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Open Claude Cowork Setup and First Run

1. What installation actually gives you​

The README offers two practical paths:

  • download a release,
  • or build from source with Bun or Node.js 22+.

The source path includes:

git clone https://github.com/DevAgentForge/agent-cowork.git
cd agent-cowork
bun install
bun run dev

2. Prerequisites matter here​

The README also says Claude Code should be installed and authenticated. That means the app is not a self-contained model runtime. It is a desktop collaboration layer around an existing Claude-oriented setup.

3. What a successful first run looks like​

A good first run should prove:

  1. the native app launches,
  2. existing Claude-oriented configuration is usable,
  3. a first session can be created and tracked visually,
  4. one simple task completes end to end.

4. Start with a small task​

Use one folder-organizing task, one explanation request, or one small coding task first. The goal is to validate the session flow, not to stress the agent on day one.

5. Why source build can be useful​

Because the project is still small, source build is often the fastest way for developers to understand how much of the value comes from desktop UX versus deeper runtime behavior.