Claude Code is an AI coding agent that runs in your terminal. If the word "terminal" already sounds like a wall, this guide is for you — install to first visible result, in the actual order. I've shipped real apps and sites with this tool.
What you need
- A computer (Mac or Windows)
- A Claude account with a paid plan (the $20/mo tier is enough to start — full cost picture)
Install on macOS (5 minutes)
- Open Terminal — hit ⌘+Space, type "Terminal", Enter.
- One install command (the official native installer):
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
- Run it:
claude
First run opens a browser to log in. That's it. (If you prefer npm: npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code also works — it just requires Node.js first.)
Install on Windows (5 minutes)
Claude Code runs natively on Windows now — no WSL required.
- Open PowerShell — press the Windows key, type "PowerShell", Enter.
- One install command:
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex
- Recommended: install Git for Windows with default settings — Claude Code uses it for its shell tooling.
- Run it:
claude
Log in via the browser window that opens. (If you already use WSL, the macOS/Linux command works inside your WSL terminal too.) Full options are in the official setup docs.
Your first 30 minutes
Don't start with an empty idea — start with something visible:
> Build me a personal intro page. Dark theme, my name, a short bio, three links.
Claude creates the files and tells you how to open the result. Then practice the one skill that matters — reacting to what you see in plain language:
> Make the background darker, and make the links change color on hover
That loop is 90% of using Claude Code.
Where people get stuck
- "command not found: claude" — close and reopen the terminal. Still broken? Paste the exact error into Claude on the web and ask.
- It keeps asking permission — Claude Code asks before editing files or running commands. Early on, read and approve each one. Widen the permissions per session once you trust the flow.
- "I don't know what to tell it to build" — that's not a tool problem, it's a planning problem. The 10-step launch playbook exists for exactly this moment — including a version Claude runs for you as a skill.
Install FAQ
Is there a Claude Code download page?
No installer download — Claude Code is a command-line tool. The one-line command above (Mac: curl … install.sh | bash, Windows: irm … install.ps1 | iex) is the download and install in one step.
How do I start Claude Code after installing?
Open your terminal, type claude, press Enter. That's the whole launch. Run it inside a project folder so it can see your files.
What is /terminal-setup?
A command you run inside Claude Code that configures your terminal's key bindings (like Shift+Enter for multi-line prompts) in supported terminals. Type it after your first launch if line breaks feel awkward.
npm install vs the native installer — which one?
Both work. The native installer is the current official recommendation and needs no Node.js; use npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code if you prefer managing it through npm.
Claude Code vs ChatGPT for building — do I have the right tool? If you want an agent that works in your files and ships projects, yes. The comparison is in ChatGPT vs Claude for building apps.
What's next
Once your first page exists:
- How to validate an app idea — check it's worth building first
- Build a landing page with AI in a day — go all the way to deployed
- Claude Code vs Cursor vs Codex — if you're weighing alternatives
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