Install & Login
Installing Claude Code, logging in, setting up the VS Code extension, and choosing the right plan.
Claude Code is a command-line tool. It runs in your terminal — the same terminal you used in the Power of Code session. You install it once, log in once, and then it's available in every project on your machine.
Before You Start
Claude Code requires Node.js. If you haven't completed the Node.js installation section yet, go back and do that first. Node.js is not optional — without it, the installation command below will fail.
To confirm Node.js is installed, open your terminal and run node --version. You should see something like v20.11.0. Any version 18 or above is fine. If you see "command not found", Node.js is not installed.
node --version should return v20.x.x or higher. If you see an error, complete the Node.js installation section before continuing here.Installing Claude Code
Claude.ai homepage. Your Anthropic account credentials (the email and password you use here) are what you'll use to log in from the terminal.
Open your terminal
On Windows: press Windows + R, type cmd, press Enter. Or open VS Code and use `Ctrl + `` (backtick — the key above Tab) to open the integrated terminal.
Run the install command
Run npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code in your terminal.
The -g flag means "global" — this installs Claude Code so it's available from any folder on your machine, not just the current one. You install it once.
The installation will take 30–60 seconds. You'll see lines of output as packages download. This is normal.
Verify the installation
Run claude --version in your terminal. You should see a version number like 1.x.x. If you see this, Claude Code is installed correctly.
claude --version should return a version number. If you see "command not found", close your terminal completely and open a new one — the PATH update from the installation sometimes requires a fresh terminal session.Logging In
The first time you run Claude Code, it will ask you to authenticate. This links the tool to your Anthropic account.
Start Claude Code
In your terminal, type claude and press Enter.
Follow the login prompt
On first run, Claude Code will display a message asking you to authenticate. Press Enter to open the browser automatically, or copy the URL it shows and paste it into your browser manually.
Sign in with your Anthropic account
The browser will open the Anthropic login page. Sign in with the same account you used to subscribe to Claude Pro or Max. Once you approve, you will see a success message in your browser.
Return to the terminal
The terminal will confirm you are logged in and show the Claude Code prompt (a > symbol). You are ready.
> prompt. Type /help and press Enter. If you see a list of available commands, login is working correctly. Type Ctrl+C to exit Claude Code when done.The VS Code Extension
Claude Code has two interfaces — the terminal (CLI) and the VS Code extension. They are connected to the same account and the same AI, but they present differently.
The Claude Code product page at claude.ai/code. This shows both the terminal (CLI) interface and the VS Code extension — you'll install both.
Install the extension:
Ctrl+Shift+X to open the Extensions panelSign in to the extension:
Click the Claude icon in the Activity Bar. You will see a Sign in button. Click it — it will open the same browser authentication flow. Use the same Anthropic account.
Hello and press Enter. If Claude responds, the extension is connected and working.CLI vs Extension — Which to Use
| CLI (terminal) | VS Code Extension | |
|---|---|---|
| Access | claude in any terminal | Sidebar panel + inline suggestions |
| Best for | Long sessions, complex tasks, running commands | Quick questions, inline code suggestions |
| Context | Full project context | File-level context |
| Displays tool calls | Yes — you see every action | Partial |
| Keyboard shortcut | — | Ctrl + Shift + C |
Our recommendation: Use the CLI for most of your work in this workshop. The terminal interface shows you exactly what Claude is doing — every file it reads, every command it runs, every decision it makes. This transparency is valuable while you're learning. The extension is excellent for quick questions while you're in the middle of writing code.
Choosing Your Plan
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Claude Pro | $20/month | Sufficient for learning, Project 1, and Project 2 |
| Claude Max 5x | $100/month | For active development on client projects |
| Claude Max 20x | $200/month | For intensive production work (what Subhash uses) |
During training (Phases 1–4): Pro is enough. You're learning concepts, doing exercises, building personal projects. The usage limits won't be a problem.
When you join a client project (Phase 5): Upgrade to Max 5x. Client project sessions are longer and more intense. You'll hit Pro limits when doing multi-file refactors, debugging complex flows, or running large code generation tasks.
The upgrade is a single click in your Anthropic account settings. Don't upgrade preemptively — wait until you actually hit a limit.
Session Hygiene
Claude Code maintains a conversation history for the current session. Everything you've said and done since you typed claude is held in memory. This is powerful — Claude can refer back to earlier decisions and context. But it also means the session can become cluttered with old context that no longer applies.
Key commands:
When to use /clear:
- You've finished one task and are starting a completely different one
- Claude seems confused or keeps referring to something from earlier that's no longer relevant
- You've switched to a different project or a different feature area
When to use /compact:
- You're in the middle of a long session and want to continue from where you are
- You don't want to lose the overall context, but you want to free up space
- Claude tells you the context window is getting full
Starting a new Claude session in a different project folder automatically gives that project its own fresh context. You don't need to /clear between projects — just open a new terminal in the new project folder and type claude.
Verification
Run these three checks before moving to the next page:
node --version— should returnv20.x.xor highernpm --version— should return10.x.xor similarclaude --version— should return1.x.xor similar
If all three return version numbers — not errors — you are ready.
claude, and press Enter. Confirm the > prompt appears. Type What folder am I in? — Claude should read your current directory and respond accurately. Type Ctrl+C to exit.