Set up Claude Code

About 10 minutes. Do it before the session if you can; we’ll also do it together at the start.

You need a paid Claude plan to follow along

Claude Code works with a Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise plan, or a Console (API) account. The free Claude plan does not include Claude Code, and NC State doesn’t have a campus-wide license. We can’t create accounts during the session.

No paid plan? Come anyway. You can watch, or pair with a neighbor and be the person who checks the agent’s work, which is half the skill. Not sure what you have? Ask at go.ncsu.edu/getdatahelp before the session.

1. Open a terminal

A terminal is a window where you type commands instead of clicking.

Press Cmd-Space, type Terminal, and press Enter.

Press the Win key, type PowerShell, and press Enter. Your prompt starts with PS C:\.

New to terminals? Anthropic’s terminal guide for new users walks through it with pictures.

2. Install

Copy the line for your computer, paste it into the terminal, and press Enter.

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

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

If you see 'irm' is not recognized, you’re in Command Prompt, not PowerShell. Use this line instead:

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

The installer shows no progress while it downloads. Give it a minute.

3. Check it worked

Read the end of the installer’s output. If it shows Setup notes saying the install folder isn’t in your PATH, your terminal can’t find claude yet. Run the fix it prints there, or this one:

echo 'export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc && source ~/.zshrc

$currentPath = [Environment]::GetEnvironmentVariable('PATH', 'User')
[Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable('PATH', "$currentPath;$env:USERPROFILE\.local\bin", 'User')

Then close the terminal and open a new one, and run:

claude --version

You should see a version number, like 2.1.299 (Claude Code).

4. Sign in

Run claude. The first time, it asks you to pick a text style and sign in. Choose your Claude account, finish signing in through the browser window that opens, and come back to the terminal. If it then asks whether you trust this folder, choose No, exit: it’s your home folder, and you’re already signed in. Otherwise, type /exit to leave for now.

If something goes wrong

What you see	What to do
`command not found: claude` or `'claude' is not recognized`	Run the PATH fix in step 3, then open a new terminal. Still missing? See Fix your PATH.
The install line fails (`403`, `syntax error near unexpected token '<'`)	Your network may be blocking the download. Try another network, or see Troubleshoot installation.
Signing in says your plan doesn’t include Claude Code	You’re on the free plan. Watch or pair up today; upgrading is your call.
Claude says “You’ve hit your Opus limit”	Type `/model sonnet` and carry on.
A window offers to install “command line developer tools” (Mac)	Claude tried a tool your Mac doesn’t have yet. Not Now is fine for today; Install takes 5–10 minutes.
Anything else	Run `claude doctor` in the terminal. It checks your install and suggests fixes. Inside Claude Code, `/doctor` can fix some problems for you.

Rather not use a terminal?

The Claude desktop app has a Code tab that runs Claude Code without one. Our steps are written for the terminal, but the prompts work the same way there.

Before the session: get the starter folder

Download one of these and unzip it to your Desktop:

study-rooms.zip: a campus library’s study-room bookings
cafe.zip: a campus café’s daily sales

We’ll use Study-room bookings live; the other works on your own afterward. Both hold made-up data.

Checked against Claude Code 2.1.299 on October 14, 2026. Claude Code changes often; if a screen looks different, the official setup page wins.