Day 01 of 21
Install Claude Code and run your first prompt
Goal: Today you install Claude Code, get it running on your computer, and use it once so the whole thing stops feeling abstract.
What to do
Make sure you have a supported Claude account
Go to claude.ai and sign in. If you are an individual, upgrade to Pro or Max if needed. If your company gave you Claude for Teams, Enterprise, or Claude Console access, use that account instead. The free Claude.ai plan does not include Claude Code. Complete sign-in, billing, and any email verification before continuing.
Open the right terminal for your computer
On Mac, open Terminal. On Windows, open PowerShell or Command Prompt. Look at the start of the line: PowerShell shows something like "PS C:\Users\YourName>" and Command Prompt shows "C:\Users\YourName>". You only need one terminal window for now.
Install Claude Code
Use the native installer command for your setup. On Mac, Linux, or WSL use: "curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash". On Windows PowerShell use: "irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex". On Windows Command Prompt use: "curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.cmd -o install.cmd && install.cmd && del install.cmd". Paste the one that matches your terminal exactly and press Enter.
Check the install worked
In the same terminal window, type:
claude --versionReopen the terminal if the version check failed
If the previous step worked, continue to the next step. If it failed, close this terminal window, open a fresh one, and type this again:
claude --versionOpen Claude Code and log in
In the same terminal, type:
claudeType your first prompt
Once logged in and the Claude Code prompt is waiting, type this and press Enter:
Hello. What can you help me build today? I am a non-developer who just installed Claude Code for the first time.Expected result
Claude Code is installed on your computer, you are logged in, and you received a reply to your first prompt inside the terminal.
Key takeaway
- Claude Code lives on your computer, not in a browser. Today you installed it, logged in, and typed your first prompt. That is the foundation for everything that follows.