Install
ButterCut

Make sure your Mac is ready.

ButterCut downloads itself using a tool engineers use to manage files and updates, Git. Let's see if your Mac already has Git installed. If not, let's instruct Claude to install it for you.

1. 1
   Open the Claude desktop app on your Mac and start a new chat in Claude Cowork.

   

2. 2
   Paste this in and send it:

   Paste into Claude Copy

   Check if Git is installed on my Mac. If it isn't, install it in the simplest way possible, using Apple Xcode.
3. 3 If it's already there, you're done — skip to Step 1. If it's missing, Claude walks you through a short, free install (it'll ask your Mac to add Apple's developer tools — just click Install when the little window pops up and wait for it to finish).

Bring ButterCut onto your Mac.

1. 1
   In the same Claude Cowork chat, paste this and send it. Claude downloads ButterCut and tucks it into your home folder.

   Paste into Claude Copy

   Clone https://github.com/barefootford/buttercut into my home folder.
2. 2
   Open the Code tab inside Claude Desktop.

   

   

   At the bottom, set the folder to ButterCut, switch Cloud to Local, and uncheck worktree.

   

3. 3
   Now paste this and send it. Claude installs everything ButterCut needs and gets it ready to edit.

   Paste into Claude Copy

   Set up ButterCut.