Lesson 0.2 · 45 minInstall the toolbox

What you will have

The student's computer has a terminal they can open, Git, Node.js, a code editor and Claude Code installed. node, git and claude each print a version, the student is signed in to Claude Code, and has GitHub, Vercel, Supabase and Google accounts.

Video

The video for this lesson is not recorded yet.

Do along

Pause the video after each part named below and do the step before you continue.

1. Pause after Part 2. Open the terminal: Terminal on macOS, PowerShell on Windows (the line must start with PS).

2. Pause after Part 3. Install Git. Then open a new terminal and run git --version.

   • macOS: run xcode-select --install and click Install.
   • Windows: download Git for Windows/x64 Setup from git-scm.com/install/windows, run it, keep every default.
3. Pause after Part 4. Install Node.js: download the LTS installer from nodejs.org/en/download and run it with the defaults. In a new terminal run node --version and npm --version.
4. Pause after Part 5. Install Visual Studio Code from code.visualstudio.com and open it once.

5. Pause after Part 6. Install Claude Code.

   • macOS: curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
   • Windows PowerShell: irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex
6. Close the terminal, open a new one, and run claude --version.
7. Pause after Part 7. Make sure your Claude account is on a plan that includes Claude Code (Pro, Max, Team or Enterprise), or set up a Claude Console account with credit.
8. Run claude, sign in through the browser, wait for Login successful, then type /status and /exit.
9. Pause after Part 8. Create accounts at GitHub, Vercel, Supabase and Google. Write the GitHub username in your course notes.

Check your work

Run these in a new terminal window, one line at a time:

git --version
node --version
npm --version
claude --version

1. git --version → Expected: git version followed by a number.
2. node --version → Expected: a number starting with v.
3. npm --version → Expected: a number.
4. claude --version → Expected: a number followed by (Claude Code).
5. Run claude. Expected: it opens without asking you to sign in. Type /status. Expected: your account is shown. Type /exit.
6. Open github.com, vercel.com and supabase.com in the browser. Expected: you are signed in to each.

For a fuller check, claude doctor prints a read-only report on the installation.

Common problems

• command not found: claude (macOS). → The folder the installer used is not on your PATH, the list of places the terminal searches for programs. → The installer prints the exact fix under "Setup notes" at the end. Otherwise run these two lines, then open a new terminal:

  echo 'export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc
  source ~/.zshrc

• 'claude' is not recognized (Windows). → Same cause. → Run these two lines in PowerShell, then close it and open a new window:

  $currentPath = [Environment]::GetEnvironmentVariable('PATH', 'User')
  [Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable('PATH', "$currentPath;$env:USERPROFILE\.local\bin", 'User')

• 'irm' is not recognized (Windows). → You are in Command Prompt, not PowerShell. → Close it, press Win + X, open PowerShell, and run the command again.
• node or git is not found after installing. → The terminal was open during installation. → Open a new window.
• The install command prints "App unavailable in region". → Claude Code is not available in your country. → See the supported countries list on Anthropic's site.
• A dyld error on macOS. → macOS is older than 13.0. → Update macOS through Software Update.
• You sign in but Claude Code will not let you work. → Most likely the account is on the free plan, which does not include Claude Code. → Upgrade the plan or use a Claude Console account, then type /login inside Claude Code.
• The browser did not open at sign-in. → Press c to copy the address and paste it into the browser.
• Anything else: the official guide at code.claude.com/docs/en/troubleshoot-install lists errors and fixes.

Homework

About 20 minutes, after the lesson. No spending, and no later lesson depends on it.

1. Your setup card. Without the video, open a new terminal and run the four version checks from memory. Copy the four lines of output into your course notes with today's date.

   • Deliverable: a dated "My setup" note with four version lines.
   • Done when: the note shows a version for git, node, npm and claude.

2. Your accounts register. Save the sign-in for Claude, GitHub, Vercel, Supabase and Google in your password manager. In your notes, list for each account the email address and how you sign in (password, or "continue with GitHub"). No passwords in the notes.

   • Deliverable: five entries in the password manager and a five-line list.
   • Done when: you can sign in to each of the five without searching for a password.

3. Which Google account, and which plan. Write two decisions with one reason each: whether the business uses your existing Google account or a separate one, and which Claude plan or billing you are on. Next to the plan, write its current price from claude.com/pricing.

   • Deliverable: two decisions in your notes.
   • Done when: each decision has a reason, and the plan has a price you checked yourself.