Someone Build a OS for Claude Code

A developer created ClaudiOS, a Linux distribution based on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS that boots directly into Claude Code, replacing the traditional desktop interface with an AI agent. The OS provides full system access through Claude, allowing users to install packages, write code, manage files, and browse the internet via a TTY interface. ClaudiOS can be flashed to a USB stick for portable use and includes features like USB persistence, passwordless sudo, and an escape hatch to bash.

What if your entire OS was just Claude Code? A Linux distro that boots straight into Claude Code https://claude.ai/code . No desktop. No window manager. Just a TTY and an AI agent with full system access. Built on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. If Claude Code can install packages, write and run code, manage files, browse the internet, and operate your entire machine — what do you need a desktop for? ClaudiOS takes this idea to its logical conclusion: the operating system gets out of the way and Claude becomes the interface. You boot, you log in, and you're talking to Claude. That's it. Flash it to a USB stick, boot any x86 64 machine, and you have a portable AI workstation. sudo apt install live-build curl gnupg grub-pc-bin xorriso sudo ./build.sh sudo ./flash.sh /dev/sdX Replace /dev/sdX with your USB device lsblk to find it . The script writes the ISO and creates the persistence partition automatically — the USB is ready to use from the first boot. Manual flash without persistence sudo umount /dev/sdX sudo dd if=live-image-amd64.hybrid.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress If you flash manually, the persistence partition will be created automatically on first boot instead. Log in with claudios / claudios and you're in Claude Code. BIOS/UEFI → GRUB → Linux → TTY login └─ user: claudios / password: claudios └─ claudios-shell login shell ├─ if claude missing auto-install via npm └─ Claude Code in loop └─ Ctrl+C 3s → escape to bash claudios-shell is the user's actual login shell — set in /etc/passwd , not a .bashrc hack. It launches Claude Code in a loop. If Claude exits, you're prompted to restart or drop to bash. Zero-config boot — log in and you're in Claude Code, ready to work USB persistence — first boot auto-creates a persistence partition; your auth, config, and session history survive reboots Escape hatch — hold Ctrl+C for 3 seconds at startup to drop to a standard bash shell Auto-install — if claude isn't found in PATH, it's installed automatically via npm Built-in slash commands — /reboot reboots the system, /shut-down exits back to the shell Passwordless sudo — for system operations Claude needs reboot, package install ~1 GB ISO — boots in under a minute on most hardware No need to flash a USB to try it: sudo apt install qemu-system-x86 ./test.sh Already flashed a USB? You can boot it in QEMU too: sudo qemu-system-x86 64 \ -drive file=/dev/sdX,format=raw \ -m 4G \ -enable-kvm \ -cpu host \ -device virtio-vga \ -display gtk Replace /dev/sdX with your USB device lsblk to find it . The ISO boots in BIOS/Legacy mode. Tip:To log in to your Claude account from your PC terminal so you can copy and paste the auth URL easily , boot with -nographic instead: sudo qemu-system-x86 64 \ -drive file=/dev/sda,format=raw \ -m 4G \ -enable-kvm \ -cpu host \ -nographic \ -serial mon:stdio - Linux system with live-build curl , gnupg , grub-pc-bin , xorriso - Internet connection - ~10 GB free disk space auto/config — passes flags to lb config Ubuntu Noble, amd64, GRUB bootloader config/package-lists/claudios.list.chroot — packages installed in the image config/hooks/live/ .hook.chroot — chroot scripts locale, Node.js, Claude Code, user creation config/includes.chroot/ — files copied verbatim into the filesystem sudo ./clean.sh To also remove the package cache forces a full re-download on next build : sudo ./clean.sh && sudo rm -rf cache/ claudios/ ├── build.sh Main build script requires sudo ├── flash.sh Flashes ISO to USB with persistence ├── clean.sh Removes build artifacts ├── test.sh Launches the ISO in QEMU ├── auto/ │ ├── config live-build configuration │ ├── build Wrapper for lb build │ └── clean Wrapper for lb clean └── config/ ├── archives/ Additional apt repositories NodeSource ├── package-lists/ Packages to install in the ISO ├── hooks/live/ Scripts that run inside the build chroot │ ├── 0050-locale-timezone.hook.chroot │ ├── 0100-install-nodejs.hook.chroot │ ├── 0200-install-claude-code.hook.chroot │ ├── 0300-create-user.hook.chroot │ └── 0350-enable-persist.hook.chroot └── includes.chroot/ Files copied directly into the filesystem ├── etc/motd ├── etc/shells ├── etc/sudoers.d/claudios ├── etc/systemd/system/ │ └── claudios-persist.service ├── home/claudios/.claude/commands/ │ ├── reboot.md /reboot slash command │ └── shut-down.md /shut-down slash command └── usr/local/bin/ ├── claudios-shell Primary login shell └── claudios-persist Auto-persistence setup script If claudios-shell fails and you lose access: From GRUB : edit the kernel line and append init=/bin/bash From TTY : the claudios user has sudo — use chsh to change the shell | Field | Value | |---|---| | Username | claudios | | Password | claudios | | API key | managed by Claude Code |