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Quick Start

Get Claude Code running in 10 easy steps

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title: "Quick Start" description: "Get Claude Code running in 10 easy steps" section: "Getting Started" readTime: "10 min" badge: "NEW"

Quick Start: The Developer's Way

Most developers use Claude Code like ChatGPT. Here's the setup that actually works.

Installation

Choose your method:

Native (Recommended)

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

Windows PowerShell

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

npm Alternative

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

Step 1: Verify Installation

claude --version

You should see: Claude Code 1.x.x

Step 2: Authenticate

claude auth login

Follow the browser prompt to authenticate with your Anthropic account.

Step 3: Initialize Your Project

Navigate to your project directory:

cd my-project
claude init

This creates .claude/ directory with default configuration.

Step 4: Create Your CLAUDE.md

This is your agent's constitution. Keep it under 200 lines.

## Tech Stack
- Node.js 20+
- TypeScript
- Next.js 15
- Tailwind CSS v4
 
## Conventions
- Use kebab-case for file names
- Use camelCase for variables/functions
- ESLint runs on pre-commit
 
## Architecture
- /src/app - Next.js App Router
- /src/components - React components
- /src/lib - Utilities and helpers
 
## Security
- Never commit .env files
- API keys in environment only

Step 5: Your First Session

claude "Add a login form to the homepage with validation"

Claude Code will:

  1. Review your CLAUDE.md and project structure
  2. Ask for permission to execute changes
  3. Write, test, and commit the code

Step 6: Review the Changes

Check what was changed:

git diff

All edits are git-trackable for safety.

Use Shift+Tab to cycle through permission modes: default → plan → auto → bypass

Step 7: Use Plan Mode for Complex Work

claude -p "Refactor the authentication module for OAuth2 support"

Claude Code will show its plan first, let you review, then execute.

Step 8: Parallel Agent Teams

claude /batch "Task 1" "Task 2" "Task 3"

Runs three independent agents in parallel.

Step 9: Manage Checkpoints

claude /checkpoint save "Feature complete"
claude /checkpoint list
claude /checkpoint restore "Feature complete"

Git-based snapshots for safe experimentation.

Step 10: Advanced: Headless Mode

For CI/CD pipelines:

claude --accept-all "Run tests and deploy" 2>&1 | tee log.txt

Pre-Session Checklist

Next Steps