How to Automate Claude Code Tasks on macOS

Why Automate Claude Code?

Claude Code is a powerful AI coding assistant, but running tasks manually can be time-consuming and inefficient. Automation lets you schedule recurring tasks like code reviews, documentation updates, testing, and data analysis to run in the background while you focus on more important work.

With automation, you can:

Wake up to completed code reviews every morning
Run automated security audits on a schedule
Generate weekly reports without manual intervention
Keep documentation up-to-date automatically
Perform regular dependency checks and updates
Execute testing and quality assurance tasks overnight

Methods for Automating Claude Code

1. runCLAUDErun (Recommended for Mac)

Best for: Mac users who want a simple, no-code solution with a graphical interface.

runCLAUDErun is a native macOS app designed specifically for scheduling Claude Code tasks. No terminal commands, no configuration files - just a clean interface for setting up and managing your automated tasks.

Pros: Easy to use, GUI-based, no technical knowledge required, task history, automatic updates

2. Cron Jobs

Best for: Users comfortable with terminal and Unix systems.

Traditional Unix cron jobs can schedule Claude Code commands, but require editing crontab files, understanding cron syntax, and manually managing logs and error handling.

Cons: Requires terminal knowledge, manual setup, no GUI, difficult to manage logs

3. GitHub Actions

Best for: Teams working on GitHub repositories who need cloud-based automation.

GitHub Actions can schedule workflows to run Claude Code tasks in the cloud, but requires setting up workflow files, managing secrets, and working within GitHub's infrastructure.

Cons: Requires GitHub repository, YAML configuration, cloud-based (not local), monthly usage limits

Step-by-Step: Automate Claude with runCLAUDErun

Step 1: Download and Install runCLAUDErun

Visit runclauderun.com
Download the appropriate version for your Mac:
- Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) - most newer Macs
- Intel - older Macs
Open the DMG file and drag runCLAUDErun to your Applications folder
Launch the app from Applications

Note: macOS may ask you to confirm opening an app from an identified developer. This is normal for downloaded applications.

Step 2: Verify Claude Code Installation

Before creating tasks, ensure Claude Code is properly installed:

Open Terminal (if you haven't already installed Claude Code)
Follow Anthropic's installation guide
Verify installation by running: claude --version
Authenticate with your Claude API credentials if needed

runCLAUDErun will automatically detect your Claude Code installation when you create your first task.

Step 3: Create Your First Automated Task

Open runCLAUDErun
Click "Create New Task" or the "+" button
Give your task a descriptive name (e.g., "Daily Code Review")
Enter your Claude Code command or prompt
Specify the working directory for your task
Configure any additional options (context files, model preferences, etc.)

Example Task Ideas:

"Review all code changes from the past 24 hours"
"Check for security vulnerabilities in dependencies"
"Generate weekly progress report from git commits"
"Update API documentation based on code changes"
"Run automated tests and summarize results"

Step 4: Set Up Your Schedule

Choose when and how often your task should run:

One-time: Run once at a specific date and time
Daily: Execute every day at a specified time (e.g., 9 AM every morning)
Weekly: Run on specific days of the week (e.g., Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 10 AM)
Custom interval: Execute every X hours or minutes

Pro Tip:

Schedule intensive tasks during off-hours (overnight or early morning) to avoid slowing down your active development work. This way, you wake up to completed reviews and reports every day.

Step 5: Monitor and Review Execution

After your tasks start running, you can:

View execution history for each task
Read detailed logs and Claude Code output
See success/failure status and execution duration
Get notified of failures or important events
Export logs for debugging or record-keeping
Modify schedules or task configurations as needed

Common Automation Use Cases

Code Review Automation

Schedule daily code reviews to run every morning. Claude analyzes recent commits, identifies potential issues, suggests improvements, and generates a summary report.

Security Audits

Run weekly security scans to check for vulnerabilities, outdated dependencies, potential SQL injection risks, and other security concerns in your codebase.

Documentation Updates

Automatically update documentation whenever code changes. Claude reads your code, identifies changes, and updates relevant documentation files to stay in sync.

Report Generation

Generate weekly or monthly progress reports from git history, issue trackers, and project metrics. Claude compiles data and creates readable summaries.

Testing & QA

Schedule automated testing runs and have Claude analyze results, identify patterns in failures, and suggest fixes for recurring issues.

Data Analysis

Process and analyze data files on a schedule. Claude can clean data, generate insights, create visualizations, and prepare reports automatically.

Best Practices for Claude Automation

Start with Simple Tasks

Begin with straightforward, well-defined tasks before automating complex workflows. This helps you understand how Claude Code responds and what prompts work best.

Be Specific in Your Prompts

Clear, detailed prompts produce better results. Instead of "review code," try "review all Python files changed in the last 24 hours for security issues and style violations."

Monitor Rate Limits

Be aware of Claude API rate limits based on your subscription tier. Space out tasks appropriately to avoid hitting limits.

Review Logs Regularly

Check task execution logs periodically to ensure tasks are running as expected and to catch any issues early.

Keep Your Mac Running

For scheduled tasks to execute, your Mac needs to be on (sleep mode is usually fine). Consider scheduling critical tasks during times when you know your Mac will be running.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Task Didn't Run

Verify your Mac was running at the scheduled time
Check if runCLAUDErun is set to run at login
Review task logs for error messages
Ensure Claude Code is properly installed and authenticated

Claude API Rate Limit Errors

Reduce task frequency or spread out execution times
Check your Claude subscription tier and usage limits
Consider upgrading to Claude Pro or Team for higher limits

Unexpected Task Results

Refine your prompt to be more specific
Verify the working directory is correct
Check that required files and context are available
Test the prompt manually with Claude Code first

Ready to Automate Your Claude Workflow?

runCLAUDErun makes it easy to schedule and automate Claude Code tasks on macOS. Download the app today and start waking up to finished work every morning.

Download runCLAUDErun View FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need programming knowledge to automate Claude?

No! runCLAUDErun provides a graphical interface that requires no programming or terminal knowledge. If you can write a prompt for Claude, you can automate it.

Will automated tasks use my Claude API quota?

Yes, automated tasks count toward your Claude subscription limits just like manual tasks. Be mindful of your tier's rate limits when scheduling frequent tasks.

Can I automate tasks for multiple projects?

Yes, you can create multiple tasks for different projects, each with their own working directory and schedule. runCLAUDErun manages them all from a single interface.

Is my code secure when using automation?

Yes, runCLAUDErun runs entirely on your local Mac. Your code never leaves your machine, just as if you were running Claude Code manually. All tasks execute locally with your existing Claude credentials.