Get started with Claude Code
Step-by-step setup and first use, explained simply. No coding experience needed.
Published
Lucija Tomšić
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Contents · 5 sections
Claude Code is Anthropic's AI agent: the version of Claude that can actually do things on your computer, not just chat. You don't need to know how to write code. You describe what you want in plain English, and Claude builds it.
Think of it as the difference between asking someone for directions and having them drive you there. Claude.ai is the directions. Claude Code is the driver.
01Get your supplies
Three things to set up before you start.
- Get a paid accountYou need a Claude Pro subscription. Sign up at claude.ai. It starts at around $20 a month. The basic plan is fine to begin with, and you can upgrade later if you use it heavily.
- Download VS CodeVS Code (Visual Studio Code) is the program Claude lives and works inside. Think of it as Google Docs, but for building software. Download it free and install it like any other app.
- Install the Claude Code extensionOpen VS Code. In the left sidebar, click the icon that looks like four squares (Extensions). Search for Claude and install the one called Claude Code. A small Claude icon appears: that is your entry point.
02Log in and create your project space
- Log inClick the Claude icon in VS Code. Type /login or click the login button. A browser window opens: click Authorize to confirm it is you.
- Create your project folderCreate a new empty folder anywhere on your computer and name it, for example "My-First-App". In VS Code, go to File → Open Folder and select it.
This folder is Claude's room. Everything it builds goes here, and it only touches files inside this folder.
03Two one-time settings
By default Claude asks permission before almost every action: "Can I read this file?", "Can I search the web?". Paste this into the chat once and it stops asking for every small, safe thing.
add permissions to this claude code project to allow non-destructive bash commands, reading files, and searching the internet without asking for confirmation each time.
This doesn't let Claude delete files or touch anything outside your project folder. It just removes the constant hand-holding for safe actions.
Claude has two main modes. Plan Mode is for thinking and talking: Claude works through the approach with you but doesn't touch your files. Edit Mode is for building: Claude creates and changes files.
Start in Plan Mode to agree on the direction, then switch to Edit Mode to build. It saves a lot of back-and-forth.
04Start building
Type what you want in the chat box. You don't need technical language. Plain English is fine.
"Create a game where a snake eats apples." "Make a schedule for my homework." "Build a simple webpage that shows today's weather." "Write a script that renames all my photos by date."
If Claude misunderstands, correct it the way you would correct a person: "No, I meant the background should be blue, not the text."
Claude has no memory between conversations by default. Ask it to create a file called CLAUDE.md in your project folder. It reads this file first in every new conversation.
Create a CLAUDE.md file. Remember that I always want my apps to use blue as the main color, and keep all explanations short.
Skills are shortcuts you teach once. Describe a task in detail, give it a name, and trigger it with one word from then on. For example, a skill called /post that drafts a social media post from any text you paste.
05Setup checklist and quick reference
Run through this once. After step 4 you're building.
- Sign up for Claude Pro at claude.ai
- Download and install VS Code
- Install the Claude Code extension inside VS Code
- Click the Claude icon, log in and open your project folder
- Type what you want to build
- Optional: paste the permissions prompt to stop the constant questions
- Optional: ask Claude to create CLAUDE.md with your preferences
| Category | Example prompt |
|---|---|
| Game | "Create a game where a snake eats apples." |
| Website | "Make a simple webpage about my dog." |
| Tool | "Write a script that renames all my photos by date." |
| Organiser | "Build a homework schedule tracker." |
| Content | "Draft a LinkedIn post from this article I pasted." |
| Automation | "Every morning, email me a summary of my to-do list." |
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