Claude‑Cowork: Open‑Source Desktop AI Assistant for Developer Productivity
What is Claude-Cowork?
Claude-Cowork (also known as Agent Cowork in early releases) is a fully open‑source desktop AI assistant that transforms the Claude experience from a command‑line utility into a visual, collaborative partner. Powered by the latest Claude Agent SDK, it runs locally on macOS, Windows and Linux, and plugs directly into your existing ~/.claude/settings.json. No separate installation of Claude Code is required – just clone the repo, install dependencies, and you can start having conversations with an AI that can run commands, generate code, manage files, and orchestrate multi‑step workflows.
Key Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Visual Feedback | Complex tasks that would otherwise spill over the terminal get a GUI with real‑time status and output panels. |
| Session Management | Keeps a persistent record of all conversations, allowing you to resume, edit, or replay past sessions. |
| File & Project Navigation | Directly browse, edit, and manipulate files in the workspace through the assistant – no manual command needed. |
| Multi‑Tool Execution | Chains commands and tools automatically, handling dependencies and execution order. |
| Easy Extensibility | Built on TypeScript; add new plugins or integrate custom tool wrappers with minimal effort. |
| Cross‑Platform | Electron‑based builds for macOS (arm64 & x64), Windows, and Linux. |
Why It Matters for Developers
The traditional Claude Code workflow is powerful but limited to the terminal. Developers often juggle multiple terminal windows, track tool outputs manually, and lack a visual cue for progress. Claude‑Cowork solves these pain points by providing a dedicated desktop window where every conversation, tool invocation, or file change is visible and organized. It brings the productivity of a Jupyter‑style notebook to any Claude session, helping teams stay focused and reducing context switches.
Getting Started
Below is a quick‑start guide that works on macOS, Windows and Linux.
1. Prerequisites
- Node.js v22+ or Bun (recommended for speed)
- Claude Code installed and authenticated (or use the bundled
claude-envfrom the repo)
2. Clone the Repository
git clone https://github.com/DevAgentForge/Claude-Cowork.git
cd Claude-Cowork
3. Install Dependencies
# With Bun (fast)
bun install
# Or with npm
npm ci
4. Run in Development Mode
# Bun
bun run dev
# Or npm
npm run dev
The application should launch a native window where you can type prompts and see the AI’s responses.
5. Build Production Binaries
# macOS (Apple Silicon)
bun run dist:mac-arm64
# macOS (Intel)
bun run dist:mac-x64
# Windows (32/64‑bit)
bun run dist:win
# Linux
bun run dist:linux
6. Using Claude‑Cowork in Your Projects
Once the application is running, you can:
- Ask the AI to scaffold files: Create a new React component named TodoList. The assistant will generate the file and open it in the editor you have set as default.
- Navigate Projects: Show me the README of the current project. It will automatically open the file in your file viewer.
- Run Tools: Run lint on src folder – the assistant will trigger ESLint and return results in a separate panel.
- Manage Sessions: Switch between multiple workspaces or projects with the built‑in session selector.
Contributing
Claude‑Cowork welcomes contributions!
- Fork the repo.
- Create a feature or bug‑fix branch.
- Commit your changes – keep the
git commitprompt brief and descriptive. - Open a pull request.
The maintainers will review your PR, and if everything lines up, you’ll merge in the next release. For major features, it’s a good idea to open an issue first to discuss scope.
Roadmap Highlights
- Custom Tool Plugins – plug into your CI/CD pipelines.
- Better Multi‑Session UI – sidebar for quick switching.
- AI‑Assisted Diff & Merge – resolve conflicts by asking Claude.
- Cross‑Platform Native Packaging – sign macOS apps and prepare installers.
Final Thoughts
Claude‑Cowork turns the power of Claude into a productive desktop assistant that lives alongside your IDE. By providing visual feedback, session history, and file manipulation capabilities, it reduces the friction developers face when using AI in the code‑writing loop. The project’s open‑source nature means you can tweak it to fit any workflow, making it a compelling addition for technical teams looking to boost efficiency without compromising on automation.
Pro Tip: Combine Claude‑Cowork with your favourite code editor’s “Open Folder” command to automatically load the assistant in the context of your active project – a seamless experience for code generation, documentation, and debugging.
Want to stay updated? Follow the repo on GitHub, star it, and drop a comment if you see a feature that would help your workflow. Your feedback shapes the next iteration of this open‑source AI assistant.