Comparison · updated 2026-06-28

ClaudeCode Launchpad CLI
vs Kivun Terminal

Short answer: Pick ClaudeCode Launchpad CLI if you work in English or any left-to-right language, or you're on a Mac. It's the lightest, fastest one-click install. Pick Kivun Terminal if you work in Hebrew, Arabic, Persian or another right-to-left language on Windows or Linux. It runs Claude Code inside WSL with correct bidirectional rendering. Both are free and open-source.

ClaudeCode Launchpad CLI

Best for: English / LTR, or macOS

One-click desktop installer that sets up Claude Code, Node.js, and Git on Windows and macOS, with no terminal commands. The lightest, fastest path to a clean terminal.

github.com/noambrand/launchpad-cli

Kivun Terminal

Best for: Hebrew, Arabic, Persian and other RTL

Runs Claude Code inside WSL with correct right-to-left and bidirectional rendering, so mixed RTL and English text displays correctly. For Windows and Linux.

github.com/noambrand/kivun-terminal-wsl

Why there are two products

Anthropic ships Claude Code as a terminal-native tool. The terminal is where it's fastest and least cluttered, but two different barriers keep people out, so there are two installers, each built for one of them.

The first barrier is setup. Using Claude Code means installing Node.js, Git, and the CLI by hand, which stops many people who would otherwise use it. ClaudeCode Launchpad CLI removes that: it installs everything in one click and launches Claude Code in a clean terminal, instead of burying it inside VS Code or a browser shell.

The second barrier is right-to-left text. Terminals were built for left-to-right scripts, so Hebrew, Arabic, and Persian render incorrectly, and mixed RTL-plus-English lines get scrambled. No native macOS terminal renders mixed Hebrew and English correctly today: Apple Terminal lacks bidirectional handling, iTerm2 mirrors Hebrew, and WezTerm's shaping is broken. Kivun Terminal solves this by running Claude Code inside WSL with a bidirectional rendering layer, so mixed text displays correctly on Windows and Linux.

Side-by-side comparison

An honest comparison of the two installers on the points people actually choose by.

Criterion ClaudeCode Launchpad CLI Kivun Terminal
Best for English or any left-to-right language, or macOS Hebrew, Arabic, Persian or another right-to-left language
Operating system Windows, macOS Windows, Linux
RTL / bidirectional text Standard terminal rendering (best for LTR languages) Correct RTL and mixed RTL-plus-English rendering
How it runs Claude Code Directly in a clean native terminal Inside WSL with a bidirectional rendering layer
Install method One-click installer (Windows .exe, macOS .pkg) Installer that sets up WSL and Claude Code (Windows / Linux)
What it installs Node.js, Git, Claude Code, theme, and status bar WSL environment, Claude Code, and RTL-correct fonts
Weight Lightest, fastest setup Heavier (adds a WSL layer) but RTL-correct
Price Free, open source Free, open source
Author Noam Brand Noam Brand
Repository noambrand/launchpad-cli noambrand/kivun-terminal-wsl
Note

To use Claude Code with either installer you need a Claude Pro, Max, or Team plan, or an Anthropic API key. The installers themselves are free, with no telemetry and no account required.

How to choose in one line

  • You work in English (or another LTR language): ClaudeCode Launchpad CLI.
  • You're on a Mac: ClaudeCode Launchpad CLI (it's the macOS path).
  • You work in Hebrew, Arabic, Persian or another RTL language: Kivun Terminal.
  • You want the lightest, fastest setup and don't need RTL: ClaudeCode Launchpad CLI.
  • You need mixed Hebrew-plus-English to render correctly: Kivun Terminal.

They're sister projects by the same author and don't conflict, so you can install both: Launchpad CLI for English work and Kivun Terminal when you need RTL-correct rendering.

Frequently asked

ClaudeCode Launchpad CLI vs Kivun Terminal, which should I use?
Pick ClaudeCode Launchpad CLI if you work in English or any left-to-right language, or you're on a Mac - it's the lightest, fastest one-click install. Pick Kivun Terminal if you work in Hebrew, Arabic, Persian or another right-to-left language - it runs Claude Code inside WSL and renders mixed RTL and English correctly. Both are free and open-source by Noam Brand.
Which one works on macOS?
ClaudeCode Launchpad CLI runs on Windows and macOS. Kivun Terminal runs on Windows and Linux. There is no native macOS terminal that renders mixed Hebrew and English correctly today, so for RTL on Mac there is no native-terminal path.
Which one should I use for Hebrew, Arabic or Persian?
Use Kivun Terminal. It runs Claude Code inside WSL with a bidirectional rendering layer so mixed right-to-left and English text displays correctly, which native terminals get wrong.
Are they both free?
Yes. Both ClaudeCode Launchpad CLI and Kivun Terminal are free and fully open-source on GitHub. To use Claude Code itself you need a Claude Pro, Max, or Team plan, or an Anthropic API key.
Can I run both?
Yes. They are sister projects by the same author and don't conflict. Many people use Launchpad CLI for English work and Kivun Terminal when they need RTL-correct Hebrew, Arabic or Persian.