Claude Desktop Buddy

Anthropic’s open source AI desktop pet hardware project visualizes the Claude Code approval process

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https://github.com/anthropics/claude-desktop-buddy/

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Claude Desktop Buddy is an AI desktop pet hardware project open sourced by Anthropic on April 17, 2026. Just connect the M5StickC Plus development board produced by Shenzhen M5Stack to your computer via Bluetooth, and it can become your "electronic pet", displaying the working status of Claude AI in real time, and allowing you to approve or reject sensitive operations with one click. This project transformed the boring AI programming approval process into a fun desktop pet interaction. It quickly became popular due to its open source, minimalist deployment and fun interaction characteristics, becoming a benchmark case for the combination of AI Agent and hardware.
Claude Desktop Buddy is an open source hardware project started by Anthropic engineer Felix Rieseberg. The project has been officially open sourced on GitHub, and its core hardware partners include Shenzhen company M5Stack (Mingzhen Technology) and Shanghai Espressif Technology. M5Stack is a Shenzhen company specializing in modular hardware, and its products are well-known in the global developer community. Claude Code is Anthropic's AI programming tool that can autonomously perform tasks such as opening files, running tests, and submitting code. But when it comes to sensitive operations, the system will hang waiting for user authorization. The emergence of Claude Desktop Buddy solves the cumbersome process of frequently clicking the keyboard or mouse for approval, allowing users to intuitively conduct operation approval through hardware devices.
The core function of Claude Desktop Buddy is to connect to the computer via BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) and display Claude's working status in real time. It has 18 built-in animated images that can visually display the working status of AI. When Claude Code initiates an operation that requires approval, the desktop pet will light up, and the user can approve or reject it with one click by pressing the development board button. In addition, it can also be used to display notifications, scheduled reminders and other auxiliary functions. The device responds quickly, has a stable connection, and currently supports macOS and Windows systems.
The official reference hardware used by Claude Desktop Buddy is the M5Stack M5StickC Plus, a palm-sized ESP32 development board with a 1.14-inch TFT display, IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit), PMU (Power Management Unit), and a 400mAh battery. The ESP32 chip comes from Shanghai Espressif Technology and is a local chip in China. The device weighs only 26 grams and is compact enough to be used directly on a desktop. Developers can assemble the hardware in 10 minutes without complex soldering.
Claude Desktop Buddy is an open source project and the code is completely free. Users need to bring their own or purchase M5StickC Plus hardware (within about 100 yuan) to start using it. Anthropic's official recommended hardware is the M5Stack M5StickC Plus, but other ESP32-compatible devices can also be used. Users can also 3D print the casing themselves.
Claude Desktop Buddy quickly became popular among the developer community. Many say the desktop pet makes AI programming approvals more fun. Some developers said that after using this device, the frequency of code approval has increased significantly, "like having a real pet." Some developers also put forward suggestions for improvement, such as adding more animated images and supporting more approval types.
The release of Claude Desktop Buddy reflects the new trend of combining AI and hardware. With the improvement of large language model capabilities, AI Agents are entering more physical world scenarios. The open source nature of the project also allows more hardware developers to participate and promote the integration and innovation of AI and hardware. M5Stack has also gained more attention as a core hardware supplier. The products of Mingzhen Technology (a subsidiary of Espressif Systems) are officially recommended by Anthropic, which also reflects the influence of Shenzhen Hardware in the global developer community.
As an open source hardware project, the security of Claude Desktop Buddy needs to be evaluated by users themselves. Users should understand the security risks of BLE connections before using it. In addition, the device’s battery life and long-term stability are also potential issues.
It is suitable for developers who use Claude Code for AI programming, makers and geeks who are interested in AI hardware, and users who want to make programming work more interesting.
Claude Desktop Buddy is an open source project that hardware-based Claude AI programming approval process. It quickly became popular due to its fun interactions and open source features. It represents a new direction in the combination of AI and hardware, and has exemplary significance in promoting the application of AI Agent in the physical world.

User Reviews

JohnnyBellSr95

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Too strong! Ready in 10 minutes!

BAdams_77

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yyds！

JacobWright_88

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Looking forward to the official version release

梅花579

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Open source projects are great, and the quality made in Shenzhen is also good.

GEgre

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Stable connection and fast response

Philip.Henderson_20244

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Finally, I no longer have to click on the keyboard frequently.

MsInmaculadaRomero_x

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ESP32 chip performance is sufficient

Jason.Hughes36921

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Desktop pets make programming more fun

PatriciaStewart_X

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Anthropic’s operation is so awesome

Sarah_Baker_Pro

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Full marks for creativity

Alexander_Ramirez_Pro85

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Espressif Technology has also been caught on fire

VirginiaRuiz_667

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It is recommended to add Chinese voice feedback

KFoster

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M5StickC Plus is really convenient

AliceBanks

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Hope to support more development boards

SPwil

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Shenzhen Hardware YYDS

Maria_Gonzales_77

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Make your own 3D printed shell and be satisfied

Maria638

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Open source changes the world

Sophia.Stephens_20235

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Support open source! Wish there were more animations

LTurner_Plus

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I feel like this will be the next Raspberry Pi-level hit

Claude Desktop Buddy

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