At most one email a week. Unfollow anytime with one click.
Transcript
The full narration of this video. The current sentence is highlighted while the video plays; click any sentence to jump there.
Show transcript
Introduction
Hi, and welcome back. Now that we know what Claude Code is, it's time to install it on your computer so Claude can start working in our project folder. In this episode we check our preparation, get to know the terminal, follow the official documentation to install, and then run Claude Code for the first time with Raka.
Step 1: Preparation checks before installing
Before installing, check three things. First, an active Claude account that includes access to Claude Code. Which plans include it can change, so look at Anthropic's official site. Second, a computer with a supported operating system. The full list, including minimum versions, is in the official Claude Code documentation. Third, a stable internet connection and permission to install apps. If you're using a work laptop, ask your IT team first whether you're allowed to install new programs. Why don't we memorize the install command from a video? Because the way to install Claude Code can change. A tutorial that was right last year may not work today. The second reason is safety. There are always copycat sites offering fake downloads. Take commands and files only from Anthropic's official site. Third, the official documentation has separate steps for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Pick the section that matches your computer, then follow it slowly, in order.
Step 2: Getting to know the terminal
Claude Code runs in the terminal. The terminal is a window where we type text commands to the computer, without the buttons and menus of a regular app. On Windows, we can use Windows Terminal or PowerShell. On macOS, there's an app called Terminal. Don't worry: once Claude Code is running, we just type in everyday language. One important idea: the terminal is always in one active folder, and Claude Code works in that folder. So Raka creates a dedicated folder called sunset-coffee-web. Then Raka opens the terminal inside that folder. The easiest way: open the folder in your file explorer, right-click an empty area, and choose the option to open a terminal. The name differs slightly on each system. After that, Claude Code is started by typing claude. Because it starts in the project folder, Claude only works in that area, not across your whole computer. This habit protects your personal files. Don't run Claude Code directly in your Documents or Desktop folder, which hold lots of unrelated things.
Step 3: Installing by following the documentation
Here are the installation steps. First, open the official Claude Code documentation. Find it through Anthropic's site, not from an ad or a link sent by someone you don't know. Second, choose the instructions for your operating system. Read the requirements all the way through before running anything, including the small notes people often miss. Third, copy the install command from that page, paste it into the terminal, press Enter, and wait. It can take a few minutes depending on your connection. Fourth, when it's done, close the terminal and open it again in the project folder. This small step is often forgotten, yet it's what lets the computer recognize the new command. This is roughly what it looks like in Raka's terminal. On the first line, Raka pastes the install command copied from the official documentation. We deliberately don't show the exact command here because it can change. The terminal shows the download and installation progress, then says it's done. If you see red text, don't panic yet; read the message slowly. After reopening the terminal, Raka types claude and presses Enter. This is the command to start Claude Code in the active folder. The first time you use it, Claude Code asks you to sign in with your account. Usually a browser opens automatically for this. Follow the on-screen instructions until you're done. The most common beginner problem looks like this. Raka types claude straight away in the same terminal, right after the installation finished. The terminal replies that the claude command isn't recognized. That doesn't mean the installation failed. Often the old terminal just hasn't picked up what was newly installed. Raka closes the terminal and opens it again in the sunset-coffee-web folder. If that still doesn't work, try restarting the computer, then check the troubleshooting section of the documentation. This time the claude command is recognized, and Claude Code greets us as ready. The lesson: don't rush to reinstall before trying the simple steps. If the installation fails, stay calm. First, read the error message all the way through. The cause is often written plainly, such as a dropped connection. Second, open the troubleshooting section of the official documentation. Common problems usually already have answers there. Third, ask Claude chat and paste in the error message. Mention your operating system too, so the advice fits. One rule: never paste passwords, secret keys, or login codes into the conversation. If the error message contains data like that, delete that part first.
Step 4: Running Claude Code for the first time
Once you've signed in, the terminal screen changes. There's a short welcome and a note about the working folder. Raka checks that the folder really is sunset-coffee-web. Raka types a light test message: hi, what can you help with in this folder? Notice this is everyday language, not a computer command. From now on, this box is where we talk to Claude. Claude checks the folder contents first. The result: the folder is still empty. Listing a folder only reads it, so nothing changes. Then Claude answers: it can build a website, tidy files, or explain code, and asks where to start. That means the installation worked. Raka just replies that this is only a test. We'll do the first real command together in the next episode. Besides the terminal, Claude Code can also run in other places, such as a desktop app or an extension for a code editor. These look more like a regular app. The terminal is lightweight and has the most complete features. The other options usually feel friendlier for beginners because they have buttons and panels. These options keep evolving, so check the official documentation for the latest list. In this class we use the terminal view, but the way you give instructions is the same.
Step 5: Safe habits from day one
Before we wrap up, let's build four safe habits. First, always start from the project folder, and check the folder name at the bottom of the terminal before giving instructions. Second, keep secrets away. Passwords, bank account numbers, and customer data lists shouldn't be kept in a folder that Claude Code opens. Third, keep a backup. Before a big change, copy the project folder somewhere else. If the result isn't what you wanted, you can go back to that copy. Fourth, update Claude Code regularly using the steps in the official documentation. Updates bring fixes and new features, so the screens may look slightly different from this video. Let's check the results. We now have a project folder called sunset-coffee-web, which is Claude's work area. Claude Code is installed following the official documentation, and the account is signed in. You usually only need to sign in once on the same computer. We've also had one successful test conversation. If you've made it this far, congratulations, the tool is ready to use. If any step didn't work yet, calmly repeat that part of this episode. It's better to have the tool fully ready now than to get stuck in the middle of the website project later.
Done!
We've checked our preparation, got to know the terminal and the project folder, installed Claude Code through the official documentation, and run it for the first time. In the next episode we give our first real instructions: creating a file, reading the result, stopping Claude when needed, and using the help command. See you there!
Practice exercises
Try these on your own after watching to lock in what you learned.
Create a project folder for your own business or work
Run Claude Code in that folder and ask what it can help with
Bookmark the official Claude Code documentation in your browser
Ask the class material
Type a question or keyword; we find the part of this episode that explains it and jump the video there.
My notes
Notes are saved with the current video time and are only visible to you.
Questions & answers
Stuck on a step? Ask here; the instructor and other learners can answer.
No questions yet.
Your instructor
Cerdas Inovasi Digital Team
Software developers, BIM & 3D engineers, and AI practitioners
53 video classes1,281 episodes
We build software, BIM models, games and AI automations for clients every day, and turn that hands-on work into step-by-step classes: every step is shown on screen and comes with a PDF guide you can keep.
