A Desktop GUI Wrapper for Claude Code CLI
Features • Installation • Quick Start • Configuration • Development
--- ## Introduction **Claude Code Desktop** is a desktop GUI wrapper for Anthropic's [Claude Code CLI](https://docs.anthropic.com/claude-code). It preserves all native capabilities of Claude Code CLI while providing a user-friendly graphical interface, making it easy for users unfamiliar with command-line tools to enjoy the power of AI programming assistants. ### Core Philosophy - **Preserve Native Capabilities**: We pass through CLI commands, not re-implement them - **Lower the Barrier**: Click-to-use graphical interface for everyone - **Enhanced Experience**: Context management, memory, system prompts, and more ### Why This Project? | Pain Point | Our Solution | |------------|--------------| | CLI has a high learning curve | Graphical interface, click to use | | Don't know what Claude can "see" | Visual context management panel | | Have to repeat preferences every time | User memory + system prompts | | Complex third-party model setup | Pre-configured providers + connection testing | | Session management is difficult | Multi-tab management with history | | Environment setup is tedious | Built-in Node.js, ready out of the box | ## Features ### Implemented - ✅ **Multi-session Management** - Multiple tabs with independent sessions - ✅ **Session Recovery** - Auto-restore conversation context after app restart - ✅ **Multi-model Support** - Anthropic, Zhipu AI, DeepSeek, Kimi, MiniMax, Custom - ✅ **Connection Testing** - One-click API connectivity test - ✅ **System Prompts** - Built-in defaults + customizable + one-click reset - ✅ **User Memory** - Record personal preferences, let AI understand you better - ✅ **Working Directory** - Visual directory selection - ✅ **Built-in Runtime** - Bundled Node.js, no separate installation needed - ✅ **Auto Permission Mode** - Execute file operations without confirmation prompts ### Supported Model Providers | Provider | Default Model | Status | |----------|---------------|--------| | Anthropic | claude-sonnet-4-* | Official | | Zhipu AI | glm-4.6 | ✅ Supported | | DeepSeek | deepseek-chat | ✅ Supported | | Kimi | kimi-k2-turbo-preview | ✅ Supported | | MiniMax | MiniMax-M2 | ✅ Supported | | Custom | User configured | ✅ Supported | ## Installation ### Download Download the latest DMG file from [Releases](https://github.com/xxx/claude-code-desktop/releases). ```bash # First time opening on macOS (to bypass Gatekeeper) xattr -cr "/Applications/Claude Code Desktop.app" ``` ### Build from Source ```bash # Clone the repository git clone https://github.com/xxx/claude-code-desktop.git cd claude-code-desktop # Install dependencies npm install # Development mode npm run tauri dev # Production build npm run tauri build ``` > **Note**: The repository includes bundled Node.js runtime (macOS ARM64), ready to use out of the box. ## Quick Start 1. **Launch the app** - Claude CLI will be automatically installed on first run 2. **Configure authentication** - Login with Anthropic account or enter API Key 3. **Select working directory** - Set the directory Claude can read/write files 4. **Start chatting** - Enter your programming requests, let AI help you code ### First-time Setup Flow ``` ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ 🚀 Environment Setup │ ├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ │ │ Setting up your environment... │ │ │ │ ✅ Detecting Node.js .......................... Done │ │ ⏳ Installing Claude CLI ...................... In Progress │ │ ○ Verifying installation ..................... Waiting │ │ │ │ ████████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ 45% │ │ │ │ 💡 First-time setup may take 1-2 minutes │ │ │ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ``` ## Configuration ### Authentication Methods - **Anthropic Account Login** - OAuth browser authorization - **API Key** - Direct Anthropic API Key input - **Third-party Models** - Configure other provider API Keys ### System Prompts Customize system prompts in Settings → Prompts to define Claude's behavior. ### User Memory Record your preferences in Settings → Prompts → Memory: - Programming languages and frameworks - Code style preferences - Project-specific information ## Tech Stack - **Frontend**: React 18 + TypeScript + Tailwind CSS + Zustand - **Backend**: Rust + Tauri 2.0 - **Database**: SQLite (rusqlite) - **Build Tools**: Vite 6.0 + Tauri CLI ## Project Structure ``` claude-code-desktop/ ├── src/ # Frontend source code │ ├── components/ # React components │ ├── stores/ # Zustand state management │ ├── lib/ # Utility functions │ └── types/ # TypeScript types ├── src-tauri/ # Backend source code │ ├── src/ │ │ ├── commands/ # Tauri commands │ │ ├── services/ # Business logic │ │ └── models/ # Data models │ └── resources/ │ ├── node/ # Bundled Node.js runtime │ ├── hooks/ # Claude CLI Hooks │ └── scripts/ # Helper scripts └── docs/ # Documentation ``` ## Development ### Requirements - Node.js 18+ - Rust 1.70+ - macOS 12+ (currently macOS only) ### Commands ```bash # Start development server npm run tauri dev # Build production version npm run tauri build # Type checking npm run type-check ``` ## FAQ ### "Cannot verify developer" on first launch ```bash xattr -cr "/Applications/Claude Code Desktop.app" ``` ### Pre-flight Check Timeout This may occur when using third-party models. The app handles this automatically, no manual intervention needed. ## Architecture ``` ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Claude Code Desktop │ ├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ │ │ Frontend (React) │ │ │ │ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌─────────┐ │ │ │ │ │ TabBar │ │ ChatArea │ │ Settings │ │ Setup │ │ │ │ │ └──────────┘ └──────────┘ └──────────┘ └─────────┘ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│ │ │ │ │ Zustand Stores (State) ││ │ │ │ │ session │ config │ ui │ environment ││ │ │ │ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│ │ │ └───────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────┘ │ │ │ Tauri invoke/Event │ │ ┌───────────────────────────▼─────────────────────────┐ │ │ │ Backend (Rust) │ │ │ │ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│ │ │ │ │ Commands Layer ││ │ │ │ │ session│claude│config│environment│model│permission││ │ │ │ └──────────────────────┬──────────────────────────┘│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ┌──────────────────────▼──────────────────────────┐│ │ │ │ │ Services Layer ││ │ │ │ │ CliManager│Database│ConfigService│ModelProvider ││ │ │ │ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│ │ │ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │ │ │ │ ├──────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────┤ │ External Dependencies │ │ ┌────────────┐ ┌──────────▼───────┐ ┌─────────────────┐ │ │ │ SQLite DB │ │ Claude CLI │ │ AI API Service │ │ │ │ (Storage) │ │ (Subprocess) │ │ (Anthropic/etc) │ │ │ └────────────┘ └──────────────────┘ └─────────────────┘ │ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ``` ## Known Limitations | Limitation | Description | |------------|-------------| | macOS Only | Currently only tested on macOS (ARM64) | | No Offline Mode | Requires network connection | | No Apple Signing | Need to manually trust on first launch | ## Roadmap ### Short-term (1-2 weeks) - [ ] Enhanced context management panel - [ ] Improved connection testing with balance display - [ ] Onboarding flow ### Mid-term (1-2 months) - [ ] Windows support - [ ] Linux support - [ ] Code syntax highlighting - [ ] Message search - [ ] Theme system (dark/light) ### Long-term (3-6 months) - [ ] MCP server management - [ ] Session export (Markdown/JSON) - [ ] Multi-language interface - [ ] Plugin system ## License MIT License ## Acknowledgments - [Anthropic Claude Code](https://docs.anthropic.com/claude-code) - Powerful AI programming assistant - [Tauri](https://v2.tauri.app) - Lightweight desktop application framework