The Three Faces of Claude: Web, Desktop, CLI
Discover the three access methods for Claude: The browser interface for quick questions, the desktop app for context-based work, and the terminal CLI for real automation. The closer to the system, the more powerful the possibilities.
Overview: The Three Faces of Claude
Claude is not just a chat tool. Depending on how you access Claude, different possibilities open up. Think of Claude as an AI buddy you can meet in different ways:
Like a hotel room – comfortable, but you can't rearrange the furniture. Perfect for quick questions, idea collection, and chatting.
Your own apartment – closer to your computer. Ideal for planning, research, and writing with local context.
Your own workshop – real work happens here. For coding, automation, and individual workflows.
Takeaway
Web = quick questions, Desktop = working with context, CLI = real automation. The closer to the system, the more powerful.
Claude Web: The Convenient Standard
Claude.ai on the web is probably the best-known access method. You log in and chat in the browser like with ChatGPT.
Advantages
No setup, immediately available on any device with internet. Perfect for quickly trying out an idea or generating text. The interface is simple: your previous chats (threads) on the left, the chat history on the right.
Limitations
The browser sandbox gives Claude little room for actions on your computer. File uploads are limited, and Claude Web cannot access your file system – for security reasons. Integrations with other apps are also limited (you can control some tools via connectors and MCPs, but it's cumbersome).
Think of our hotel room: comfortable, but you can't rearrange the furniture. For simple Q&As and content generation, that's fine. But as soon as you want to integrate Claude as an active assistant into your work (e.g., searching folders, changing files), you hit limits with the web interface.
Use Cases for Claude Web
- Brainstorming content ideas and outlines
- Getting quick research questions answered
- Rewriting, translating, summarizing texts
Sure, all of that works great in the browser. But what if you're working on multiple projects in parallel and need separate context for each? Or want Claude to access your local files? That's where Claude Desktop comes in.
Claude Desktop: Your AI Colleague at the Workplace
Claude Desktop is the official desktop app from Anthropic for macOS and Windows. Essentially, it brings the chat from the browser to your computer – with a few extras. Think of it as a collaboration office with Claude, closer to your computer.
What can the Desktop App do?
"Quick Entry" via shortcut, pop up Claude briefly without searching for a browser tab.
Files, screenshots, work materials are often easier to include in practice than in the browser.
Claude Code is now also available in the desktop app, for parallel sessions and even in remote environments depending on setup.
The desktop remains primarily chat-driven; real workflows and automation are only possible to a limited extent.
Claude Code Tab in Claude Desktop: The integration in Claude Desktop is (still) not as powerful as pure CLI use in the terminal. Those used to the full power of Claude Code CLI will miss some features in the desktop app.
Use Cases: Claude Desktop is especially suitable for
- Developing ideas and concepts
- Deep research
- Content production with local materials (notes, screenshots, files)
- Quickly accessible co-worker in the background via shortcut while you continue working normally
In short: Claude Desktop bridges the gap between comfortable browser chat and hardcore terminal automation. For many "tech-interested but not full nerds," this could be the sweet spot.
Understandable, not everyone wants to jump into the terminal right away. Still: The terminal is like a shortcut – once you know it, you always take it.
Claude Code (CLI): Your Own AI Workshop in the Terminal
Welcome to the workshop – now it's getting serious! Claude Code CLI is the most powerful face of Claude – an AI agent in the terminal that lives directly on your computer.
Here, you don't just chat, real work happens: files are created and edited, commands executed, entire projects built – all controlled by your natural language commands.
Sounds crazy? It is. Claude Code CLI (Command Line Interface) feels a bit like having an ultra-diligent AI automation engineer sitting on your computer who does exactly what you say. Except they never get tired, keep getting better, and handle routine jobs without complaint.
What makes Claude Code so special?
The terminal CLI tool runs in the folder where you start it and knows your files there. You say "Create a summary of all TODOs for me" – and Claude writes and saves the file directly. No copy-paste needed.
Skills are like recipes for Claude: write once, use repeatedly. A meeting summary skill automatically extracts key points from transcripts – without you having to explain everything again each time. Skills can be shared and adapted.
