# Claude API Desktop
A modern, feature-rich desktop client for the Anthropic Claude API with streaming support, extended context capabilities, and an intuitive graphical interface.
## Features
### Core Capabilities
- **Real-time Streaming**: Stream responses as they're generated for a responsive chat experience
- **Extended Context Support**: Automatically uses beta headers for:
- 1M context window with Claude Sonnet 4
- 128k output tokens with Claude Sonnet 3.7
- **Multi-Model Support**: Access all Claude models including:
- Claude Opus 4.1 & 4.0
- Claude Sonnet 4 & 3.7
- Claude Haiku 3.5
### User Experience
- **File Attachments**: Attach images (PNG, JPG, JPEG, GIF, WebP) and text files directly in conversations
- **System Prompts**: Configure persistent system prompts for specialized assistants
- **Export Conversations**: Save chats as Markdown or JSON for documentation and sharing
- **Token & Cost Tracking**: Real-time display of token usage and estimated API costs
- **Keyboard Shortcuts**: Detailed below.
### Technical Features
- **Configuration Persistence**: Saves API key, model preference, and system prompt in platform-appropriate directories
- **Clean GUI**: Built with tkinter for cross-platform compatibility
- **Threaded API Calls**: Non-blocking UI during API requests
- **Comprehensive Error Handling**: Graceful handling of connection and API errors
- **Conversation Branching**: Create alternate conversation paths and switch between them
- **SQLite Database**: Reliable local storage for conversation history in user data directories
## Installation
### Prerequisites
- Python 3.8 or higher
- pip package manager
### Install from PyPI
```bash
pip install claude-api-desktop
```
### Install from Source
1. Clone the repository:
```bash
git clone https://github.com/anthony-maio/claude-api-desktop.git
cd claude-api-desktop
```
2. Install using pip:
```bash
pip install .
```
3. Run the application:
```bash
claude-api-desktop
```
## Data Storage
The application stores all user data in platform-appropriate directories:
### Windows
- **Configuration**: `%LOCALAPPDATA%\claude-api-desktop\claude_client_config`
- **Database**: `%LOCALAPPDATA%\claude-api-desktop\conversations.db`
- **Full path**: `C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\claude-api-desktop\`
### macOS
- **Configuration**: `~/Library/Application Support/claude-api-desktop/claude_client_config`
- **Database**: `~/Library/Application Support/claude-api-desktop/conversations.db`
### Linux
- **Configuration**: `~/.local/share/claude-api-desktop/claude_client_config`
- **Database**: `~/.local/share/claude-api-desktop/conversations.db`
## Configuration
### API Key
1. Get your API key from `Anthropic Console <https://console.anthropic.com/>`_
2. Open Settings (⚙️ button or `Ctrl+,`)
3. Enter your API key in the API tab
4. The key is saved locally in platform-appropriate directories:
- **Windows**: `%LOCALAPPDATA%\claude-api-desktop\claude_client_config`
- **macOS**: `~/Library/Application Support/claude-api-desktop/claude_client_config`
- **Linux**: `~/.local/share/claude-api-desktop/claude_client_config`
### Model Selection
Choose from the dropdown menu:
- **Claude Opus 4.1**: Most capable model for complex tasks
- **Claude Opus 4**: Previous generation Opus
- **Claude Sonnet 4**: Balanced performance with 1M context window
- **Claude Sonnet 3.7**: Fast with 128k output capability
- **Claude Haiku 3.5**: Fastest and cheapest
## Usage Examples
### Basic Chat
1. Enter your API key in Settings
2. Type your message
3. Press Send or `Ctrl+Enter`
### Using System Prompts *Optional*
1. Open Settings (⚙️ button)
2. Go to General tab
3. Enter instructions.
### Attaching Files *[Beta]*
1. Click the 📎 Attach button
2. Select image or text file
3. Multiple files are supported
### Conversation Branching *[Alpha]*
1. Start a conversation with Claude
2. Click 🌿 Branch button
3. Create "Alternative approach" branch
4. Continue conversation in new direction
5. Switch between branches anytime
## API Costs
**⚠️ IMPORTANT COST DISCLAIMER ⚠️**
The client displays estimated costs based on September 2025 Anthropic pricing **for reference only**. These values are:
- **NOT AUTHORITATIVE** - Always refer to your Anthropic Console for actual billing
- **ESTIMATES ONLY** - Actual costs may vary significantly
- **SUBJECT TO CHANGE** - Anthropic may update pricing at any time
- **NOT GUARANTEED ACCURATE** - Token counting is approximate
**YOU ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING YOUR ACTUAL API USAGE AND COSTS.** Always set spending limits in your Anthropic Console.
