Every builder needs tools. A carpenter has a saw, a hammer, and a tape measure. A vibe coder has a terminal, a code editor, and version control. Today, we set up all three.
The Terminal Is Not Scary
The terminal is just a text-based way to talk to your computer. Instead of clicking icons, you type commands. That's it.
Concept
Think of the terminal as a direct conversation with your computer. Instead of navigating through menus and windows, you type exactly what you want. It's actually faster once you get used to it — and it's essential for working with Claude Code.How to open it:
- macOS: Open the Terminal app (search for "Terminal" in Spotlight with Cmd+Space)
- Windows: Open PowerShell (search for "PowerShell" in the Start menu)
- Linux: Open any terminal emulator (usually Ctrl+Alt+T)
Your first commands:
| Command | What it does | macOS/Linux | Windows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where am I? | Shows your current folder | pwd |
cd |
| What's here? | Lists files in current folder | ls |
dir |
| Go into a folder | Change directory | cd foldername |
cd foldername |
| Create a folder | Make a new directory | mkdir foldername |
mkdir foldername |
Try It
Open your terminal and create your project folder:mkdir waitlist-wizardcd waitlist-wizard
Installing Node.js
Node.js lets you run JavaScript outside of a web browser. Our project will use it to run the development server and build the application.
Installation steps:
- Go to nodejs.org
- Download the LTS version (Long Term Support — the stable one)
- Run the installer and accept all defaults
- Verify it worked by typing in your terminal:
node --version
npm --version
You should see version numbers. If you see "command not found," close and reopen your terminal.
Pro Tip
Always install the LTS (Long Term Support) version of Node.js, not the "Current" version. LTS is stable and well-tested. The "Current" version may have bugs or breaking changes.VS Code: Your Code Editor
VS Code (Visual Studio Code) is a free code editor made by Microsoft. It's used by millions of developers worldwide, and it's the best environment for working alongside AI.
Installation steps:
- Go to code.visualstudio.com
- Download for your operating system
- Install and open it
Key things to know:
- File Explorer (left sidebar) — shows your project files
- Integrated Terminal (bottom panel) — a terminal built into VS Code (open with Ctrl+` or View > Terminal)
- Saving files — Ctrl+S (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+S (Mac)
Try It
Open VS Code, then use File > Open Folder to open yourwaitlist-wizard folder. You should see an empty project in the file explorer.
Recommended extensions (install 2 for now):
- Prettier — automatically formats your code to look clean
- ESLint — highlights potential errors as you write
To install: click the Extensions icon in the left sidebar (or Ctrl+Shift+X) and search for each one.
Git: Your Safety Net
Git is version control — it creates "save points" for your code. Think of it like save states in a video game. If something breaks, you can always go back to a previous state.
Concept
Git tracks changes to your files over time. Every time you "commit," you create a snapshot of your entire project at that moment. If AI generates code that breaks something, you can roll back to the last working version.Installation:
- macOS: Git comes pre-installed. Type
git --versionto verify. - Windows: Download from git-scm.com and run the installer (accept all defaults).
- Linux: Run
sudo apt install git(Ubuntu/Debian) orsudo dnf install git(Fedora).
Configure your identity:
git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "your@email.com"
Initialize your project:
cd waitlist-wizard
git init
Your first commit:
- Create a file called
README.mdin yourwaitlist-wizardfolder. You can do this in VS Code or with the terminal:
echo "# Waitlist Wizard" > README.md
- Stage and commit:
git add .
git commit -m "first commit"
Try It
Rungit log in your terminal. You should see your first commit with the message "first commit." You now have version control set up.
GitHub Account (Optional but Recommended)
GitHub is where developers store and share code. We'll use it in Lesson 10 to deploy your app.
- Go to github.com and create a free account
- You don't need to create any repositories yet — we'll do that later
Honest Note
These tools might feel unfamiliar and intimidating. That's completely normal. You only need to learn them once. From Lesson 3 onwards, Claude Code will help you use them — you'll just describe what you want in plain English, and it handles the terminal commands.Key Takeaway
You now have the three foundational tools every developer uses: a terminal, a code editor, and version control. These tools might feel unfamiliar, but you only need to learn them once. From here on, Claude Code will help you use them.