Quickstart

This quickstart guide will have you using AI-powered coding assistance in just a few minutes. By the end, you’ll understand how to use Claude Code for common development tasks.

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Before you begin

Make sure you have:

• A terminal or command prompt open
• A code project to work with
• A Claude.ai (recommended) or Anthropic Console account

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Step 1: Install Claude Code

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NPM Install

If you have Node.js 18 or newer installed:

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

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Native Install

macOS, Linux, WSL:

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

Windows PowerShell:

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

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Step 2: Log in to your account

Claude Code requires an account to use. When you start an interactive session with the claude command, you’ll need to log in:

claude
# You'll be prompted to log in on first use

/login
# Follow the prompts to log in with your account

You can log in using either account type:

• Claude.ai (subscription plans - recommended)
• Anthropic Console (API access with pre-paid credits)

Once logged in, your credentials are stored and you won’t need to log in again.

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Step 3: Start your first session

Open your terminal in any project directory and start Claude Code:

cd /path/to/your/project
claude

You’ll see the Claude Code prompt inside a new interactive session:

✻ Welcome to Claude Code!

...

> Try "create a util logging.py that..." 

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Step 4: Ask your first question

Let’s start with understanding your codebase. Try one of these commands:

> what does this project do?

Claude will analyze your files and provide a summary. You can also ask more specific questions:

> what technologies does this project use?

> where is the main entry point?

> explain the folder structure

You can also ask Claude about its own capabilities:

> what can Claude Code do?

> how do I use slash commands in Claude Code?

> can Claude Code work with Docker?

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Step 5: Make your first code change

Now let’s make Claude Code do some actual coding. Try a simple task:

> add a hello world function to the main file

Claude Code will:

1. Find the appropriate file
2. Show you the proposed changes
3. Ask for your approval
4. Make the edit

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Step 6: Use Git with Claude Code

Claude Code makes Git operations conversational:

> what files have I changed?

> commit my changes with a descriptive message

You can also prompt for more complex Git operations:

> create a new branch called feature/quickstart

> show me the last 5 commits

> help me resolve merge conflicts

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Step 7: Fix a bug or add a feature

Claude is proficient at debugging and feature implementation.

Describe what you want in natural language:

> add input validation to the user registration form

Or fix existing issues:

> there's a bug where users can submit empty forms - fix it

Claude Code will:

• Locate the relevant code
• Understand the context
• Implement a solution
• Run tests if available

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Step 8: Test out other common workflows

There are a number of ways to work with Claude:

Refactor code

> refactor the authentication module to use async/await instead of callbacks

Write tests

> write unit tests for the calculator functions

Update documentation

> update the README with installation instructions

Code review

> review my changes and suggest improvements

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Essential commands

Here are the most important commands for daily use:

See the CLI reference for a complete list of commands.

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Pro tips for beginners

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What’s next?

Now that you’ve learned the basics, explore more advanced features:

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Getting help

• In Claude Code: Type /help or ask “how do I…”
• Documentation: You’re here! Browse other guides
• Community: Join our Discord for tips and support