plugin

desktop-commander — Claude Code plugin: what it does, how to install

Q: How to install desktop-commander in Claude Code?

First add the catalog by running `/plugin marketplace add anthropics/claude-plugins-official`, then run `/plugin install desktop-commander@claude-plugins-official`.

Q: What skills are included with the plugin?

It provides `terminal`, `computer-health-check`, `ai-tools-setup`, `knowledge-base`, `obsidian-vault`, and `desktop-commander-overview`.

Connects Claude Code to a local MCP server for persistent shells, process management, document analysis, and Obsidian vault maintenance.

Install into Claude Code · Plugin marketplace All methods and platforms ↓

/plugin install desktop-commander@claude-plugins-official
/plugin marketplace add anthropics/claude-plugins-community
/plugin install desktop-commander@claude-community
/plugin marketplace add anthropics/claude-plugins-official

Open on GitHub

What desktop-commander does

The plugin bundles a local MCP server launched via npx -y @wonderwhy-er/desktop-commander@latest alongside specialized skills for workstation management. Claude Code gains persistent terminal shells, Windows PowerShell support, remote SSH sessions, port inspection, and process monitoring.

Additional skills handle read-only system health checks across CPU, memory, and disk, as well as configuration for claude_desktop_config.json and mcp.json. The package processes structured documents like PDF, DOCX, Excel, and large CSV files directly. Vector databases are not required.

Running the underlying server requires a working Node.js environment with npx.

What it helps with

maintain persistent terminal shells and SSH connections
inspect system health across CPU, RAM, and disk storage
configure MCP servers in claude_desktop_config.json and mcp.json
extract data from PDF, DOCX, Excel, and large CSV files
organize Obsidian notes with MOCs, properties, and wikilinks

Example prompts for the agent

Run a computer health check on CPU and disk usage
Establish an SSH session to inspect active listening ports
Organize orphan notes and update MOCs in my Obsidian vault

How to install desktop-commander

Plugin marketplace

/plugin install desktop-commander@claude-plugins-official

/plugin marketplace add anthropics/claude-plugins-community

/plugin install desktop-commander@claude-community

/plugin marketplace add anthropics/claude-plugins-official

Step by step, with commands for each platform: Claude Code plugins: marketplaces, installing, and building your own

Questions about desktop-commander

How to install desktop-commander in Claude Code?

First add the catalog by running /plugin marketplace add anthropics/claude-plugins-official, then run /plugin install desktop-commander@claude-plugins-official.

What does desktop-commander do?

It gives Claude Code access to a local MCP server for terminal management, SSH, system diagnostics, document parsing, and AI tool configurations.

What skills are included with the plugin?

It provides terminal, computer-health-check, ai-tools-setup, knowledge-base, obsidian-vault, and desktop-commander-overview.

Source text

claude · MIT

# Desktop Commander Claude Code Plugin

Desktop Commander gives Claude Code access to a local MCP server for terminal sessions, filesystem work, structured documents, search, process management, and SSH workflows — plus a set of skills that steer the agent toward those capabilities for common tasks.

## Components

- MCP server: `desktop-commander`, installed with `npx -y @wonderwhy-er/desktop-commander@latest`.
- Skill: `desktop-commander-overview` — explains when to use Desktop Commander MCP tools and how common workflows compose.
- Skill: `terminal` — persistent shells/REPLs, SSH, Windows PowerShell, process/port inspection, and saving recurring workflows as scripts.
- Skill: `computer-health-check` — read-only system health check (CPU, memory, disk, battery, startup) with safe, opt-in cleanups.
- Skill: `ai-tools-setup` — install, configure, and repair Claude Desktop, MCP servers, and local AI tooling (mcp.json / claude_desktop_config.json).
- Skill: `knowledge-base` — build and maintain a Markdown knowledge base any AI agent can navigate without a vector database.
- Skill: `obsidian-vault` — organize Obsidian vaults: MOCs, wikilinks, properties, Dataview/Bases dashboards, and orphan/link cleanup.

## Usage

Install the plugin in Claude Code, then ask Claude to use Desktop Commander when it needs persistent shells, long-running processes, local file reads, Excel/DOCX/PDF handling, large CSV analysis, remote SSH sessions, a system health check, AI-tooling setup, or knowledge-base/Obsidian organization.

For full project documentation, see the repository README.

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