Claude Code Path Bug: Doubled Prefix In Windows

Introduction

In the realm of software development, ensuring seamless integration and reliable functionality across different platforms is paramount. Recently, a critical bug has been identified within Claude Code, specifically affecting its performance in Windows environments utilizing Git Bash. This bug, characterized by the doubling of the Unix drive prefix in file paths, leads to a cascade of failures, disrupting IDE integration, file operations, and overall usability. This article delves into the specifics of this path normalization failure, its root cause, impact, and potential solutions, offering a comprehensive understanding of the issue and its implications.

Bug Description: Claude Code Critical Path Corruption

The core issue at hand is a critical path corruption bug within Claude Code. This bug systematically corrupts Git Bash Unix-style paths by erroneously doubling the /c/ prefix. This seemingly minor error has far-reaching consequences, causing cascading failures across various subsystems, including IDE integration and file operations. The ramifications of this bug extend beyond mere inconvenience, potentially affecting data integrity and the overall reliability of Claude Code in Windows environments.

Forensic Evidence: Path Doubling Bug Discovered

Direct evidence of path corruption was discovered through meticulous filesystem forensics. This evidence serves as a smoking gun, definitively illustrating the nature and scope of the bug. The following observations highlight the key aspects of the path doubling issue:

1. File Write Test: A file write test was conducted using the path /c/trucktech_sandbox/aws-bedrock-cc/filename.
2. Actual File Location: Surprisingly, the file was found at /c/c/trucktech_sandbox/aws-bedrock-cc/filename, indicating a clear path corruption.
3. Path Corruption Pattern: The consistent pattern observed was that Claude Code adds an extra /c/ prefix to Unix-style paths.
4. IDE Integration Failure: This corrupted path prevents proper workspace matching, leading to IDE integration failure.

The Connection: VS Code accurately reports the workspace as c:\trucktech_sandbox\aws-bedrock-cc. However, Claude Code's corrupted path becomes /c/c/trucktech_sandbox/aws-bedrock-cc, resulting in a mismatch and subsequent IDE integration failure. This discrepancy underscores the severity of the path doubling bug and its impact on the development workflow.

Environment Details

To fully understand the context of this bug, it is essential to consider the specific environment in which it manifests. The following details provide a clear picture of the affected environment:

• Claude Code Version: 1.0.71
• Platform: Windows (MSYS_NT-10.0-22631 3.4.10-87d29.x86_64)
• IDE: Visual Studio Code
• Shell: Git Bash (MSYS)
• Working Directory: C:\trucktech_sandbox\aws-bedrock-cc (displayed as /c/trucktech_sandbox/aws-bedrock-cc in Git Bash)

These environment details highlight the specific configuration in which the path doubling bug occurs, allowing for targeted troubleshooting and resolution efforts.

Issue Description

Claude Code exhibits systematic path normalization failures, affecting multiple subsystems. The impact of these failures is particularly evident in IDE integration and file operations.

IDE Integration Issue

The IDE integration issue manifests as a failure to detect available IDEs, despite the presence of a running IDE with the Claude Code extension or plugin installed. The following message is typically displayed:

Select IDE
Connect to an IDE for integrated development features.

No available IDEs detected. Make sure your IDE has the Claude Code extension or plugin 
installed and is running.

Found 1 other running IDE(s). However, their workspace/project directories do not match 
the current cwd.

    • Visual Studio Code: c:\trucktech_sandbox\aws-bedrock-cc

This issue is a direct consequence of the path doubling bug, which causes a mismatch between the IDE's reported workspace and Claude Code's corrupted path.

File Operations Issue

File operations are also significantly impacted by the path doubling bug. Users may experience situations where write tools report success, but the files do not appear on the filesystem. Additionally, security errors may arise due to malformed paths, such as 'C:\c\trucktech_sandbox\aws-bedrock-cc'. These issues highlight the unreliability of file operations when the path doubling bug is present.

