Clarc provides a native macOS GUI for the Claude Code CLI, targeting non-developers and engineers seeking a streamlined, project-centric interface. It simplifies complex agent workflows by offering visual previews, integrated file management, and Git operations, enhancing productivity without requiring terminal expertise.

How It Works

This project is a lightweight, native macOS desktop application built with SwiftUI, acting as a frontend for the Claude Code CLI. It spawns the existing claude CLI underneath, preserving CLAUDE.md, skills, and commands. The GUI layer introduces features like approval modals with diff previews, per-project workspaces, drag-and-drop attachments, and an embedded file explorer with Git status, abstracting away the complexities of the terminal.

Quick Start & Requirements

• Installation: Download the latest Clarc-x.y.z.zip from the Releases page, unzip, and move Clarc.app to your Applications folder.
• First Launch (macOS 15+): Requires manual approval via System Settings > Privacy & Security > Security > "Open Anyway".
• Prerequisites:
  • macOS 15.0 or later.
  • Claude Code CLI installed and authenticated.
  • Xcode with Swift 6.2+ toolchain (for building from source).
• Build from Source: Use open Clarc.xcodeproj or xcodebuild commands detailed in the README. Release builds utilize scripts in the scripts/ directory.

Highlighted Details

• Native SwiftUI application, resulting in a small footprint (~5.6MB download).
• Project-centric workspace supporting parallel sessions and background stream persistence.
• Integrated file explorer with Git status, branch switching, and an embedded SwiftTerm-based terminal.
• Rich-text memo pad per project for persistent notes.
• GitHub OAuth integration simplifies SSH key management for Git operations.
• Visual permission management with risk-aware "Allow", "Allow Session", and "Deny" options.
• Customizable slash commands and shortcut buttons for frequent actions.
• Streaming chat interface with Markdown rendering, tool call visualization, and diff views.

Maintenance & Community

No specific details regarding maintainers, community channels (e.g., Discord, Slack), or roadmap are present in the provided README text.

Licensing & Compatibility

• License: Apache License 2.0.
• Compatibility: Permissive license suitable for commercial use and integration with closed-source projects.

Limitations & Caveats

The application is exclusively for macOS and requires the Claude Code CLI to be installed and configured separately. Users on macOS Sequoia will encounter a one-time first-launch approval process.