Start here
Install Claude Code
Now install Claude Code itself. There are two ways — I strongly recommend the first, the Desktop app, because you drive everything from a simple chat window and never have to use the terminal yourself.
Desktop app — recommended
- A simple chat window, no terminal
- Point-and-click install like any app
- The route the whole course assumes
Terminal
- The classic route for the technical
- One-line installer, copy-paste
- Only if you genuinely prefer it
The easy way: the Desktop app (recommended)
- Go to
claude.com/download. - Download the version for your computer — Mac or Windows — and install it like any app.
- Open it and sign in with your Claude account (the one you put on Pro). Approve the browser pop-up.
The Claude Code app opens and you’re signed in. That’s everything you need — you’ll drive it all from the chat window in the next modules.
The alternative: the terminal (only if you prefer it)
If you’d rather use the classic terminal, here are the official one-line installers. Otherwise, skip this.
Mac — open the Terminal app and paste:
Mac / Linux — Terminal
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
Windows — open PowerShell and paste:
Windows — PowerShell
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex
Check it worked, then start it any time:
Type or paste this
claude --version claude
If claude --version says “command not found,” close the terminal window and open a fresh one. Still stuck? Just use the Desktop app — it avoids all of this.
Watch this step
If you'd rather watch someone click through the install first, this step-by-step covers both the Desktop-app and terminal routes we describe below. It’s from an independent creator — credited below, so go give them a follow.
From Zero to Claude Code in 19 Minutes (no code)
CLAUDE CODE FULL COURSE 4 HOURS: Build & Sell (2026)
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