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Handles

Every Klangk user has a unique handle (e.g., @alice). Handles are used throughout the platform:

  • Terminal — under the per-handle home layout, your $HOME directory is /home/<handle>/ (see Workspaces)
  • Shared terminals — shared tabs are prefixed with the owner's handle (e.g., alice:build)

How handles are assigned

When you first create an account, your handle is derived from the local part of your email address (e.g., alice@example.com becomes alice). If that handle is already taken, a numeric suffix is appended (alice-2, alice-3, etc.).

Handles must be lowercase and may contain letters, digits, dots, dashes, and underscores.

Handle and HOME directory

How your handle relates to your home directory depends on the workspace's home layout, chosen when the workspace is created:

  • Shared home (the default) — every member's $HOME is the single /home/klangk. Your handle does not affect your home directory path.
  • Per-handle home — your $HOME is /home/<handle>/, a symlink to .users/<user-id>/ on the host filesystem.

On a per-handle workspace, changing your handle changes your $HOME path on your next terminal session — but the underlying directory (keyed by user ID) stays the same. Your files, dotfiles, and history are preserved.

Changing your handle

You can change your handle from the Settings page. The new handle must be unique and follow the naming rules above. A password confirmation is required.

Admins can change any user's handle from the Admin panel without needing the user's password.