================= ==================== ======================
Model Input (per 1M tokens) Output (per 1M tokens)
================= ==================== ======================
Claude Opus 4.1/4.0 $15.00 $75.00
Claude Sonnet 4/3.7 $3.00 $15.00
Claude Haiku 3.5 $0.80 $4.00
================= ==================== ======================
## Keyboard Shortcuts
**Messaging:**
* `Ctrl+Enter`: Send message
* `Escape`: Abort current request
**Conversation Management:**
* `Ctrl+N`: Start new conversation
* `Ctrl+S`: Save current conversation
* `Ctrl+H`: Open conversation history
* `Ctrl+L`: Clear current chat
**Interface:**
* `Ctrl+,`: Open Settings dialog
* `Ctrl+D`: Toggle dark/light theme
* `F1`: Show help dialog
**File Operations:**
* `Ctrl+E`: Export conversation
## License
This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the [LICENSE](LICENSE) file for details.
## Acknowledgments
* Built with [Anthropic's Claude API](https://docs.anthropic.com/)
* GUI framework: [tkinter](https://docs.python.org/3/library/tkinter.html)
* HTTP client: [requests](https://requests.readthedocs.io/)
## Author
**Anthony Maio** (anthony.maio@gmail.com)
Passionate about AI/ML, software engineering, culture and leadership.
Follow or find me on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-maio) - Open to work!
*Currently seeking opportunities in AI/ML engineering full-time US Remote*
## Privacy & Data Handling
**🔒 YOUR DATA STAYS ON YOUR DEVICE 🔒**
- **No Data Collection**: This application does NOT collect, transmit, or store any of your conversations, API keys, or personal data on external servers
- **Local Storage Only**: All data (conversations, settings, API keys) is stored locally on your device in platform-appropriate directories
- **Direct API Communication**: The app communicates directly with Anthropic's API - no intermediary servers
- **Open Source**: Full source code is available for inspection - verify our privacy claims yourself
- **No Analytics**: No usage tracking, telemetry, or analytics are collected
- **No Network Requests**: Except to Anthropic's official API endpoints for chat functionality
**Your privacy is paramount. This tool is designed to be a secure, private interface to Claude API.**
## Important Disclaimers
**⚠️ LEGAL DISCLAIMERS ⚠️**
- **Independent Project**: This software is NOT affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Anthropic in any way
- **No Warranty**: This software is provided "AS IS" without warranty of any kind, express or implied
- **User Responsibility**: You are solely responsible for your API usage, costs, and compliance with Anthropic's terms of service
- **Cost Estimates**: All cost calculations are estimates only and may be inaccurate - always monitor actual usage in your Anthropic Console
- **API Compliance**: Users must comply with all Anthropic usage policies and terms of service
- **Use at Your Own Risk**: The developers are not liable for any damages, costs, or issues arising from use of this software
## Support
Support is limited and generally submitted through Github in the issues section.
If you find this tool useful, please consider:
* Starring the repository
* Contributing improvements
---
**Note**: This is an independent project and is not affiliated with Anthropic. Always ensure you comply with Anthropic's [usage policies](https://www.anthropic.com/legal/aup) when using the API.
