[DOCS] Documentation assumes macOS -- Linux terminal configuration missing

Documentation Type

Incorrect/outdated documentation

Documentation Location

https://code.claude.com/docs/

Section/Topic

Linux platform support

Current Documentation

The Terminal Configuration page (https://code.claude.com/docs/en/terminal-config) documents only macOS terminals:

• VS Code terminal
• iTerm2
• macOS Terminal.app

Setup instructions reference Mac-specific settings:

• "Settings --> Profiles --> Keyboard --> Use Option as Meta Key"
• "Settings --> Profiles --> Keys --> Left/Right Option key to Esc+"

The Interactive Mode page lists keyboard shortcuts with macOS first:

• "Option+P (macOS) or Alt+P (Windows/Linux)"
• "Option+Enter" labeled as "macOS default"

What's Wrong or Missing?

Zero Linux terminals are documented. No guidance for:

• GNOME Terminal
• Konsole
• Alacritty
• Other common Linux terminals

Linux users must:

• Extrapolate Mac instructions to their environment
• Search externally for terminal-specific settings
• Guess at keyboard shortcut equivalents

macOS is consistently listed first when platforms differ, treating Linux as secondary despite Linux being the platform Claude itself runs on.

Suggested Improvement

1. Add Linux terminal configuration: Document Meta key setup for GNOME Terminal, Konsole, Alacritty, and other common Linux terminals

1. Platform-neutral ordering: Use alphabetical order (Linux, macOS, Windows) or list Linux first to match production environment

1. Equal keyboard shortcut treatment: Show Linux keys (Alt) alongside or before Mac keys (Option)

1. Adopt "Linux first, proprietary second" as documentation principle -- aligning with Anthropic's own infrastructure and open-source values

Impact

High - Prevents users from using a feature

Additional Context

This is about institutional defaults, not an OS war. Individual developers should use whatever works for them.

However, documentation defaults signal platform priority. Consider:

• Claude runs on Linux (Anthropic's production infrastructure)
• MCP was donated to the Linux Foundation
• Linux-based systems dominate globally (servers, Android, embedded)
• macOS is a wealthy-nation niche, not representative of global developers

Documentation that treats Linux as primary would better align with Anthropic's values of transparency and openness.