Root Cause Analysis: Path Doubling Bug

A unified root cause has been identified: Claude Code's path normalization logic corrupts Unix-style paths by doubling the drive prefix. This bug is the underlying cause of the IDE integration and file operation issues described above.

The Bug Pattern:

• Input Path (Git Bash): /c/trucktech_sandbox/aws-bedrock-cc
• Corrupted Path (Claude Code): /c/c/trucktech_sandbox/aws-bedrock-cc
• Expected Path (Correct): C:\trucktech_sandbox\aws-bedrock-cc
• VS Code Path (Reference): c:\trucktech_sandbox\aws-bedrock-cc

Why IDE Integration Fails:

1. VS Code extension reports workspace: c:\trucktech_sandbox\aws-bedrock-cc
2. Claude Code CLI corrupts current directory to: /c/c/trucktech_sandbox/aws-bedrock-cc
3. Path matching logic compares corrupted path vs. correct path → MISMATCH
4. Result: "workspace/project directories do not match the current cwd"

This detailed analysis clearly illustrates how the path doubling bug leads to IDE integration failures.

Reproduction Steps

To reliably reproduce the path doubling bug, follow these steps:

1. Open VS Code in a Windows directory.
2. Use Git Bash as the integrated terminal.
3. Run Claude Code CLI.
4. Attempt the /ide command - this will fail due to path matching issues.
5. Attempt file operations with Unix-style paths - files will not appear in the expected location.
6. Observe security errors showing malformed path concatenation.

These steps provide a clear and consistent method for reproducing the bug, facilitating debugging and resolution efforts.

Impact

The impact of the path doubling bug is significant, affecting several key aspects of Claude Code's functionality:

• ❌ IDE integration is completely broken.
• ❌ File operations are unreliable.
• ❌ Path-dependent features are failing.
• ✅ Basic CLI functionality works (reading existing files, bash commands).

These impacts highlight the severity of the bug and its potential to disrupt the development workflow.

Workaround

As a temporary workaround, using Windows-style paths (C:\...) instead of Git Bash paths (/c/...) may resolve file operation issues. However, this workaround does not address the underlying bug and may not be suitable for all use cases.

Definitive Reproduction Test

To definitively demonstrate the path corruption, the following test can be performed:

# In Claude Code CLI (Git Bash environment):
# 1. Write file using Unix-style path
# 2. Search filesystem to find where it actually went
# 3. Observe the doubled /c/c/ path corruption

# Expected: /c/trucktech_sandbox/aws-bedrock-cc/test-file.txt
# Actual: /c/c/trucktech_sandbox/aws-bedrock-cc/test-file.txt

This test provides irrefutable proof of the path doubling bug.

Priority Level

CRITICAL - This bug breaks core Claude Code functionality on Windows with Git Bash, affecting:

• IDE integration (primary user workflow)
• File operations (data integrity risk)
• Path-dependent security boundaries

Given the severity and widespread impact of this bug, it is classified as critical and requires immediate attention.

Suggested Fix

The primary fix required is to address the path doubling corruption in the Unix-to-Windows path conversion process. The following steps are recommended:

1. Debug the path normalization logic that converts /c/... → should become C:\... not /c/c/...
2. Implement proper Git Bash path handling without prefix doubling
3. Add path normalization unit tests covering Git Bash, PowerShell, CMD environments
4. Test IDE integration path matching with normalized paths
5. Verify file operations work correctly across shell environments

Secondary Improvements:

• Case-insensitive path matching for IDE detection
• Consistent path format normalization before comparisons
• Better error messaging when path operations fail

Conclusion

The path normalization failure in Claude Code, characterized by the doubled Unix drive prefix in Windows environments, is a critical bug that significantly impacts IDE integration, file operations, and overall usability. By understanding the root cause, impact, and potential solutions, developers can effectively address this issue and ensure the reliable performance of Claude Code across different platforms. Addressing the path doubling bug will not only resolve the immediate issues but also improve the overall robustness and usability of Claude Code in Windows environments. For more information on debugging and troubleshooting path issues, consider visiting Stack Overflow.