Pre-workshop

Pre-workshop setup

Account setup, software installation, and the Codespace fallback. Complete before the first session.

Accounts

1
Anthropic account with a paid plan. claude.ai → Settings → Plans. Pro ($20/mo) is the minimum; Max ($100/mo) is recommended for heavier in-workshop use without rate limits.
2
GitHub account (free, optional). Only required if you use the Codespace fallback for local install (see below).

Software install

Claude Code runs in your computer’s terminal(also called “Terminal,” “command line,” or “PowerShell” on Windows). If you have never used a terminal before, that is fine. The terminal is just a window where you type commands and press Enter. Follow the instructions for your operating system below.

The installer below is self-contained. You do not need Node.js, Homebrew, or any other prerequisite. You also do not need to install R or Python before the workshop. We will have Claude Code install whichever language you want on Day 1, in the install-and-first-conversation block. Bring a laptop you can run a terminal on; that is all.

macOS

1
Open the Terminal app. Press Cmd + Space, type terminal, and press Enter. A window with a blank prompt opens.
2
Copy the line below, paste it into the terminal (Cmd + V), and press Enter:
```
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
```
3
The installer may ask for your Mac password. Type it and press Enter. The cursor will not move while you type, and no asterisks appear. That is normal. Wait for the install to finish (about a minute).
4
Type claude and press Enter. A welcome screen prompts you to sign in. Follow the link it shows; your browser opens to authorize Claude Code against your Anthropic account. Return to the terminal once authorized.
5
You are done when you see the Claude Code prompt. Try typing hello, what can you do? and pressing Enter. You should see a response.

Windows

1
Install Git for Windows. Download the installer, run it, and click through the defaults. This adds a few command-line tools that Claude Code needs.
2
Open PowerShell. Press the Windows key, type PowerShell, and click the result. A blue window with a prompt opens.
3
Copy the line below, right-click in PowerShell to paste, and press Enter:
```
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex
```
4
Wait for the install to finish (about a minute). If Windows asks about running scripts, allow it.
5
Type claude and press Enter. A welcome screen prompts you to sign in. Follow the link it shows; your browser opens to authorize Claude Code against your Anthropic account.
6
You are done when you see the Claude Code prompt. Try typing hello, what can you do? and pressing Enter. You should see a response.

If anything fails

See the install help page for the most common errors and their fixes (PATH issues, Gatekeeper on Mac, PowerShell execution policy, stale API keys, corporate proxies, sign-in problems).

Codespace fallback

If your laptop is IT-managed, your install fails, or anything else goes sideways, use the cloud option: a one-click GitHub Codespace with Claude Code, R, and Python pre-installed.

The Codespace link is published the evening before the workshop. Use the local install in the steps above; the Codespace is a fallback for participants whose local install fails.

Install walkthrough videos

If the written instructions above feel abstract, watch someone else do it first. Pick the one for your operating system. Each covers the native installer flow used in the steps above and the most common errors people hit.

macOS

How To Install Claude Code On Mac (Native Installer 2026)

Windows

How to Install Claude Code on Windows 11 (2026 Guide)

These are third-party videos. They cover the install flow well; if the steps in them diverge from the written instructions above (the installer changes occasionally), trust the written instructions and the install help page.

Stuck?

Start at the install help page. It covers the common Mac and Windows errors with copy-paste fixes. If nothing on that page resolves it, use the Codespace fallback above.