Before You Start — Read This
Two things to know before you install anything.
Claude Pro required: Claude Code requires a paid Claude Pro subscription ($20/month) or an Anthropic API key.
A free Anthropic account alone will not work. Sign up at
claude.ai and choose the Pro plan before continuing.
What Claude Sees
- Everything you type or say in a Claude session
- File contents you paste into chat
- With Claude Code: files in your open project folder
- Terminal output and error messages you share
- With voice mode: your spoken audio, in real time
Never Share in Claude
- Passwords or login credentials of any kind
- GitHub tokens or API keys
- School or work login credentials
- Social Security numbers or financial information
- Confidential student or employee records
Note: These tools are for learning and personal projects.
Do not use Claude Code to work with institutional systems, protected student data (FERPA), or
confidential files. If unsure, don't share it.
anthropic.com/privacy.
How to Use Claude During Setup
During setup you'll use Claude chat at claude.ai — not Claude Code, which isn't installed yet. You have two modes. Knowing when to use each makes the process much smoother.
Voice / Audio
Talk Through It
- Hands-free — great when clicking through installers or navigating menus
- Natural back-and-forth, like a colleague watching over your shoulder
- Easy when you don't know the right terminology — just describe what you see
- Can't paste error messages — Claude only hears what you say
- Harder to follow commands that require exact syntax
Text Interface
Type and Paste
- Paste error messages directly — Claude diagnoses the exact output
- Copy commands Claude gives you without risk of mistyping
- Scroll back and re-read instructions at your own pace
- More context-switching between chat and your terminal or VS Code
- Slower for UI steps that are easier to describe aloud
Recommended: Start with voice to move quickly through downloads and UI steps.
Switch to text the moment something breaks — paste the exact error and Claude will diagnose it.
You can switch mid-conversation.
The Four Phases
Work through these in order. Each phase gives you a prompt to paste into Claude — it handles the rest.
1
Install VS Code
Get the editor on your machine
VS Code is a free code editor made by Microsoft. It runs on Mac, Windows, and Linux.
If you already have it, skip to Phase 2. The prompt below will help Claude check and walk you through installation.
Paste into Claude at claude.ai (text or voice)
I want to set up VS Code on my computer. I'm on [Mac / Windows / Linux — fill in yours]. Can you check if I already have it installed and, if not, walk me through downloading and installing the current version? Let me know if there are any settings I should configure right after installing.
What to expect
- Claude will tell you how to check if VS Code is already installed
- If not, it will give you the current download link and install steps
- It may suggest a few recommended settings to enable right away
2
Install and Connect Claude Code
Add the AI extension to VS Code
Claude Code is an extension you install inside VS Code. It connects to your Anthropic account
and gives Claude the ability to read your project files, write code, and run terminal commands.
Claude Pro required: You must have an active Claude Pro subscription ($20/month) before this step.
Sign up at claude.ai → choose Pro.
Paste into Claude at claude.ai (text or voice)
I have VS Code installed and I want to add the Claude Code extension. Can you walk me through finding and installing it from the VS Code marketplace, and then show me how to sign in and connect it to my Anthropic account? Let me know what I need to have set up before I can start using it.
What to expect
- Claude will walk you through the Extensions panel in VS Code
- You will need a Claude Pro account — Claude will help you set one up if needed
- After sign-in, Claude Code will appear as a panel inside VS Code
- Claude may suggest a quick test to confirm the extension is working
3
Connect to GitHub
Save and share your work
GitHub is where your projects live online. Connecting VS Code to GitHub means every change
you make can be saved to a repository — giving you version history, a backup, and a shareable link.
Paste into Claude at claude.ai (text or voice)
I want to connect VS Code to GitHub so I can save my projects online. I'm on [Mac / Windows / Linux]. Can you help me: (1) check if Git is installed and install it if not, (2) set up a free GitHub account if I don't have one, and (3) connect VS Code to my GitHub account so I can push and pull code? Walk me through each step and explain what's happening.
What to expect
- Claude will check for Git and guide you through installing it if needed
- You will create a GitHub account at github.com if you don't have one
- Claude will show you how to authenticate VS Code with GitHub — usually via browser sign-in
- You may also install the GitHub CLI (gh) — a useful terminal tool for managing repos
4
Create Your First Project and Push It
Put it all together
With VS Code, Claude Code, and GitHub all connected, you're ready to build something.
This phase creates a project folder, uses Claude Code to build files, and pushes to GitHub.
Use this prompt inside Claude Code in VS Code — not in claude.ai.
Paste into Claude Code inside VS Code
I just set up VS Code with Claude Code and connected it to GitHub. I want to create my first project. Can you help me: (1) create a new project folder and open it in VS Code, (2) initialize it as a Git repository, (3) create a simple starting file so there's something to commit, (4) create a new repository on GitHub, and (5) push my project to it? Walk me through each step and explain what's happening.
What to expect
- Claude will create a project folder and initialize Git inside it
- You will make your first commit — a snapshot of your files at this moment
- Claude will create a new GitHub repository and connect your local folder to it
- After pushing, you can visit github.com and see your project live online
Tips for When Things Go Wrong
Setup rarely goes perfectly on the first try. These habits will save you time.
Paste your errors directly
Copy the exact error message and paste it into text chat. Don't describe it — paste it. Claude diagnoses exact output much faster than descriptions.
Always say your operating system
Tell Claude whether you're on Mac, Windows, or Linux. The commands and steps are often different, and Claude needs to know to give you the right instructions.
Ask Claude to explain, not just do
Add "and explain what each step does" to any prompt. You'll understand the setup better and troubleshoot more confidently when something breaks.
Switch from voice to text for errors
Voice mode is great for clicking through screens. The moment you see an error message, switch to text and paste the exact output — don't read it aloud.