Open Claude Cowork Architecture and Runtime

1. The workspace shape

The README positions the app as a desktop product with:

Area	Why it matters
native desktop shell	gives the app its visual collaboration layer
session runtime	handles task execution and multi-session tracking
Claude-oriented config reuse	reduces setup duplication
build and distribution tooling	supports native binaries

This is a smaller and more focused architecture than some broader agent platforms.

2. The runtime mental model

At runtime, the product generally does this:

1. the user creates or opens a task,
2. the app uses the existing Claude-oriented environment,
3. session activity is surfaced visually,
4. results return into the desktop workflow.

3. Why session visibility matters

The README explicitly says terminal-only workflows make it hard to track complex tasks and outputs. That means visibility is not a cosmetic add-on; it is the product's main architectural reason to exist.

4. What to read first in code

Start with:

1. build and run instructions,
2. the desktop application entry points,
3. session-management logic,
4. packaging and distribution scripts.