Raw data
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"description": "# Claude API Desktop\r\n\r\nA modern, feature-rich desktop client for the Anthropic Claude API with streaming support, extended context capabilities, and an intuitive graphical interface.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n## Features\r\n\r\n### Core Capabilities\r\n\r\n- **Real-time Streaming**: Stream responses as they're generated for a responsive chat experience\r\n- **Extended Context Support**: Automatically uses beta headers for:\r\n\r\n - 1M context window with Claude Sonnet 4\r\n - 128k output tokens with Claude Sonnet 3.7\r\n\r\n- **Multi-Model Support**: Access all Claude models including:\r\n\r\n - Claude Opus 4.1 & 4.0\r\n - Claude Sonnet 4 & 3.7\r\n - Claude Haiku 3.5\r\n\r\n### User Experience\r\n\r\n- **File Attachments**: Attach images (PNG, JPG, JPEG, GIF, WebP) and text files directly in conversations\r\n- **System Prompts**: Configure persistent system prompts for specialized assistants\r\n- **Export Conversations**: Save chats as Markdown or JSON for documentation and sharing\r\n- **Token & Cost Tracking**: Real-time display of token usage and estimated API costs\r\n- **Keyboard Shortcuts**: Detailed below.\r\n\r\n### Technical Features\r\n\r\n- **Configuration Persistence**: Saves API key, model preference, and system prompt in platform-appropriate directories\r\n- **Clean GUI**: Built with tkinter for cross-platform compatibility \r\n- **Threaded API Calls**: Non-blocking UI during API requests\r\n- **Comprehensive Error Handling**: Graceful handling of connection and API errors\r\n- **Conversation Branching**: Create alternate conversation paths and switch between them\r\n- **SQLite Database**: Reliable local storage for conversation history in user data directories\r\n\r\n## Installation\r\n\r\n### Prerequisites\r\n\r\n- Python 3.8 or higher\r\n- pip package manager\r\n\r\n### Install from PyPI\r\n\r\n```bash\r\n pip install claude-api-desktop\r\n```\r\n### Install from Source\r\n\r\n1. Clone the repository:\r\n\r\n```bash\r\n git clone https://github.com/anthony-maio/claude-api-desktop.git\r\n cd claude-api-desktop\r\n```\r\n2. Install using pip:\r\n\r\n```bash\r\n pip install .\r\n```\r\n3. Run the application:\r\n\r\n```bash\r\n claude-api-desktop\r\n```\r\n## Data Storage\r\n\r\nThe application stores all user data in platform-appropriate directories:\r\n\r\n### Windows\r\n- **Configuration**: `%LOCALAPPDATA%\\claude-api-desktop\\claude_client_config`\r\n- **Database**: `%LOCALAPPDATA%\\claude-api-desktop\\conversations.db`\r\n- **Full path**: `C:\\Users\\{username}\\AppData\\Local\\claude-api-desktop\\`\r\n\r\n### macOS\r\n- **Configuration**: `~/Library/Application Support/claude-api-desktop/claude_client_config`\r\n- **Database**: `~/Library/Application Support/claude-api-desktop/conversations.db`\r\n\r\n### Linux\r\n- **Configuration**: `~/.local/share/claude-api-desktop/claude_client_config`\r\n- **Database**: `~/.local/share/claude-api-desktop/conversations.db`\r\n\r\n## Configuration\r\n\r\n### API Key\r\n\r\n1. Get your API key from `Anthropic Console <https://console.anthropic.com/>`_\r\n2. Open Settings (\u2699\ufe0f button or `Ctrl+,`)\r\n3. Enter your API key in the API tab\r\n4. The key is saved locally in platform-appropriate directories:\r\n - **Windows**: `%LOCALAPPDATA%\\claude-api-desktop\\claude_client_config`\r\n - **macOS**: `~/Library/Application Support/claude-api-desktop/claude_client_config`\r\n - **Linux**: `~/.local/share/claude-api-desktop/claude_client_config`\r\n\r\n### Model Selection\r\n\r\nChoose from the dropdown menu:\r\n\r\n- **Claude Opus 4.1**: Most capable model for complex tasks\r\n- **Claude Opus 4**: Previous generation Opus \r\n- **Claude Sonnet 4**: Balanced performance with 1M context window \r\n- **Claude Sonnet 3.7**: Fast with 128k output capability\r\n- **Claude Haiku 3.5**: Fastest and cheapest\r\n\r\n## Usage Examples\r\n\r\n### Basic Chat\r\n\r\n1. Enter your API key in Settings\r\n2. Type your message\r\n3. Press Send or `Ctrl+Enter`\r\n\r\n### Using System Prompts *Optional*\r\n\r\n1. Open Settings (\u2699\ufe0f button)\r\n2. Go to General tab\r\n3. Enter instructions.