# Claude Code Launchpad — Full Content > Free, open-source desktop suite that installs Claude Code (Anthropic's official CLI) on Windows and macOS with zero terminal friction. Bundles Node.js, Git, and a live status bar with no admin commands required. - **Website:** https://claudecode-launchpad.netlify.app/ - **Hebrew version:** https://claudecode-launchpad.netlify.app/he - **Built by:** Noam Brand (Israel) - **Email:** noambbb@gmail.com - **GitHub (author):** https://github.com/noambrand - **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/in/noambrand/ - **Repo (LTR):** https://github.com/noambrand/launchpad-cli - **Repo (RTL / Kivun):** https://github.com/noambrand/kivun-terminal-wsl - **Platforms:** Windows 10/11 (.exe), macOS (.pkg), Linux (Kivun via WSL) - **License:** Open source - **Price:** Free, no paid tier, no telemetry, no account required --- ## What it is Claude Code Launchpad is a desktop installer suite that brings Anthropic's official Claude Code CLI to non-terminal-native users. Anthropic ships Claude Code as a terminal-native tool — fast and powerful — but the install path locks out anyone not already comfortable installing a Node.js toolchain. Launchpad removes that barrier without trapping users inside VS Code or a browser shell where Claude Code is meaningfully slower. There are two installation tracks, both free and open source: 1. **ClaudeCode Launchpad CLI** (LTR / English) — Windows `.exe` and macOS `.pkg` installers. Installs Node.js, Git, Claude Code itself, configures the environment, and adds a desktop shortcut. Two-minute setup, no terminal commands required. 2. **Kivun Terminal** (RTL / Hebrew, Arabic, Persian) — sister project that runs Claude Code inside WSL with proper bidirectional rendering so non-Latin scripts display correctly in the terminal. Available for Windows and Linux. --- ## What it ships - **One-click installer** — handles Node.js, Git, and Claude Code itself. Detects existing installs and skips what's not needed. Also upgrades Claude Code to the latest version. - **Visual folder picker** — graphical project picker with optional Advanced toggle for model selection, flags (`-c` to resume, `--model claude-opus-4-6`, `--verbose`), startup commands, and env vars. Defaults hidden so first-time users see a clean dialog. - **Live status bar** — two-line bottom panel showing: project name, active model, context-window usage (progress bar), total tokens (whole session, including sub-agents), session duration, full path on line 1; session and weekly token usage with progress bars and reset countdowns on line 2. The session/weekly bars refresh per Claude response (after each answer), not on a timer. Color-coded: green below 50%, yellow 50–79%, red 80%+. - **Built-in update checker** — checks GitHub Releases on launch and offers a one-click Download button when a new version is available. - **Persistent workflow config** — `config.txt` (Windows: `%LOCALAPPDATA%\Kivun\config.txt`) for defaults like `CLAUDE_FLAGS=-c` or `RESPONSE_LANGUAGE=hebrew` so settings apply on every launch. --- ## Why it exists The terminal is where Claude Code is fastest and least cluttered — but the cost of entry (install Node.js, install Git, configure PATH, install Claude Code) is a wall for many capable users. Most "easy install" wrappers solve that by burying Claude Code inside VS Code or a browser, which gives back the friction the terminal removed. Launchpad fills the gap: it keeps Claude Code in its native terminal environment while removing the install friction. --- ## Audience - Developers who want a clean, fast Claude Code install without an hour of toolchain setup. - Non-developers and first-time CLI users who have been told to "just open the terminal" and bounced off. - Hebrew, Arabic, and Persian speakers who need RTL-correct rendering — handled by the Kivun Terminal sister project. - Teams who want auditable, open-source tooling instead of opaque wrappers. --- ## FAQ **How is this different from Claude Code in VS Code?** Claude Code in VS Code runs inside a heavy editor with a cluttered interface. ClaudeCode Launchpad CLI runs Claude Code in a clean terminal — the way it was built to work. Faster, simpler, no extra layers. **Do I need to know how to code?** No. The installer handles everything. You just download, run, and start typing. No prior technical experience needed. **Can I change the language Claude responds in?** Yes. Edit `config.txt` (Windows: `%LOCALAPPDATA%\Kivun\config.txt` — on macOS: re-run claude and set it there) and change `RESPONSE_LANGUAGE=english` to any language — Hebrew, Arabic, Persian, Spanish, French, and 20+ others. Claude will respond in that language from the next launch. **Can I resume where I left off?** When the folder picker appears, cancel it, type your path, and you'll be prompted for flags. Useful flags: `-c` to resume your last session, `--model claude-opus-4-6` to pick a specific model, `--verbose` to see everything Claude is doing. To make a flag permanent on every launch, add it to `config.txt` as `CLAUDE_FLAGS=-c`. **What if I already have Node.js or Claude Code installed?** The installer checks what's already installed and skips what it doesn't need. It also updates Claude Code to the latest version. **Where's the code? Can I trust it?** Everything is open on GitHub. You can read every line of code, see what the installer does, and contribute improvements. Nothing hidden. **What is the status bar?** Two lines at the bottom of the terminal. Line 1: project name, model, context usage progress bar, total tokens, session duration, full path. Line 2: session and weekly token usage with progress bars and time until each resets. Color-coded — green below 50%, yellow 50–79%, red 80%+. The session and weekly bars come from Claude's rate-limit data, so they update when Claude finishes a reply (after each answer returns), not on a timer; a value is current as of the most recent response. Total tokens counts the whole session, including sub-agents. **Claude Code is stuck on an old version, or shows "Auto-update failed: no write permission to npm prefix"?** Some older installs placed Claude in a system folder it cannot write to, so auto-update keeps failing. Fix it once: run `claude install` (the official native installer, no admin needed), then restart Claude and confirm with `/doctor`. New Kivun installs (1.4.37+) configure this correctly and auto-repair older installs on the next launch. **Which permission mode or flags should I use?** For smoother auto-approval, launch with `claude --permission-mode auto`. Better still, set permissions once in `settings.json` instead of passing a flag every time. Do not use `--dangerously-skip-permissions`, which turns off safety checks entirely. The folder picker's Advanced options also remembers any flags you set. --- ## License & code 100% open source on GitHub. Every line of the installer, the picker, the status bar, and the launch wrapper is readable, forkable, and contributable. - ClaudeCode Launchpad CLI: https://github.com/noambrand/launchpad-cli - Kivun Terminal (RTL / WSL): https://github.com/noambrand/kivun-terminal-wsl ## Pricing Free. No paid tier, no telemetry, no account required. Users supply their own Claude account / API access through Anthropic. ## Related project VBridge Agent — Claude Code for VBA developers in Excel: https://vbridge.netlify.app/ ## Contact - **Author:** Noam Brand - **Email:** noambbb@gmail.com - **Country:** Israel - **GitHub:** https://github.com/noambrand - **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/in/noambrand/ ## Canonical URLs - English (LTR): https://claudecode-launchpad.netlify.app/ - Hebrew (RTL): https://claudecode-launchpad.netlify.app/he - Short summary: https://claudecode-launchpad.netlify.app/llms.txt - Sitemap: https://claudecode-launchpad.netlify.app/sitemap.xml ## Last updated 2026-06-22