module 01 setup

Install Claude Code

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Full Lesson Reference

Claude Code is installed with a single command. Once running, you won't need to memorize commands anymore—you can instruct Claude in plain English.

Installation Methods

Mac Users: Native Install

Open the terminal app you installed in Lesson 2 and paste this command:

terminal
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash

The script will download Claude Code, install it to your system path, and enable auto-updates. Once completed, restart your terminal or open a new window, then type claude to start.

Windows Users: PowerShell + Git Bash Setup

On Windows, you install Claude Code using PowerShell, and then run it day-to-day inside Git Bash.

Step 1: Install from PowerShell

Open PowerShell from your Start menu, paste this command, and press Enter:

terminal
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex

The installer will download and output the path where Claude Code was installed (usually ~/.local/bin or C:\Users\YOURNAME\.local\bin). Write down this path.

Step 2: Configure Git Bash

Open Git Bash from your Start menu and type:

terminal
claude --version

If it prints the version number, you are ready to go. If you get command not found, Git Bash needs to be told where to look. To fix this automatically, run claude inside PowerShell to start a session, then type:

terminal
Set up my Git Bash PATH so I can run claude from Git Bash on Windows.

Claude will read its install location and automatically write the path correction to your .bashrc file.

If you prefer to configure it manually, paste the following lines into Git Bash, replacing YOURNAME with your actual Windows username folder:

terminal
echo 'export PATH="/c/Users/YOURNAME/.local/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

Troubleshooting: Node.js Prompt

Claude Code requires Node.js to run. The native installers usually bundle a Node runtime, but if you are prompted that Node.js is missing, install it manually:

  • Go to nodejs.org and download the LTS installer.
  • Run the installer and click through the defaults (Windows users: check the box that says "Automatically install the necessary tools" if prompted).
  • Re-run the Claude Code installation command once Node.js is set up.

Updating Claude Code

You do not need to run install scripts to update Claude Code. If a new version is released, simply start a session and tell Claude:

terminal
Update yourself to the latest version

Exercises

  1. Install Claude Code using the appropriate installation command for your operating system.
  2. Verify the installation. Open a new terminal window and run: 
    terminal
    claude --version
  3. Confirm that the command returns the version number and does not throw a "command not found" error.