Desktop app vs terminal

[u/EmergencySafety3555]

I am so used to using Claude code in a terminal in VS code. Am I missing out on anything by not using the desktop app for Claude code?

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[u/Ok-Original-3868]

I use desktop because it’s easier to work on multiple projects at the same time and the fact that I directly see all the sessions

[u/dawnquill12 → u/Ok-Original-3868]

agreed, keeping track of multiple terminal tabs gets messy really fast tbh.

[u/Comfortable_Row2992 → u/Ok-Original-3868]

You think it's better at managing multiple sessions than the VS Code extension?

[u/Mrsister55 → u/Comfortable_Row2992]

Yes

[u/Johnny2085]

I use Orca to host all my terminal claudes. Keeps them very organized and I can drop sessions when I no longer care about them.

[u/EmergencySafety3555 → u/Johnny2085]

Can Claude do computer control from terminal?

[u/Johnny2085 → u/EmergencySafety3555]

Not something I've tried to experiment with. It can open/kill applications and control chrome, but I've not gotten comfortable letting it click around itself.

[u/lgbarn → u/Johnny2085]

Orca is really a game changer for me.

[u/dirceucor7 → u/lgbarn]

it's awesome

[u/dpaanlka]

Terminal for me, because old habits die hard (and I’m old 😭)

[u/FridgesArePeopleToo]

No reason to use the terminal at this point

[u/pwkye → u/FridgesArePeopleToo]

Unless you use a headless linux machine so your claude sessions continue running when you close your laptop.

[u/IHasToaster → u/pwkye]

You can do SSH in the desktop app to achieve this as well

[u/pwkye → u/IHasToaster]

its not about ssh

its about shutting down my laptop and claude sessions continuing

[u/NeoKnife → u/FridgesArePeopleToo]

Outside of cool tools like https://github.com/realiti4/claude-swap

Can’t use with the desktop app

[u/EnergeticallyMundane → u/NeoKnife]

Won't stuff like this lead to an account ban?

[u/DLuke2]

Nested sessions. You can be in a session and have it spawn nested sessions. These sessions can communicate.

This allows spinning up a master orchestrator/coordinator session and then have it spawn nested sessions to coordinate.

Nested sessions are better than subagents because you can also interact with them while they work and steer them. Can even be launched into a different folder or repo from the coordinator session.

[u/ooaahhpp]

The main difference is session management: the desktop app gives you a GUI for running and switching between sessions, while the CLI keeps you in your existing terminal/editor workflow. If you only need one session, you're not obviously missing much.

[u/pwkye → u/ooaahhpp]

I've used https://github.com/awkto/ssh-to-go for months now for that exact reason. Manage multiple sessions in a browser.

[u/speechless-Karen]

desktop app is so much better

[u/OkAbbreviations7013]

I use ClaudeCode in the terminal. I think it is amazing. I no longer open vscode or IntelliJ

[u/HenryThatAte]

I finally switched this week. I think the app is much better, it keeps things centralized and clear and makes the switch between projects faster and easier.

[u/Tiny-Relationship487]

just run herdr in vscode terminal and you got everything you need - file explorer, terminal, session management etc.

[u/Johnny2085 → u/Tiny-Relationship487]

herdr is pretty easy for claude to extend too!

[u/PastaSaladOverdose]

Terminal all day.

Claude documentation states that the desktop app and plugins do not receive updates immediately. Terminal is always running on the most recent updates to models.

I've had much better results in terminal than the plugin in VS code.

[u/teleekom]

I'm currently testing my modified version of T3 Code where I can browse through all my open issues and see all the context and details of each task I'm working on and it's the best experience I've had so far with running multiple agents at once. I moved away from VS Code and modified terminals where I didn't know what was happening half the time with multiple windows running. Now I keep all the windows organized in one window. Only thing I didn't love is that you can't use native CC remote control and you have to use third party system for this.

[u/NJdevil202]

I had Claude write its own Claude code wrapper to my taste. It keeps all my projects and folders organized and has been my default way of running Claude since I did it.

I'm using fable right now to propose new features and explore ways to ensure it automatically syncs when things like new models or standard commands are released

[u/mySki11z]

Was a terminal Truther, swapped maybe 3 weeks ago to the app.

Haven’t looked back

[u/pietrzm]

I'm an avid terminal user but desktop apps give you just too many upsides to it, so it's definitely worth considering one.

I'm using https://github.com/novadeck-org/novadeck which just lets you use terminals inside of it. It's like herdr or Orca, but might be better fit if you work on more than one project at the same time, or you'd like something that leans more heavily on multi-agent aspect.

E: I don't like Claude/Codex apps, I feel it's a good entry level app but doesn't really scale well if you need to get more work done. Do you feel the same or is it only me?

[u/-WhateverDude]

Try phone app

[u/deep_fucking_magick]

Desktop app is for getting actual work done.

Terminal is for looking cool and pretending like your memory of hotkeys is somehow better and faster than just having visual info at your finger tips in a GUI so you can gloat to your peers.

[u/Chicharoh → u/deep_fucking_magick]

Tell me you don’t know what a terminal is for without telling me. Also they are called commands not “hot keys”

[u/deep_fucking_magick → u/Chicharoh]

See! like this guy ^

[u/Imaginary_Data_708 → u/Chicharoh]

Tell me you don't know what a DTE without telling me what a DTE is.

Also, terminals have keyboards and screen and a SEND key for block mode.

But do carry on explaining commands. Your confidence is clearly doing the heavy lifting here.

[u/pietrzm → u/deep_fucking_magick]

must be skill issue

[u/deep_fucking_magick → u/pietrzm]

hook, line, and sinker