Think of agents as team members with specialties. One does only reviews, another only research – and none interrupt each other. You delegate, they deliver, your main chat stays clear.
MCP (Model Context Protocol) is Claude's gateway to external tools: calendar, Google Drive, Slack, GitHub. You decide which door opens and how far. Ready-made connectors are available from Anthropic, OpenAI, and the community – or you let Claude build your own.
CLAUDE.md – Your Onboarding Document
CLAUDE.md is like a briefing for a new employee. Write once, never repeat. Claude automatically reads this file and knows: "This is your project, this is how we work here." Global for general preferences, project-specific for details.
In short: With Claude Code, your AI becomes a configurable tool. You can set behavior, rules, and processes via slash commands (e.g., /help, /plan, /undo) and hooks to match your workflow.
Interim Conclusion
You see, Claude Code is powerful … almost scarily powerful. Our first steps with it were mind-blowing, more on that shortly.
Takeaway: You describe the what, Claude handles the how. Like a Swiss Army knife that also tells you which tool you need.
Why CLI Access is So Powerful – Even Without Tech Background
The biggest concerns of non-techies about CLI: "Do I need to know how to code? That's terminal stuff!" We absolutely understand these concerns, we felt the same way.
But here's the surprise: Precisely because you don't understand Python or Bash, the terminal can be worth its weight in gold. Why?
In web or desktop, you might write: "Claude, create a list of all image files in my folder." Claude would reply: "I can't search your folder in the web version." In the terminal, you could say: "List all PNGs in the images folder and move them to a new Screenshots folder." – Claude Code has permission (if you say yes) and executes this task directly.
Our absolute favorite use case is a personal second brain, local and smart! With Obsidian + Claude Code, you completely replace Evernote, Notion & Co. Your notes belong to you, Claude helps organize, finds connections, reminds you of things – and best of all: No vendor lock-in, Markdown stays forever.
You ask "Why did you do X?" and Claude gives you context. It's like a patient teacher who explains while doing. You'll be amazed at how much you learn incidentally.
In the desktop/web world, you'd often have to go back and forth in multiple rounds for complex tasks. In the terminal, you can have multi-step workflows at the push of a button with skills/agents. Instead of chat ping-pong ("research this", "now write draft", copy-paste into Word...) skills automate complete pipelines.
5. No Distractions, Pure Productivity
Terminal also means: Focus! No GIFs, no likes, no UI frills. Some say it feels zen-like to work with Claude in the terminal. You're less likely to fall into "just quickly check emails" or cat videos because you stay in your session. You have to get your dopamine elsewhere, for example from completed tasks.
Our Tip: Give the terminal a chance! The entry barrier is lower than you think. And the reward is a real productivity turbo.
Takeaway
Terminal fear? Unfounded. You talk, Claude acts. End of story.
Quickstart: Your First Journey with Claude Code CLI
Enough theory – now it's practical. How do you actually start? We'll guide you step by step through the setup; it's simpler than you think.
Install Claude Code
For Mac & Linux, there's a simple command in the terminal – just open Terminal in your apps and run this command:
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
Windows? Open PowerShell and:
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex
After the command, claude is available as a command. That means: As soon as you type the magic word "claude", you're off!
Login on First Start
Navigate to a folder of your choice (e.g., create ClaudeTest on your desktop) and type claude. Now a login link opens in the terminal – you authenticate with your Claude/Anthropic account (paid Claude subscription required – or you use OpenAI Codex/Gemini CLI, more on that below). Then you return to the terminal and you're in.
Understand the Interface
You'll probably see a welcome text in Claude Code's terminal window. Like a chat, a prompt waits for your input. Try typing help or /help – Claude Code shows you available commands. You'll notice that besides free instructions, there are these slash commands for special actions.
First Command
Let's test something simple. Type in the CLI:
Create a file I-love-Claude.txt and create an overview for me of what your commands are and how you can support me.
Claude will think, show a kind of plan, and ask if it may create the file. Type y (for Yes). Done, file created. You can now check in Finder if everything worked. Congratulations! Your first AI-controlled file edit.
