Installing Node.js, VS Code, Git & Claude Code

What You'll Install

You'll set up four tools. Together they form your workshop for everything that follows:

1. Node.js — the runtime that Claude Code and most web apps need
2. VS Code — a code editor for reading and understanding your code
3. Git — version control (covered in depth in a later module, but install it now)
4. Claude Code — the AI coding assistant itself

This might seem like a lot, but each step is straightforward. Take your time, and verify each one before moving to the next.

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Step 1: Install Node.js

Node.js is a program that lets you run JavaScript code outside of a browser. Claude Code requires it.

Check if you already have it

Open your terminal and type:

node --version

If you see something like v20.10.0, Node.js is already installed — skip to Step 2. If you see command not found, you need to install it.

Installing Node.js

The recommended way (using nvm — Node Version Manager):

This is the most reliable method and what most developers use. Paste this into your terminal.

On Mac/Linux:

curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.40.0/install.sh | bash

Then close your terminal, open a new one, and run:

nvm install 20
nvm use 20
node --version

You should see v20.x.x.

Alternative: Direct download

If the command above doesn't work, go to nodejs.org and download the LTS (Long Term Support) installer. Run it and follow the prompts.

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Step 2: Install VS Code

VS Code is a free, excellent code editor. You'll use it to look at your project files, understand what Claude has built, and make small manual edits when needed.

1. Go to code.visualstudio.com
2. Click the download button for your operating system
3. Run the installer and follow the prompts
4. Open VS Code

Set up the code command

You want to be able to open VS Code from the terminal by typing code .:

1. Open VS Code
2. Press Cmd + Shift + P (Mac) or Ctrl + Shift + P (Windows)
3. Type Shell Command and select "Shell Command: Install 'code' command in PATH"
4. Restart your terminal

Now code . will open your current folder in VS Code.

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Step 3: Install Git

Git is a version control system — it tracks the history of your project so you can undo mistakes and never lose work. We cover it in depth in a later module, but you need it installed now.

Check if you already have it

git --version

If you see something like git version 2.39.0, you're good — skip to Step 4.

Installing Git

On Mac: If you don't have Git, running git --version will usually prompt you to install the Xcode Command Line Tools. Follow the prompt — it installs Git automatically. Alternatively, download from git-scm.com/download/mac.

On Windows: Download from git-scm.com/download/win and run the installer with the default settings.

After installing, run git --version again to confirm it worked.

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Step 4: Install Claude Code

Now the main event.

Make sure you have Claude Pro first

Claude Code requires a Claude Pro subscription or an Anthropic API key. If you haven't signed up for Pro yet:

1. Go to claude.ai
2. Click your profile icon
3. Upgrade to Pro

Install Claude Code

Open your terminal and run:

npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

The -g means global — it installs Claude Code so you can use it anywhere on your computer. Wait for it to finish. You'll see a progress bar and some text scrolling by. That's normal.

Authenticate

After installation, start Claude Code by running:

claude

The first time, it will ask you to authenticate with your Anthropic account. Follow the prompts:

1. It opens a browser window
2. Log in with your Anthropic account
3. Authorize Claude Code
4. Return to the terminal

You should see a welcome message and a prompt waiting for your input:

Claude Code - Ready
>

You're in.

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Troubleshooting Common Installation Issues

"Permission denied" error

On Mac, try adding sudo before the command:

sudo npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

You'll be prompted for your computer password.

npm not found

This means Node.js didn't install correctly. Try the Step 1 instructions again. When in doubt, ask Claude in the browser:

"I tried to install npm on my Mac but I'm getting [error]. How do I fix it?"

The authentication step isn't working

Make sure you have an active Claude Pro subscription. The free tier doesn't include Claude Code.

Something else went wrong

Copy the error from your terminal and ask Claude (in the browser):

"I'm trying to install Claude Code and I got this error: [paste error]. I'm on [Mac/Windows/Linux]. How do I fix it?"

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Step 5: Verify Everything Works

Run each of these and confirm you get a version number back:

node --version    # Should show v18 or higher
npm --version     # Should show a version number
git --version     # Should show a version number
claude --version  # Should show the Claude Code version

If all four return a version, you're ready for your first session. If any fail, fix them before moving on.

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From Here On, Just Ask Claude Code

This is the last time you'll install much by hand. Setting up Claude Code itself has to be manual — it's the bootstrap that everything else runs on. But from now on, when a lesson needs a package installed or a project scaffolded, you can let Claude Code do it: start a session and describe what you want (for example, "Install the Supabase libraries in this project and set up the client files"). The build modules give you ready-to-paste prompts for exactly this. The manual steps stay in the lessons so you always understand what's happening under the hood — but you rarely have to type them yourself.

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Summary

• Node.js is the runtime required for Claude Code and web apps — install via nvm or nodejs.org.
• VS Code is your code editor; enable the code . command so you can open folders from the terminal.
• Git is version control — install it now even though you'll use it heavily later.
• Claude Code installs with npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code and authenticates via your browser.
• Verify the whole stack with node, npm, git, and claude --version before continuing.