\r\n\r\n### Attaching Files *[Beta]*\r\n\r\n1. Click the \ud83d\udcce Attach button\r\n2. Select image or text file\r\n3. Multiple files are supported\r\n\r\n### Conversation Branching *[Alpha]*\r\n\r\n1. Start a conversation with Claude\r\n2. Click \ud83c\udf3f Branch button\r\n3. Create \"Alternative approach\" branch\r\n4. Continue conversation in new direction\r\n5. Switch between branches anytime\r\n\r\n\r\n## API Costs\r\n\r\n**\u26a0\ufe0f IMPORTANT COST DISCLAIMER \u26a0\ufe0f**\r\n\r\nThe client displays estimated costs based on September 2025 Anthropic pricing **for reference only**. These values are:\r\n- **NOT AUTHORITATIVE** - Always refer to your Anthropic Console for actual billing\r\n- **ESTIMATES ONLY** - Actual costs may vary significantly\r\n- **SUBJECT TO CHANGE** - Anthropic may update pricing at any time\r\n- **NOT GUARANTEED ACCURATE** - Token counting is approximate\r\n\r\n**YOU ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING YOUR ACTUAL API USAGE AND COSTS.** Always set spending limits in your Anthropic Console.\r\n\r\n================= ==================== ======================\r\nModel Input (per 1M tokens) Output (per 1M tokens)\r\n================= ==================== ======================\r\nClaude Opus 4.1/4.0 $15.00 $75.00\r\nClaude Sonnet 4/3.7 $3.00 $15.00\r\nClaude Haiku 3.5 $0.80 $4.00\r\n================= ==================== ======================\r\n\r\n## Keyboard Shortcuts\r\n\r\n**Messaging:**\r\n\r\n* `Ctrl+Enter`: Send message\r\n* `Escape`: Abort current request\r\n\r\n**Conversation Management:**\r\n\r\n* `Ctrl+N`: Start new conversation\r\n* `Ctrl+S`: Save current conversation\r\n* `Ctrl+H`: Open conversation history\r\n* `Ctrl+L`: Clear current chat\r\n\r\n**Interface:**\r\n\r\n* `Ctrl+,`: Open Settings dialog\r\n* `Ctrl+D`: Toggle dark/light theme\r\n* `F1`: Show help dialog\r\n\r\n**File Operations:**\r\n\r\n* `Ctrl+E`: Export conversation\r\n\r\n## License\r\n\r\nThis project is licensed under the MIT License - see the [LICENSE](LICENSE) file for details.\r\n\r\n## Acknowledgments\r\n\r\n* Built with [Anthropic's Claude API](https://docs.anthropic.com/)\r\n* GUI framework: [tkinter](https://docs.python.org/3/library/tkinter.html)\r\n* HTTP client: [requests](https://requests.readthedocs.io/)\r\n\r\n## Author\r\n\r\n**Anthony Maio** (anthony.maio@gmail.com)\r\n\r\nPassionate about AI/ML, software engineering, culture and leadership.\r\n\r\nFollow or find me on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-maio) - Open to work!\r\n*Currently seeking opportunities in AI/ML engineering full-time US Remote*\r\n\r\n## Privacy & Data Handling\r\n\r\n**\ud83d\udd12 YOUR DATA STAYS ON YOUR DEVICE \ud83d\udd12**\r\n\r\n- **No Data Collection**: This application does NOT collect, transmit, or store any of your conversations, API keys, or personal data on external servers\r\n- **Local Storage Only**: All data (conversations, settings, API keys) is stored locally on your device in platform-appropriate directories\r\n- **Direct API Communication**: The app communicates directly with Anthropic's API - no intermediary servers\r\n- **Open Source**: Full source code is available for inspection - verify our privacy claims yourself\r\n- **No Analytics**: No usage tracking, telemetry, or analytics are collected\r\n- **No Network Requests**: Except to Anthropic's official API endpoints for chat functionality\r\n\r\n**Your privacy is paramount. This tool is designed to be a secure, private interface to Claude API.**\r\n\r\n## Important Disclaimers\r\n\r\n**\u26a0\ufe0f LEGAL DISCLAIMERS \u26a0\ufe0f**\r\n\r\n- **Independent Project**: This software is NOT affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Anthropic in any way\r\n- **No Warranty**: This software is provided \"AS IS\" without warranty of any kind, express or implied\r\n- **User Responsibility**: You are solely responsible for your API usage, costs, and compliance with Anthropic's terms of service\r\n- **Cost Estimates**: All cost calculations are estimates only and may be inaccurate - always monitor actual usage in your Anthropic Console\r\n- **API Compliance**: Users must comply with all Anthropic usage policies and terms of service\r\n- **Use at Your Own Risk**: The developers are not liable for any damages, costs, or issues arising from use of this software\r\n\r\n## Support\r\n\r\nSupport is limited and generally submitted through Github in the issues section.\r\nIf you find this tool useful, please consider:\r\n\r\n* Starring the repository\r\n* Contributing improvements\r\n\r\n---\r\n\r\n**Note**: This is an independent project and is not affiliated with Anthropic. Always ensure you comply with Anthropic's [usage policies](https://www.anthropic.com/legal/aup) when using the API.\r\n",
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