GET SET UPStep 6 of 6About 15 min

Install Claude Code

By the end of this step you have an AI agent that can read your files and run commands, with your permission. You need this from Module 3.

What it costs: Claude Code needs a paid Claude plan (Pro or higher). The free claude.ai plan doesn't include it. If you're not ready to pay yet, skip this step for now and come back before Module 3. Modules 0–2 don't need it.

Prefer clicking to typing? There's also a Claude desktop app that runs Claude Code without the terminal: claude.com/download. This course shows the terminal version, because the commands are easier to follow exactly.

Showing steps for

1. Install it

Copy the command for your computer into a terminal and press Enter. It downloads quietly: no progress bar. Wait for the prompt to come back.

On Windows

In PowerShell (the prompt starts with PS):

Terminal

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

On macOS / Linux

Terminal

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

Then close the terminal and open a new one, and check:

Terminal

claude --version

If it didn’t work

"claude is not recognized" / "command not found: claude". Close every terminal and open a new one. Still failing? The install worked but your terminal can't find it yet: follow the official fix at code.claude.com/docs/en/troubleshoot-install.

On Windows

"'irm' is not recognized". You're in the old Command Prompt, not PowerShell. Open Terminal as in step 1 of this guide (the prompt starts with PS) and try again.

Anything else. Installers change. If a command here stops working, the official guide is always current: code.claude.com/docs/en/setup.

2. Sign in and say hello

Start Claude Code from your work folder. Where you start it is what it can see.

On Windows

Terminal

cd ~\ridgeline

On macOS / Linux

Terminal

cd ~/ridgeline

Terminal

claude

The first time, it asks you to choose a look (any is fine) and opens your browser to sign in with your Claude account. Approve it, then go back to the terminal.

It may ask "Do you trust the files in this folder?". This is your own folder: choose Yes.

Now type a question and press Enter:

Type this

What's in this folder? Answer in two sentences.

3. Permission prompts: read before you press Enter

Claude Code asks before it runs a command or changes a file. The prompt shows exactly what it wants to do, then offers choices like Yes, Yes, and don't ask again and No.

For now, a simple rule:

Reading something (listing files, opening a file): Yes is fine.
Changing something (editing, deleting, sending, pushing to GitHub): read what it says, and only say yes if it's what you asked for.
Not sure what it does? Choose No and ask it: "What would that command do?"

Module 3 turns this into proper rules, so you're asked less often about safe things and always about risky ones.

4. Leave

Type /exit and press Enter (or press Ctrl + C twice). You're back in your normal terminal.

That's everything. You're set up.

Next: Module 0: Programming basics