How to Install Claude Code in 10 Minutes (Even If You’ve Never Used a Terminal)

The hardest part of starting with Claude Code isn’t Claude Code. It’s the terminal. If you’ve never opened that black-and-white window before, every guide on the internet starts with “just open your terminal” like that’s a sentence anyone understands.

This guide assumes you’ve never opened it. That’s fine. You don’t need to be afraid of it. By the end of this post you’ll have Claude Code running and your first prompt answered.

Step 1: Open your terminal (3 minutes)

Your terminal is just a window where you type commands instead of clicking buttons. That’s the entire definition. It’s already on your computer.

On a Mac: press Cmd + Space to open Spotlight, type terminal, and hit Enter. A window opens. That’s your terminal.

On Windows: press the Windows key, type terminal, and click “Windows Terminal.” If you don’t see it, install it from the Microsoft Store (it’s free).

On Linux: you already know.

You’ll see a blinking cursor. That’s waiting for you to type something. Don’t panic.

Step 2: Install Node.js (3 minutes)

Claude Code runs on something called Node.js. Think of Node.js as the engine that lets Claude Code run on your computer. You only have to install it once.

Go to nodejs.org and click the big green button that says “LTS” (Long-Term Support). Run the installer like you would any other app. Click Next a few times. Done.

To check it worked, go back to your terminal and type:

node --version

If you see something like v20.x.x, you’re good. If you see “command not found,” close your terminal, open a new one, and try again.

Step 3: Install Claude Code (2 minutes)

This is the magic part. In your terminal, type:

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

Hit Enter. You’ll see some text scroll past. That’s Node downloading Claude Code from the internet and installing it. When it finishes (usually 30–60 seconds), you’re done.

Step 4: Run Claude Code for the first time (2 minutes)

Still in your terminal, type:

claude

The first time you run it, Claude will ask you to log in with your Anthropic account. (If you don’t have one, sign up for free at claude.ai.) Follow the prompts in your browser, and come back to the terminal when you’re logged in.

You should now see Claude waiting for your first prompt.

Your first prompt

Try this:

Build me a simple HTML page that says "Hello, world" with a Bible verse below it.

Hit Enter. Watch what happens.

That’s it. You’re vibe coding.

What if something goes wrong?

Three things go wrong for almost everyone:

• “command not found: npm” — means Node isn’t installed correctly. Go back to step 2 and reinstall.
• “permission denied” on Mac — type sudo npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code instead. It’ll ask for your computer password.
• Claude won’t open — close your terminal completely, open a new one, and run claude again.

Stuck on something else? Drop into our community Discord (link in your dashboard if you’ve started the trial) and someone will help you in minutes.

Now what?

You have Claude Code installed. You ran your first prompt. You’re ahead of 99% of people who are talking about vibe coding without ever trying it.

The next step is actually building something real. Not a hello-world page — a thing that you would use, or that someone else would use. The 3-Hour Challenge walks you through that exact path: pick an idea, build it with Claude, push it to GitHub, deploy it to the internet, and (in module 8) connect Stripe so you can take real money.