Anthropic tests new Claude Code desktop UI amid source code leak

Anthropic appears to be working on a new mode for Claude Code called Epitaxy. It still seems to be in development, and at this stage, it looks like an alternative interface for Claude Code Desktop rather than a clearly separate product.

The interface appears to introduce a broader set of hotkeys for the model selector, skill selector, and other tools, which could make Claude Code Desktop more efficient for power users. There is also a playful animation featuring the Claude mascot at the top of the screen launching fireballs downward, triggering a burning effect with the phrase “Let Claude cook.”

What remains unclear is whether Epitaxy is intended to be a serious product direction, an April 1 experiment, or something else entirely. For now, there is no clear explanation for what it is supposed to become, so the only realistic conclusion is that we will need to wait for Anthropic to reveal more.

Notably, this surfaced alongside the recent leak of Claude Code source code. That leak also exposed a number of internal model names, including Capybara, which had previously been spotted in another leaked blog post, as well as Strudel and several other currently hidden variants.

The incident has fueled broader speculation around Anthropic’s internal roadmap. Anthropic has acknowledged the leak, while stating that it was not a security breach but rather a misconfiguration that exposed a source map file through the NPM registry.

As a result, users now have a substantial amount of "Claude" material to inspect, research, and experiment with. Some have already gone as far as forking Claude Code into other languages. It will be worth watching how both the Epitaxy interface and the fallout from the source leak develop from here.