Terminal Basics
The terminal is a text-based way to talk to your computer. Instead of clicking buttons, you type short commands. It looks intimidating at first, but you only need a handful of commands — and we'll guide you through every one.
You'll need this for the rest of the setup, so let's start here.
How to Open Your Terminal
- Press Cmd + Space to open Spotlight
- Type Terminal and press Enter
- A window with a blinking cursor appears — you're in!
- Press the Windows key
- Type PowerShell and press Enter
- A window with a blinking cursor appears — you're in!
Try It Out
Get a feel for the terminal — type these and see what happens.
| What to try | Command | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| See where you are | pwd | Shows your current folder |
| List what's here | ls | Shows files and folders |
| Clear the screen | clear | Cleans up the clutter |
| See today's date | date | Shows current date and time |
You don't need to memorize commands. You just need to know how to open the terminal and type what we tell you. We'll walk you through everything else.
Claude Setup
This is the most important part. Once you finish these steps, you're ready for the bootcamp.
Claude is the AI we'll be working with all weekend. In this section you'll subscribe, install the tools, and verify everything works.
Step 1: Create Your Claude Account
- Go to claude.ai in your browser
- Click "Sign up" and create an account with your email
- Verify your email address
Step 2: Choose Your Plan
Important: Claude Code requires a paid subscription. The free Claude.ai plan does not include Claude Code access.
| Plan | Price | Who it's for |
|---|---|---|
| Pro | $20/month | Most participants — all bootcamp exercises work on Pro |
| Max | From $100/month | Power users who want the highest usage limits |
Our recommendation: Start with Pro ($20/month). It covers everything you need for the bootcamp. You can always upgrade to Max later if you want more capacity.
Step 3: Verify Your Subscription
- Log in to claude.ai
- Click your name (bottom-left) then Settings
- Go to Subscription — you should see "Pro" or "Max"
If you already have a Claude account through work, check with your admin whether it includes Claude Code access. If not, you'll need a personal subscription.
Step 4: Install Git
Claude Code needs Git to work. Git is a version control tool — think of it as an undo button for your entire project.
- Open Terminal and type
git, then press Enter - macOS will show a popup asking to install developer tools — click Install. If you don't see a popup, check behind your other windows.
- Wait for the download to finish — this can take 10–20 minutes on a normal connection. The progress bar may appear stuck; this is normal. Do not cancel it. Your terminal will just say "press any key" or sit idle while this happens — that's fine.
Open PowerShell and run:
winget install Git.GitGetting a certificate error? Try: winget install Git.Git --source winget
Close PowerShell completely and open a new PowerShell window.
You must close and reopen PowerShell after every install. The new window picks up the changes — your existing window won't. We'll remind you each time, but remember this rule.
Verify it installed — run this in your terminal:
git --versionYou should see something like: git version 2.x.x — that means Git is ready to go.
Step 5: Install Claude Code
Claude Code is Claude's terminal tool — it lets you work with Claude directly from your terminal to build, edit, and manage projects. This is the main tool we'll use during the bootcamp.
The native installer is a single command. It installs Claude Code and keeps it updated automatically.
Open Terminal and run these two commands, one at a time:
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bashNothing happening? That's normal. The screen will stay blank for 10–30 seconds while it downloads. Wait for it — you'll see a success message when it's done.
Then run this to make sure your terminal can always find Claude Code:
echo 'export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc && source ~/.zshrcmacOS blocked the install? If you see a security warning or "permission denied," go to System Settings → Privacy & Security and click Allow Anyway, then run the command again.
On a corporate or school network? If the command fails with a certificate or connection error, try switching to a personal mobile hotspot and running it again.
Make sure you installed Git in Step 4 first. Run the installer (irm means "download" and iex means "run it"):
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iexNothing happening? That's normal. The screen will stay blank for 10–30 seconds while it downloads. Wait for it — you'll see a success message when it's done.
Now run this command. It tells Claude Code where to find Git Bash on your system:
[Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("CLAUDE_CODE_GIT_BASH_PATH", "C:\Program Files\Git\bin\bash.exe", "User")Close PowerShell completely and open a new PowerShell window.
Verify the installation — quit Terminal (Cmd + Q), reopen it, and run:
In your new PowerShell window, verify the installation:
claude --versionYou should see a version number — that means Claude Code is ready.