Takeaway
One command, one login, done. Say what you want, Claude does the rest. Just start, perfection comes later.
Prompt Ideas for Beginners & Advanced Users
To get started, here are some concrete ideas of what you can ask or task Claude Code with – completely without coding knowledge.
For Beginners
"In my Downloads folder there are many PDFs and images. Sort them into subfolders Images and PDFs." Claude asks per file, you can also approve globally.
"In the Surveys folder there are 5 CSV files with feedback. Analyze them and create a Markdown file Insights.md with your conclusion."
"Create a file ideas.txt. I'll give you 5 topics, you make 3 subtopics for each. Topic 1: AI in Marketing, Topic 2: …"
"Analyze my Desktop folder: file types, thematic clusters, duplicates/similar names. Suggest a clean structure with 5–8 main folders + subfolders (including naming rules). Show me the plan first. After OK: Create the folders and move the files accordingly."
For Advanced Users
Folders on Autopilot
"Analyze my Desktop OR Downloads folder. Suggest automation rules (e.g., PDFs -> Docs/Incoming, DMG -> Installers, Screenshots -> Images/Screenshots, …). After my OK: Create the target folders, sort the contents, and write downloads_rules.md (rules + example). Optional: Create a Mac Automator Quick Action or a Cronjob/Task Scheduler plan."
Personalized Skill Suggestions
"Help me identify recurring tasks and suggest skills based on them that save me time. For each skill: name, purpose, input, output, risks, test case. Analyze my recent chat sessions (if available) or tell me how I can provide you with my chat export/logs. After my OK: Create the skill folders + SKILL.md and suggest a 5-minute test per skill."
Takeaway
Think in tasks, not commands. The rest is conversation with consequences.
Practice Examples: AI Automation in Real Life
Such prompts are of course just the beginning of larger projects. What does it look like when you actually use Claude Code in practice?
Many of us collect knowledge in chaotic folder structures. With Claude Code, you bring it to life. You ask "What topics keep appearing in my meeting notes?" Claude searches all files and creates a list. Very cumbersome in web chat, doable in the terminal with one prompt. And with the CLAUDE.md file, you control which context is always included (e.g., "Note our company guidelines"). Knowledge management at its best, local and secure.
Imagine you're writing a blog, newsletter, book, whatever. You collect ideas in Obsidian as Markdown files. Normally: go through everything, structure, pick highlights. For us, it runs automatically: browser extension click → page saved as Markdown → Claude creates summary and moves file to the right place. Multiple notes on the same topic? Claude links them automatically. Your knowledge base works for you, a real second brain!
Emails are a curse and a blessing. With Claude Code + MCP, you can automatically categorize, prioritize, and write emails into Markdown lists (keyword: build relevant context). An autonomous agent can check your inbox hourly, filter spam, tag important emails, and optionally create reply drafts. Or: You come out of a meeting, open your inbox, look at the automatically prepared protocol with TODOs and just click send. The setup takes some configuration, but it's absolutely doable.
We could list dozens more examples. What's important: These are no longer demos. This is our daily work! The only limits? Your imagination.
Takeaway
Knowledge Base, Content Pipeline, Email Automation – this is productive daily work, not a demo.
Safety First: How Claude Code Protects You (and You Tame It)
A question that immediately comes to mind with such topics: "But the AI can view, delete, or even execute code on my files – is that safe?" That's a valid point, but there are multiple levels of security.
Claude Code operates only in the start folder (and subfolders). Your system directory remains off-limits unless you explicitly navigate there. Tip: Create a separate project folder for experiments.
By default, Claude always asks for permission before changing files or executing commands. You give your consent with y (yes) or n (no). This can be annoying sometimes, but it's a vital safety net. Advanced users use the auto-approve "YOLO" mode (You Only Live Once), but that needs to be learned.
The built-in time machine! Claude creates checkpoints before changing files. With /rewind (or double Esc), you rewind. AI changes to your files are tracked and versioned. Note: Bash command changes are NOT tracked! We've instructed Claude to always make a backup of everything.
Git is your time machine for files – you save "snapshots" (commits) and jump back if needed. GitHub.com is the cloud version for backup, but Git also works completely offline if your data should never leave the computer. In both cases, Claude can manage it for you: create branches, commit, push.
