Get your tools installed
A code editor so you can see your work, Node.js so it can run, and the Claude Code CLI so you can build by talking.
- Install VS Code from code.visualstudio.com - this is where you'll see every file Claude creates.
- Install Node.js 18 or newer (LTS) from nodejs.org.
- Install the Claude Code CLI in a terminal:
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
Then open a project folder in the terminal, launch Claude Code, and log in the first time it asks:
claude
The first run opens a browser link to sign in with your Claude account. You can also type /login inside Claude Code. New to VS Code? File → Open Folder… points it at any project folder, and Terminal → New Terminal opens a terminal right inside it.
Troubleshooting
- command not found: claude - close and reopen the terminal so it picks up the new command.
- Prefer a one-line installer? On macOS/Linux:
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash - There's a step-by-step PDF in your workshop folder:
Claude_Code_Setup_Guide_Recreated.pdf. - Only doing the Claude Design playbook? You still want VS Code so you can open and tweak the design files - but that one runs mostly in the browser, so don't let setup block you.