDE_INTEGRATION.md~~ (Replaced by QUICK_START.md and USER_GUIDE.md)
- ~~MCP_FILTERING_GUIDE.md~~ (Integrated into USER_GUIDE.md)
- ~~BATCH_EXECUTION.md~~ (Integrated into USER_GUIDE.md)
- ~~MCP_CONTROL_PANEL_DESIGN.md~~ (Design doc, not for end users)
- ~~MCP_CONTROL_PANEL_IMPLEMENTATION.md~~ (Design doc, not for end users)
---
## 🎯 Which Document Should I Read?
### I'm brand new to Remote Terminal
→ Start with **[README.md](../README.md)** for overview
→ Then **[QUICK_START.md](QUICK_START.md)** to get running
### I want to set it up
→ Follow **[INSTALLATION.md](INSTALLATION.md)** step-by-step
### I want to learn all features
→ Read **[USER_GUIDE.md](USER_GUIDE.md)** completely
### I have a specific question
→ Check **[FEATURE_REFERENCE.md](FEATURE_REFERENCE.md)** for tool details
→ Or search **[TROUBLESHOOTING.md](TROUBLESHOOTING.md)**
### Something isn't working
→ Go directly to **[TROUBLESHOOTING.md](TROUBLESHOOTING.md)**
### I need a quick reminder
→ Use **[FEATURE_REFERENCE.md](FEATURE_REFERENCE.md)** as cheat sheet
---
## 📖 Document Summaries
### README.md
**The front door to Remote Terminal**
- What is Remote Terminal?
- Key features overview
- Quick start summary
- Project architecture
- Example usage
- Security considerations
- Version history
**Best for:** Understanding what this tool does and deciding if you want to use it.
---
### QUICK_START.md
**Get running in 5 minutes**
- Prerequisites checklist
- 5-step installation
- Basic configuration
- Claude Desktop setup
- First command test
- What you can ask Claude
- Quick reference
**Best for:** Experienced users who want to get up and running fast.
---
### INSTALLATION.md
**Complete setup instructions**
- System requirements (detailed)
- Step-by-step installation
- Configuration files explained
- Claude Desktop integration
- Connection testing
- SSH key setup
- Standalone mode
- Uninstallation
**Best for:** First-time users who want detailed guidance through every step.
---
### USER_GUIDE.md
**Master all features**
Comprehensive coverage of:
- Basic usage patterns
- Multi-server management
- Command execution (all modes)
- File transfer (SFTP)
- Batch script execution
- Conversation tracking
- Recipe system
- Web terminal interface
- Advanced features
- Tips & best practices
**Best for:** Learning everything Remote Terminal can do, with examples and use cases.
---
### FEATURE_REFERENCE.md
**Quick tool lookup**
- Every MCP tool documented
- All parameters explained
- Return values described
- Usage examples
- Output filtering rules
- Database schema
- Configuration options
**Best for:** Looking up specific tool parameters or reminding yourself how something works.
---
### TROUBLESHOOTING.md
**Fix common problems**
Solutions organized by category:
- Connection issues
- Claude Desktop integration
- Web terminal problems
- Command execution issues
- File transfer problems
- Batch execution errors
- Database issues
- Performance problems
- Configuration errors
- Debugging tips
**Best for:** When something isn't working and you need to fix it now.
---
## 🚀 Recommended Reading Path
### For New Users
1. **[README.md](../README.md)** (5 min)
- Understand what this tool does
- See example use cases
- Decide if it's right for you
2. **[QUICK_START.md](QUICK_START.md)** or **[INSTALLATION.md](INSTALLATION.md)** (5-15 min)
- Choose Quick Start if experienced
- Choose Installation if you want detailed guidance
- Get the system running
3. **[USER_GUIDE.md](USER_GUIDE.md)** (30 min)
- Learn basic usage
- Explore key features
- Try examples
4. **[FEATURE_REFERENCE.md](FEATURE_REFERENCE.md)** (Keep handy)
- Bookmark for later
- Reference when needed
5. **[TROUBLESHOOTING.md](TROUBLESHOOTING.md)** (As needed)
- Only when problems arise
---
### For Experienced Users
1. **[QUICK_START.md](QUICK_START.md)** (5 min) → Get running
2. **[FEATURE_REFERENCE.md](FEATURE_REFERENCE.md)** (Bookmark) → For quick lookup
3. **[USER_GUIDE.md](USER_GUIDE.md)** (Skim) → Check advanced features you might want
---
### For Troubleshooting
1. **[TROUBLESHOOTING.md](TROUBLESHOOTING.md)** → Find your specific problem
2. Check logs (locations in troubleshooting doc)
3. If still stuck, review relevant section in **[USER_GUIDE.md](USER_GUIDE.md)**
---
## 🔍 Finding Information Quickly
### Common Questions
| Question | Location |
|----------|----------|
| "How do I install this?" | [INSTALLATION.md](INSTALLATION.md) or [QUICK_START.md](QUICK_START.md) |
| "What can Claude do with this?" | [README.md](../README.md) examples section |
| "How do I upload files?" | [USER_GUIDE.md](USER_GUIDE.md) → File Transfer section |
| "How do batch scripts work?" | [USER_GUIDE.md](USER_GUIDE.md) → Batch Execution section |
| "What's the syntax for X tool?" | [FEATURE_REFERENCE.md](FEATURE_REFERENCE.md) → Find tool |
