Claude Code desktop and web

Reproducible practice

Run one disposable desktop session with a reviewable filesystem boundary

Prove repository selection, change isolation, evidence review, and cleanup before using parallel or remote desktop workflows.

Prerequisites

• Claude Desktop on a supported OS and an authorized account.
• A trusted repository with a clean baseline and no production secrets.
• A disposable branch or worktree and one targeted verification command.

Steps

1. Create the isolation boundary

   Use normal git tooling before opening Desktop so the baseline remains independently verifiable.

   git status --short
   git switch -c desktop-lab

2. Open the exact repository

   Confirm displayed path, provider, permission mode, and session type before sending a task.

3. Request one bounded change

   Require the same test command and diff evidence used outside Desktop; GUI behavior was not tested in this audit.

4. Review outside the app

   Inspect status, diff, and tests in a trusted terminal before keeping or sharing the session.

   git status --short
   git diff --check
   git diff --stat

Expected result

The session affects only the disposable branch or worktree, produces a reviewable diff, and passes the named external verification command.

Validation

• Compare repository path and branch inside and outside Desktop.
• Inspect every changed file with git.
• Confirm session sharing, connectors, and remote access remain off unless explicitly required.

Failure handling

Cleanup or rollback

• Close the session, inspect the diff, then delete only the disposable branch or worktree through normal git review.
• Revoke connectors or remote access enabled solely for the exercise.

Boundaries and when not to use it

• Desktop and CLI differ in providers, connectors, plugins, and authentication behavior; validate the active surface.
• Parallel sessions can still conflict when they share files or external systems; use worktrees and scoped credentials.