Course: Introduction to Claude Code (Day 1 of 5) Time to complete: 15-20 minutes What you'll achieve: Claude Code installed, authenticated, and your first AI-assisted task completed

What is Claude Code?

Claude Code is Anthropic's AI coding assistant that runs directly in your terminal. Unlike ChatGPT or Claude.ai where you copy-paste code back and forth, Claude Code:

• Sees your entire codebase - It understands your project structure, files, and dependencies
• Executes code directly - It can run commands, create files, and make edits without you lifting a finger
• Handles git workflows - Commits, branches, and pull requests through natural language

Think of it as having a senior developer sitting next to you who can actually touch your keyboard.

Prerequisites

Before starting, you'll need:

• [ ] A computer running macOS, Linux, or Windows 10+
• [ ] A Claude Pro ($20/month) or Claude Max ($100/month) subscription
• [ ] Basic familiarity with using a terminal (you don't need to be an expert)

Don't have a Claude subscription? Sign up at claude.ai. The Pro plan is sufficient for most founders.

Step 1: Open Your Terminal

On Mac:

• Press Cmd + Space to open Spotlight
• Type "Terminal" and press Enter