Setting up Claude Code

Claude Code is Anthropic's tool for working with Claude on your own computer — inside the real folders and files where things actually get built. Setting it up takes about 15 minutes.

1. Get a Claude account. Go to claude.ai and sign up. You can start on the free plan and use Claude in the browser, which is the best way to find out whether you like working this way before spending anything. Claude Code itself comes with the paid plans (Pro and up), so upgrade when you're ready to build.

2. Install it. Mac or Windows both work. On a Mac, open the Terminal app (press Cmd+Space, type "terminal", and hit enter). On Windows, open PowerShell (press the Windows key, type "powershell", and hit enter). Then get the one-line install command for your system from Anthropic — it's at claude.com/claude-code, or search "install Claude Code" — paste it in, and press enter.

3. Start it in a folder. In that same window, type claude and press enter, then sign in with your Claude account when it asks. From there you're just having a conversation.

A few things worth knowing on day one:

• The chat box is not a terminal, even though it lives in one. You talk to it in plain English, and a question like "What's in this folder?" is a perfectly good prompt.
• There are no commands to memorize. Whenever you're unsure what to do next, you can ask Claude itself — "what should I type?" — and it will tell you.
• Nothing happens without your OK. Claude asks permission before it changes files or runs anything, and reading is always safe.
• There are multiple ways to run Claude Code — the terminal, a desktop app, a web version. Our recommendation is to work directly in the terminal, because we think it's the best for building.

Expect the setup to take about 15 minutes, and expect feeling comfortable to take a few days. Both of those are normal.