LCU

Overview

LCU exposes Codex's original computer-use runtime to agent harnesses without requiring Codex authentication. The official ChatGPT desktop app remains installed locally and supplies the runtime and instructions, while LCU handles setup and harness integration for Claude Code, Codex CLI, Pi, or custom clients.

Key Features

• Reads and controls desktop app windows: read windows, click, type, and take screenshots.
• Provides opt-in Chrome tab control through the official extension, with site approval.
• Works with Claude Code, Codex CLI, and Pi, and offers a shared JavaScript client for other harnesses.
• Uses the original runtime and byte-identical instructions from the installed ChatGPT desktop app, preserving original approval prompts.
• Supports Apple Silicon macOS and Linux on ARM64 or x86-64.
• Includes native app approval handling in Claude Code and macOS commands to list, allow, or revoke always-allowed apps.

Use Cases

• Letting an agent read a Calendar window, type a note into TextEdit, save it, and open a repository in Chrome.
• Adding computer-use capabilities to an existing Claude Code, Codex CLI, or Pi workflow.
• Running controlled Chrome tab operations only after enabling the official extension and approving sites.
• Managing per-app approvals on macOS from the terminal without opening the Codex app.

Getting Started

• Copy the installation prompt into your agent; it checks OS, architecture, and prerequisites, installs the latest release, and guides required permissions.
• Restart the harness, ask it to use LCU to take a screenshot of a harmless window, and approve the request as a first check.
• For manual installation, download the archive and matching checksum file for the machine, verify the checksum, extract it, and follow the installation guide.
• On Apple Silicon macOS with Claude Code, add the LCU plugin marketplace and install lcu through the plugin manager.

Deployment & Requirements

• Install the official ChatGPT desktop app first; it supplies the runtime and instructions, and LCU does not install it.
• Install and sign in to a supported harness such as Claude Code, Codex CLI, or Pi.
• For Codex CLI, update before setup to get the required mcp_tool hook support.
• On Apple Silicon macOS, approve Accessibility and Screen Recording permissions on first use.
• On Linux ARM64 or x86-64, use an Ubuntu 24.04-compatible glibc system with an active X11 desktop and D-Bus.

Before You Adopt

• License: MIT. Review its terms before using, modifying, or distributing the project.