Clear Boundaries Through Skills/Tools
You decide what's allowed. Gmail read-only? No problem. No internet access without web-search skill? Standard. Claude doesn't pull data it shouldn't.
Anthropic's AI Constitution: In the background, Anthropic's security principles (Constitutional AI) apply. Claude won't suggest dangerous actions, and that's good.
Summa summarum: Claude Code CLI is powerful, but not uncontrollable. With approval prompts and rewind, you have a good feeling of "I have my finger on the red button." Of course, a healthy dose of attention never hurts – trust is good, control is better …
Takeaway
Claude asks for permission, with /rewind you rewind.
Claude vs. Codex vs. Gemini: What Can the Others Do and What Works Without Subscription?
Claude is not the only assistant in the terminal. Both OpenAI and Google have followed suit. And all three are extremely similar in concept – each just has its own personality with certain characteristics.
Claude Code's sibling. Open-source, works with GPT models, can read/edit/execute files. We use both in parallel. The advantage: Included in ChatGPT Plus/Pro, no extra subscription needed. If you already have a paid ChatGPT account and just want to try it out, this is the cheapest entry point. Installation is simple, then just type "codex" in the terminal.
npm i -g @openai/codex
Google goes all out: up to 1 million tokens of context! You can start with a Google account and have a certain free quota. This lowers the barrier enormously – you don't even need a credit card to experience AI in the terminal. Only catch: Prompts can be used for training (opt-out possible). After installation, you start it with "gemini".
npm install -g @google/gemini-cli
The decision is simple: What do you already have? Claude Pro/Max from $20/month, ChatGPT Plus $20/month, Gemini free to try. All three want the same thing: make you more productive.
Note: For Codex and Gemini CLI, you need Node.js. If it's not installed yet, just download and install the LTS version from nodejs.org.
Useful Links, Resources & Community
You're hooked and want to dive deeper? Then come to us in the AI Automation Experts Community or dive into the following resources:
Official Docs & Repos
Read the Claude Code docs for an overview and details on commands, hooks, etc. The source code itself is on GitHub. That's exciting if you want to look under the hood. Similarly, there's the OpenAI Codex CLI docs and the Codex GitHub repo (for the techies).
Awesome Claude
The Claude community is super active. Check out awesomeclaude.ai. It's a curated resource collection with guides, skills, agents & co. There you'll find, for example, skill lists with hundreds of ready-made skills (from PDF analysis to Twitter bot) and agents to quickly upgrade your terminal.
Anthropic Discord & Forums
Anthropic hosts an official developer Discord. Here, Claude Code users exchange ideas, help with problems, share cool projects. Reddit also has an active r/ClaudeCode where we've gathered some insights.
YouTube & Blogs
There are great video tutorials, e.g., from Anthropic itself (Claude Code Video Tutorials) and from many users who explain tricks like Plan Mode or Thinking Levels. Of course, we're also working on structuring experiences and tips for our AI Automation Community.
Conclusion: Find Your Ideal Claude Workflow
Now that we know what Claude Web, Desktop, and Claude Code can do, you might be asking yourself: What suits whom? And especially, what does CLI access bring me concretely as a tech-savvy office worker, content creator, consultant, or automator?
Key Takeaways
- Claude Web: Perfect for quick questions and idea collection. No setup needed, immediately available.
- Claude Desktop: Ideal for context-based work with local files. The bridge between browser and terminal.
- Claude Code CLI: The most powerful option for real automation. Skills, agents, and MCP open unlimited possibilities.
- Terminal fear is unfounded: You don't need to know how to program. You describe the what, Claude handles the how.
- Security: Multiple security layers protect your files. You maintain full control.
The three faces of Claude offer you different access methods, depending on what you want to achieve. From comfortable browser chat to hardcore terminal automation – find your sweet spot and use Claude where it makes the most sense for you.
Whether you start with Claude Web or jump straight into the terminal: The most important insight is that you now have three powerful tools at your disposal to work more productively. Try it out, experiment, and find your ideal workflow.