Getting Started with Claude Code

Your First Project with Claude Code

Claude Code is a terminal-based AI assistant that builds software for you. You type what you want in plain English, and it writes the code, runs the commands, and deploys the result.

Installation

Getting started takes less than five minutes:

1. Install Node.js from nodejs.org (LTS version)
2. Open your terminal
3. Run the Claude Code installer
4. Authenticate with your Anthropic account

Your First Conversation

Think of Claude Code like a brilliant developer sitting next to you. You describe what you want:

• "Build me a landing page for my consulting business"
• "Create a blog with a dark theme and email signup"
• "Set up a Supabase database with user authentication"

Claude Code reads your request, plans the approach, and starts building. You watch it work in real time and can redirect at any point.

Key Concepts

Projects: Claude Code works inside project directories. Start a new project by creating a folder and running Claude Code inside it.

Context: The more context you give, the better the output. Share your brand colors, target audience, content, and reference sites.

Iteration: The first output is rarely perfect. Give feedback like "make the hero section bigger" or "add a testimonial section" and Claude Code adjusts.

What You Can Build

• Landing pages and marketing sites
• Full-stack web applications
• API integrations and automation pipelines
• Content management systems
• E-commerce stores
• SaaS products

Next Steps

Once comfortable with the basics, explore the glossary to understand the ecosystem of tools and concepts that make AI-powered business building possible.