Installing Claude Code

Install takes about a minute on any platform. Pick the environment you actually live in — terminal, IDE, desktop, or web — and get Claude Code talking to your project. This lesson is a reference: jump to the section you need.

Terminal — macOS, Linux, WSL

One-line install with curl:

curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | sh

Prefer Homebrew? This works too, but it does not auto-update — you have to brew upgrade yourself:

brew install anthropic/claude/claude

Terminal — Windows

PowerShell:

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

CMD:

curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.cmd -o install.cmd && install.cmd

winget (also no auto-update):

winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode

First run

From any terminal install, cd into the project you want to work on and run:

claude

You will step through a short setup: pick a color theme and sign in. Supported accounts are Pro, Max, Enterprise, or an API key. If your organisation has a Claude Enterprise account, select that option at sign-in.

Scope rule: the directory you launch claude from becomes its working root. Claude Code has access to that directory and every subfolder beneath it — nothing above.

VS Code

1. Open the Extensions panel and search Claude Code.
2. Pick the extension published by Anthropic — verify the blue verified check.
3. Install, then restart VS Code.
4. Open the command palette (Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+P) and run Claude Code: Open in New Tab. Or click the Claude logo in the sidebar when a file is open.

The VS Code integration is nearly identical to the terminal experience. Prefer the raw terminal UI? Opt out of the extension UI in your settings and run Claude Code directly.

JetBrains IDEs

1. Install the Claude Code plugin from the JetBrains Marketplace.
2. Restart the IDE.
3. Click the Claude logo to open a side pane that runs the terminal experience alongside your editor.

Claude Desktop

After installing Claude Desktop and signing in, you will see a Code toggle at the top of the window. Switch it on to point Claude at a specific folder, configure permissions, and run work in a cloud environment while you do other things locally.

Web

Go to claude.ai/code (or click Code in the sidebar of the chat app). The web surface mirrors the desktop experience with one restriction: GitHub repositories only.

Which one should you use?

Terminal — the cutting edge. New features ship here first. Start here if you want the full capability surface.

VS Code or JetBrains — the same power, integrated into your editor. Choose this if you want Claude Code to feel like part of your IDE rather than a separate pane.

Claude Desktop — strong for background work while you do other things on your machine.

Web — best for remote work against GitHub repos, or for running multiple parallel sessions against the same project.

There is no wrong answer. Pick the surface that matches how you already work.