How to Set Up Claude Code

Get Anthropic's AI coding assistant running in your terminal.

Claude Code is a command-line tool that brings Claude's intelligence directly into your development workflow. It can read your codebase, write files, run commands, and maintain documentation — all from natural language instructions.

Prerequisites

  • Node.js 18+ — Claude Code runs on Node.js
  • Terminal access — Command Prompt, PowerShell, Terminal, or any shell
  • Anthropic account — You'll need an API key or Claude Pro/Max subscription

Installation

Step 1: Install via npm

Open your terminal and run:

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

This installs Claude Code globally so you can use it in any directory.

Step 2: Authenticate

Run Claude Code for the first time:

claude

You'll be prompted to authenticate. You can either:

  • Use your Claude Pro/Max subscription — Sign in with your Anthropic account
  • Use an API key — Get one from console.anthropic.com

Step 3: Verify installation

Check that everything's working:

claude --version

Basic Usage

Start a session

Navigate to your project folder and run:

claude

Claude Code will analyse your project structure and wait for instructions.

Give instructions

Just type (or speak with Wispr Flow) what you want:

"Create a new PHP template for the about page"
"Add a mobile menu toggle to the header"
"Update the changelog with today's changes"
"Find all files that reference the database"

Review and approve

Claude Code shows you what it plans to do before making changes. You can:

  • Approve — Let it proceed
  • Reject — Ask for a different approach
  • Modify — Give additional instructions

Tips for Better Results

Keep a docs folder

Maintain documentation files (like PROJECT.md) that explain your project structure. Claude reads these to understand context.

Be specific

Instead of "make it better", say "add hover effects to the navigation links with a colour transition".

Break down big tasks

For complex features, describe them step by step rather than all at once.

Iterate

Claude Code remembers the conversation. Build on previous changes without repeating context.

Useful Commands

/help Show available commands
/clear Clear conversation history
/compact Summarise conversation to save context
/cost Show token usage and costs
Ctrl+C Cancel current operation

Combine with Voice Input

Claude Code becomes even more powerful when you don't have to type. Pair it with Wispr Flow to speak your instructions naturally.

This entire website was built that way — every page, every style, every piece of documentation was created by voice.

Set Up Wispr Flow See It In Action