r/SideProject • u/-Willow_- • 1d ago

I built a Windows tray app that keeps Claude Code working when I close the laptop

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Close the lid. Claude Code keeps working. When it's done, the laptop sleeps.

I built Nightcrew, a free, open-source Windows tray app. It watches Claude Code or Codex and keeps the laptop working with the lid closed while an agent is busy. When the work ends, it puts your power settings back. No hooks, nothing to set up.

I built it with Claude Code, test-first, with a written spec and a fresh review pass for each version. One bug the hardware checks caught: a second start could take over from a copy that was still quitting.

Download (MIT, one 1.7 MB exe): https://github.com/leikauskas/nightcrew

Launch on X: original post

Windows 10 and 11 only. The exe isn't code-signed yet; each release includes a SHA-256, a GitHub build attestation and a VirusTotal report. If it misreads your setup (other agents, WSL, Docker), I'd like to hear about it.

3 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

6

u/TheOwlHypothesis 1d ago

Bro is solving problems from last year.

1

u/Street-Sweeper213 1d ago

Saw someone post a PowerShell script the other day that disabled internet login for an application.

They didn't realize there was a check box next to the login to disable it for months.

1

u/-Willow_- 1d ago

The bit I wanted was automatic: keep Windows awake only while the agent is working, then put my normal sleep settings back. Saves me changing them each time 🙂

1

u/Duchet_Odinaka51 1d ago

fr though, how was this not solved already

1

u/TheOwlHypothesis 1d ago

It has been solved in like 5 different ways

2

u/cashlessman 1d ago

just use tmux bro??

1

u/-Willow_- 1d ago

tmux is great for remote sessions 🙂 Locally, Windows still sleeps when you close the lid. Nightcrew keeps it awake while Claude/Codex works, then restores your power settings.

2

u/aptonline 1d ago

How did you make the laptop animation?

2

u/-Willow_- 1d ago

Remotion + React! The laptop is drawn in SVG, with a little 3D projection math for the lid and camera movement. The screen content moves with the lid.

1

u/doomunited 1d ago

Its always claude

1

u/DefinitelyNotEmu 1d ago

I can do the same thing with the Windows setting "when I close the lid.." .. . "ignore"

1

u/-Willow_- 1d ago

Yep, that keeps it awake. I wanted it to go back to sleeping once Claude finishes, without having to change the setting again.