Still see command not found?
Make sure you ran both commands above, then quit Terminal (Cmd + Q), reopen it, and try claude --version again.
The installer sometimes forgets to register its location. Run this to fix it, then close and reopen PowerShell:
[Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("PATH", "$([Environment]::GetEnvironmentVariable('PATH', 'User'));$env:USERPROFILE\.local\bin", "User")Also make sure the Git Bash path is set:
[Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("CLAUDE_CODE_GIT_BASH_PATH", "C:\Program Files\Git\bin\bash.exe", "User")Step 6: Log In to Claude Code
- Open your terminal and type
claude, then press Enter - Claude Code will first ask you to choose a text style — pick the one that looks best on your screen (the first option usually works fine) and press Enter
- You'll be asked to accept the terms of service — press Enter to continue
- Choose "Claude account with subscription" as your login method
- Claude Code will open your browser automatically for sign-in
- If the browser doesn't open, you'll see a prompt in the terminal — press c to copy the login URL to your clipboard, then paste it into your browser
- Sign in with the Claude account you created in Step 1
- Return to your terminal and press Enter to continue
- If asked to choose an effort level, pick "low effort" for now — we'll adjust this during the bootcamp
After you log in once, Claude Code remembers your credentials. You won't need to sign in again unless you explicitly log out.
Authentication failed or subscription not recognized?
Make sure you're signed in to claude.ai in your browser and that your Pro or Max subscription is active (check Settings → Subscription). Then try running claude again.
Step 7: Quick Test
Let's make sure everything is working. You should now be inside Claude Code from the previous step. Type this:
what is 2 + 2?The cursor will sit there for a few seconds while Claude thinks — that's normal. Wait for the response.
If Claude responds with an answer, you're all set! Everything is installed and connected.
Type /exit to close Claude Code.
Before the bootcamp, we'll ask you to create a project folder called d2c-bootcamp — we'll walk you through it on Day 1.
Claude Pro has a weekly rolling usage limit. Think of it like charging your laptop before a long flight — don't use Claude until the bootcamp begins so your full quota is available for our Saturday–Sunday sessions. If you need AI help this week, use ChatGPT or Gemini instead.
Step 8: Install Claude Desktop
Strongly recommended. Claude Desktop is the standalone chat app for conversations, brainstorming and quick questions. It's the Claude you'll reach for most day-to-day, and the easiest install on this page. Just download and sign in.
- Go to claude.ai/download
- Download the app for your operating system
- Install and open the app
- Sign in with your Claude account
Online Accounts
During the bootcamp, your code will live online. For now, you just need to create a free account — no project setup needed yet.
GitHub — Code Hosting
- Go to github.com
- Click "Sign up" and create a free account
- Choose a username you're happy with — this becomes your public profile
GitHub is where your code lives online — it's free, needs no credit card, and most developer tools let you sign in with it. For AI model access during the bootcamp, we'll provide you with an OpenRouter API key — no signup needed on your end.
Code Editor
One last install. Get this in place now so everything is ready on Day 1.
Install Visual Studio Code (Code Editor)
Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a free, widely-used code editor from Microsoft. It's the most popular editor among developers, beginner-friendly, and works great with Claude Code. We'll be using it extensively during the bootcamp.
- Go to code.visualstudio.com
- Download the installer for your operating system
- Run the installer and follow the prompts
- Open VS Code — you'll see a welcome screen
When you open VS Code, here's what you'll see:
- Left sidebar — your files and folders
- Main area — where you edit files
- Bottom panel — the integrated terminal (this is where Claude Code runs!)
VS Code's built-in terminal means you can run Claude Code right inside your editor — no need to switch between windows.
Still Stuck?
Every step above includes its own fix-it guidance. If you've followed the steps and something still isn't working:
Don't stress. We've scheduled dedicated 45-minute setup help slots for Windows and Mac users. Check your email for your time slot and join link.
Send us a messageFor the Adventurous
Everything above is all you need for the bootcamp. But if you want to explore further, here are some tools worth trying.
Fancy Terminals
The default Terminal works fine. But if you want something nicer:
The default PowerShell works fine. But if you want something nicer:
- Warp — AI-powered terminal with autocomplete, command search, and a modern interface. Free tier available.
These are optional upgrades. Claude Code works the same in any terminal.