Claude desktop app crashes on pre-AVX2 Intel Macs (Bun binary requires AVX2)

Problem

The Claude desktop app bundles a Bun runtime binary that requires AVX2 CPU instructions. This means the app crashes on older Intel Macs whose CPUs predate AVX2 support (pre-Haswell / pre-2013 — e.g., Mac Pro 5,1, older iMacs, Ivy Bridge MacBook Pros).

These machines are otherwise fully capable of running Claude Code via Node.js without issue.

Current Workaround

I maintain a script that patches each update by replacing the Bun binary with a Node.js wrapper pointing to the npm-installed @anthropic-ai/claude-code package:

https://github.com/ryankagygamestop2/claude-desktop-avx-fix

The script:

1. Installs @anthropic-ai/claude-code@latest via npm
2. Backs up the native Bun binary
3. Replaces it with a bash wrapper that runs cli.js through Node.js

This works perfectly — but has to be re-applied every time the Claude desktop app auto-updates, since each update overwrites the patched binary with a fresh Bun build.

Request

Please consider one of:

• Ship a non-AVX2 fallback binary for the desktop app (e.g., a Node.js-based fallback when AVX2 is not detected)
• Include a built-in flag or preference to use Node.js instead of Bun
• Avoid overwriting user patches on update, or provide a hook mechanism for custom binary paths

AVX2 was introduced in 2013 with Haswell. There are still many pre-2013 Intel Macs in active use that are otherwise capable machines. Supporting them would be a meaningful improvement.

Environment

• macOS (older Intel Mac, pre-AVX2)
• Claude desktop app (latest)
• Node.js available via nvm
• Workaround confirmed working with claude-code 2.1.87