| "Why isn't it connecting?" | [TROUBLESHOOTING.md](TROUBLESHOOTING.md) → Connection Issues |
| "How do conversations work?" | [USER_GUIDE.md](USER_GUIDE.md) → Conversations section |
| "What are recipes?" | [USER_GUIDE.md](USER_GUIDE.md) → Recipes section |
| "Web terminal won't open" | [TROUBLESHOOTING.md](TROUBLESHOOTING.md) → Web Terminal Problems |
| "How does filtering work?" | [USER_GUIDE.md](USER_GUIDE.md) → Advanced Features |
---
## 📝 Documentation Principles
### Our Documentation Philosophy
1. **Practical Over Theoretical**
- Real examples, not abstract concepts
- Step-by-step instructions
- Copy-paste ready commands
2. **User-Focused**
- Written for end users, not developers
- Assumes Windows environment
- No design documents mixed in
3. **Complete But Concise**
- Everything you need, nothing you don't
- Quick reference available
- Detailed explanations when needed
4. **Up to Date**
- Reflects Version 3.0 (SQLite-based)
- Old docs clearly marked as obsolete
- Tested with current codebase
---
## 💡 Pro Tips
### Documentation Shortcuts
1. **Use Ctrl+F to search within documents**
- Most documents are comprehensive
- Search is faster than scrolling
2. **Bookmark FEATURE_REFERENCE.md**
- Quick tool parameter lookup
- Return values reference
- Example patterns
3. **Keep TROUBLESHOOTING.md handy**
- Problems happen
- Solutions are organized by symptom
- Includes debugging commands
4. **Start with examples**
- See what others have done
- Adapt for your use case
- Learn by doing
---
## 🔄 Documentation Updates
### Version 3.0 Documentation (Current)
All documentation completely rewritten for Version 3.0:
- ✅ Reflects SQLite database (not PostgreSQL)
- ✅ Multi-server support documented
- ✅ Machine identity tracking explained
- ✅ Conversation management covered
- ✅ Recipe system documented
- ✅ All tools from modular architecture
- ✅ No Docker references
- ✅ Current project structure
### What Changed From Version 2.0
Major changes:
- PostgreSQL → SQLite (easier deployment)
- Docker → Native Python (simpler setup)
- Single server → Multi-server support
- Basic tracking → Full conversation management
- No recipes → Recipe system with automation
- Simple DB → Complete audit trail
---
## 📞 Getting Help
### If Documentation Doesn't Answer Your Question
1. **Check all relevant docs**
- Problem might be covered elsewhere
- Use search functionality
2. **Review example recipes**
- See `recipes/` folder
- Real working examples
3. **Check logs**
- Claude Desktop: Help → Show Logs
- Remote Terminal: `logs/remote_terminal.log`
- Batch logs: `C:\Users\YOUR_USERNAME\mcp_batch_logs\`
4. **Test components individually**
- Use standalone mode
- Test SSH manually
- Verify configuration files
---
## 🎓 Learning Resources
### Examples in the Wild
Check the `recipes/` directory for working examples:
- `wifi_diagnostics.sh` - WiFi troubleshooting
- `docker_postgres_diagnostics_clean.sh` - Docker diagnostics
Each recipe includes:
- The actual script
- README explaining usage
- Expected output
- Prerequisites
### Hands-On Learning
**Suggested learning path:**
1. **Week 1:** Basic commands
- Simple system commands
- File listings
- Service checks
2. **Week 2:** File operations
- Upload/download files
- Directory transfers
- List remote files
3. **Week 3:** Batch execution
- Run diagnostic scripts
- Multi-step workflows
- Review logs
4. **Week 4:** Conversations & Recipes
- Track command sequences
- Create your first recipe
- Reuse automation
---
## 📊 Documentation Stats
| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Total new documents | 6 |
| Total pages | ~100 (equivalent) |
| Code examples | 200+ |
| Troubleshooting solutions | 50+ |
| Tool references | 30+ |
| Configuration options | 25+ |
---
## ✅ Documentation Checklist
Use this to verify you've covered everything:
### Initial Setup
- [ ] Read README.md
- [ ] Followed QUICK_START.md or INSTALLATION.md
- [ ] Configured hosts.yaml
- [ ] Set up Claude Desktop config
- [ ] Tested first command
### Learning Features
- [ ] Explored USER_GUIDE.md
- [ ] Tested basic commands
- [ ] Tried file transfer
- [ ] Executed batch script
- [ ] Created a conversation
- [ ] Made a recipe
### Reference Materials
- [ ] Bookmarked FEATURE_REFERENCE.md
- [ ] Noted TROUBLESHOOTING.md location
- [ ] Know where logs are
- [ ] Understand filtering rules
### Ongoing Use
- [ ] Check docs when stuck
- [ ] Review recipes regularly
- [ ] Keep config files backed up
- [ ] Monitor logs occasionally
---
**Remember:** Documentation is here to help you. Don't try to read everything at once. Start with what you need now, and reference the rest as needed.
**Version:** 3.0
**Last Updated:** December 2024
**Documentation Set:** Complete
