The desktop app, with local tools switched on
A starting mandate for desktop: I want it to read and write the files I point it at, and to reach the sites it needs to answer me. I did not turn it on so that it could run…
Source: https://what-can-it-do.games.sgit.ai/map/mandates/desktop-app-with-local-tools/index.html↗ · site v0.8.0 · this file is generated from the same content
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The desktop app, with local tools switched on
I want it to read and write the files I point it at, and to reach the sites it needs to answer me. I did not turn it on so that it could run programs on my machine, read credentials, act in my accounts, read my past sessions, or change its own settings.
Status: starting-point · authored 2026-09-09 · the site, as a starting point — not measured, not surveyed; the first thing to argue with · edit this mandate ↗
The delta
Against every profile this mandate applies to. ▲ is authority you did not ask for; ▼ is something you were counting on that is not there. The tally is at the bottom.
Legend: ▲ excess — it can, and you did not want it to · ▼ shortfall — it cannot, and you wanted it to · ✓ aligned — it can, and you wanted it to · – aligned — it cannot, and you did not want it to · ? it can, and the mandate does not say · · it cannot, and the mandate does not say
| Capability | Claude Desktop (local tools) |
|---|---|
| filesystem | |
| Read the project it is working on | ✓ |
| Change the project it is working on | ✓ |
| Read any file the account can reach — unstated: ‘the files I point it at’ and ‘any file my account can read’ are different things, and which one the local-tools grant actually is depends on the setup | ? |
| Change any file the account can reach | ▲ |
| Delete files anywhere the account can reach | · |
| Read a retained record: shell history, past sessions | ▲ |
| process | |
| Run programs as the account | ▲ |
| Run programs inside its own sandbox only | · |
| network | |
| Reach a permitted list of hosts | ▼ |
| Reach any host on the internet | ? |
| identity | |
| Read credentials stored where it runs | ▲ |
| Act in accounts with the credentials it holds | ▲ |
| Change its own permission settings | ▲ |
| communication | |
| Send a message to anyone | · |
| Read mail or chat it is connected to | · |
| code | |
| Commit to the repository it was pointed at | · |
| Push to a code host (any branch it can reach) | · |
| Sign commits with the key it holds | · |
| Publish packages, images or pages under the name it holds | · |
| money | |
| Spend money or tokens against an account it holds | · |
| schedule | |
| Create something that outlives the turn where it runs (a cron, a service) | · |
| Create something that outlives the session, on the platform (a routine, a scheduled trigger, a new session) | · |
| browser | |
| Read every page you visit | · |
| The delta | ▲ 6 · ▼ 1 |
In words
- Claude Desktop — local tools: excess — Change any file the account can reach; Run programs as the account; Read credentials stored where it runs; Act in accounts with the credentials it holds; Change its own permission settings; Read a retained record: shell history, past sessions. Shortfall — Reach a permitted list of hosts.
The mandate, row by row
| Capability | Position | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Read the project it is working on↗ | want | |
| Change the project it is working on↗ | want | |
| Reach a permitted list of hosts↗ | want | |
| Run programs as the account↗ | do not want | |
| Read credentials stored where it runs↗ | do not want | |
| Act in accounts with the credentials it holds↗ | do not want | |
| Change its own permission settings↗ | do not want | |
| Read a retained record: shell history, past sessions↗ | do not want | |
| Change any file the account can reach↗ | do not want | |
| Read any file the account can reach↗ | unstated | unstated: ‘the files I point it at’ and ‘any file my account can read’ are different things, and which one the local-tools grant actually is depends on the setup |
You cannot deny the excess rows. The agent already has the access. What is left is how long you are prepared to live with each one and who says so — what to do next↗.