Gandr, developed by Kyle Undefined for the MCP platform, is a free MCP server tool. It acts as a Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) bridge for Claude Desktop on Windows. Built with TypeScript, Gandr is distributed as pre-built Linux binaries or by compiling from source. It extends Claude Desktop's capabilities by enabling interaction with a Linux environment for code execution and filesystem operations. This tool is essential for developers needing to connect their Windows-based Claude Desktop UI to a WSL backend.

What does Gandr connect to?

Gandr connects Claude Desktop on Windows to Claude Code running within a Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) environment. It routes Model Context Protocol (MCP) tool calls from the Windows client to the Linux backend. Categorized as an MCP server, Gandr ensures communication between the Windows-based Claude Desktop and the Linux-based Claude Code, allowing for integrated operations across platforms. This setup enables Windows users to access Linux functionalities directly through their Claude Desktop interface.

Core features and tools

Gandr exposes several callable tools. One key tool delegates tasks to Claude Code operating inside WSL. Additionally, other tools directly operate on the WSL filesystem, allowing for direct interaction with the Linux environment. The specific names of these callable tools are not explicitly documented. Gandr supports the stdio transport protocol for communication with Claude Desktop, making it compatible with the client and its Claude Code backend in WSL.

Who is it for?

Gandr targets developers using Claude Desktop on Windows who need to execute code and interact with the filesystem within a Linux environment via WSL. This includes those who require their Windows-based Claude Desktop UI to route MCP tool calls to Claude Code in WSL. Skip this if you do not use Claude Desktop on Windows or do not require WSL integration for your development tasks.

How to get started

Access is granted through the existing authentication of Claude Code within the WSL environment. The gandr-weaver wrapper loads the WSL shell environment before executing Gandr, and it uses the stdio transport protocol.

Use cases

• Route MCP tool calls from the Windows-based Claude Desktop UI to Claude Code in WSL.
• Delegate coding tasks to Claude Code running in a WSL environment.
• Perform direct operations on the WSL filesystem through Claude Desktop.

Gandr offers a practical solution for integrating Claude Desktop on Windows with a WSL Linux environment. It enables developers to execute code and manage files within WSL directly from their Windows-based Claude Desktop. The tool relies on existing Claude Code authentication in WSL, simplifying setup for existing users. It bridges platform gaps, making Linux capabilities accessible. Try delegating a coding task to Claude Code via your Claude Desktop interface.