[BUG]

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

Environment
Platform: Anthropic API ✓
Claude CLI version: [run claude --version to get this]
Operating System: Windows
Terminal: [your terminal - Command Prompt/PowerShell/etc]

Bug Description
Claude Code fails to start on Windows with Anaconda Python due to hardcoded python3 executable requirement. Anaconda Python distributions use python as the executable name, not python3.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Install Claude Code on Windows system with Anaconda Python
2. Try to run claude command
3. Claude Code fails to start because it cannot find python3 executable

Expected Behavior
Claude Code should either:

• Auto-detect available Python executables (python3, python, py)
• Allow configuration of Python executable in CLAUDE.md
• Use platform-appropriate defaults

Actual Behavior
Claude Code fails to start with error about missing python3 executable

Workaround
Creating python3.exe copy/symlink of python.exe in Anaconda Scripts folder

Impact
This is a blocking startup issue for Windows users with Anaconda Python (very common in data science/ML)

What Should Happen?

Should run

Error Messages/Logs

Steps to Reproduce

Environment
Platform: Anthropic API ✓
Claude CLI version: [run claude --version to get this]
Operating System: Windows [your version]
Terminal: [your terminal - Command Prompt/PowerShell/etc]

Bug Description
Claude Code fails to start on Windows with Anaconda Python due to hardcoded python3 executable requirement. Anaconda Python distributions use python as the executable name, not python3.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Install Claude Code on Windows system with Anaconda Python
2. Try to run claude command
3. Claude Code fails to start because it cannot find python3 executable

Expected Behavior
Claude Code should either:

• Auto-detect available Python executables (python3, python, py)
• Allow configuration of Python executable in CLAUDE.md
• Use platform-appropriate defaults

Actual Behavior
Claude Code fails to start with error about missing python3 executable

Workaround
Creating python3.exe copy/symlink of python.exe in Anaconda Scripts folder

Impact
This is a blocking startup issue for Windows users with Anaconda Python (very common in data science/ML)

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

1

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

Terminal.app (macOS)

Additional Information

_No response_