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Open Claude Cowork Setup and First Run

1. What installation actually gives you​

The repo quick start is:

git clone https://github.com/ComposioHQ/open-claude-cowork.git
cd open-claude-cowork
./setup.sh

Then run:

cd server && npm start

and in a second terminal:

npm start

That already tells you the product is split into a desktop shell and a backend service.

2. What a successful first run looks like​

A good first run should prove:

  1. the Electron app launches,
  2. the backend server streams correctly,
  3. one provider path works,
  4. the tool sidebar actually shows useful tool activity.

3. API keys are part of first run​

The README explicitly calls out:

  • Anthropic API key,
  • Composio API key,
  • optional Opencode API key.

That means installation is only half of the onboarding. Tool-router and provider wiring are equally important.

4. Practical first-run advice​

Start with:

  1. one provider,
  2. one Composio key,
  3. one simple tool-enabled task,
  4. no messaging assistant setup until the desktop loop is clear.

5. Why the two-surface repo matters​

Because the repo includes both the desktop app and the bot assistant path, beginners should validate those separately instead of trying to stand up everything at once.