Open Claude Cowork provides a native desktop GUI for the Claude Code agent, transforming terminal-based AI programming and file management assistance into a visually interactive experience. It targets developers and power users seeking enhanced control, feedback, and ease of use for complex AI-driven tasks, offering a more collaborative and manageable workflow than its command-line counterpart.

How It Works

Built on Electron, React, and Tailwind CSS, Claude Cowork acts as a frontend wrapper for the Anthropic Claude Agent SDK. It translates Claude Code's capabilities into a desktop application, enabling visual session management, real-time token-by-token output streaming, and interactive tool call visualization. This approach bypasses the limitations of terminal-only interfaces, providing clearer feedback and more intuitive control over AI agent actions.

Quick Start & Requirements

• Primary Install/Run: Download pre-built releases from the Releases page. Alternatively, build from source.
• Prerequisites: Bun or Node.js 18+ installed. Claude Code must be installed and authenticated.
• Build from Source:
  1. git clone https://github.com/DevAgentForge/agent-cowork.git
  2. cd agent-cowork
  3. bun install
  4. bun run dev (development) or bun run dist:mac/dist:win/dist:linux (production binaries).
• Setup Time: Minimal if Claude Code is already configured; build process depends on system resources.

Highlighted Details

• AI Collaboration Partner: Capable of writing/editing code, managing files, executing commands, and answering codebase-related questions.
• Session Management: Supports custom working directories, conversation resumption, and local history storage via SQLite with safe deletion.
• Real-Time Streaming Output: Displays AI reasoning and tool calls token-by-token with Markdown rendering and syntax-highlighted code.
• Tool Permission Control: Requires explicit user approval for sensitive actions via interactive decision panels.
• Claude Code Compatibility: Reuses existing ~/.claude/settings.json for seamless integration with Claude Code configurations.

Maintenance & Community

The project is currently at version 0.0.2, indicating early development. Standard contribution guidelines are provided, with pull requests welcomed. A roadmap indicates planned features like GUI-based configuration for models and API keys.

Licensing & Compatibility

The project is licensed under the MIT License, permitting commercial use and modification. It is designed for full compatibility with existing Claude Code setups.

Limitations & Caveats

As an early-stage project (v0.0.2), certain features like GUI-based model and API key configuration are still planned. Users must have Claude Code installed and configured separately, as this project serves as a GUI frontend rather than a standalone AI agent.