Getting set up
This is the only part of the course that looks technical. We'll go one small step at a time, and I'll explain what each thing is — not just what to type. Do this once and you never think about it again.
The tools you'll meet
Two words that sound scary and aren't:
- Terminal — a plain window where you type commands instead of clicking buttons. It comes built into your computer. That's all it is.
- Node.js — a small free program that lets Claude Code run. Think of it as the engine; you install it once.
Step 1 — Open your terminal
- On a Mac: press
Cmd + Space, type "Terminal", press Enter. - On Windows: open the Start menu, type "PowerShell", press Enter.
A window with text and a blinking cursor appears. This is where you'll type. Nothing you type here can break your computer in a single step — you can always close the window and start again.
Step 2 — Install Node.js
Go to nodejs.org and download the version labelled LTS (it stands for "long-term support" — the stable one). Run the installer and click through it like any normal app.
To check it worked, type this into your terminal and press Enter:
node --version
If you see something like v22.13.1, you're good. A version number — any recent one — means success.
Step 3 — Install Claude Code
Back in the terminal, type this and press Enter:
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
npmis a helper that came with Node — it installs programs.-gjust means "make this available everywhere on my computer."
Give it a moment. When the cursor comes back, it's done.
Step 4 — Start it up
Type:
claude
The first time, it will walk you through signing in with your Claude account. Follow the prompts. When you see a friendly welcome prompt waiting for your input — you're in.
If something goes sideways
That's normal, and it's not you. The single most useful move: copy the exact error message and paste it into Claude (the chat) or a search engine. Ninety percent of setup snags have a one-line fix that someone has already written down.
Don't aim for a perfect, tidy setup. Aim for "it starts." That's the whole bar for this lesson.
What's next
Everything scary is now behind you. In the final lesson, we point Claude Code at a real project and make an actual change — the moment where this all clicks.