Installing Claude Code

• Claude Code offers flexible installation options across terminals, web browsers, and integrated development environments (IDEs) like VS Code and JetBrains.
• Installation methods vary by operating system, with direct curl commands often providing auto-update, while package managers like Homebrew or Winget might not.
• Users can choose their preferred Claude Code environment—terminal for fastest feature updates, IDEs for integrated workflows, desktop for background tasks, or web for GitHub-only remote work.

• Install Claude Code on macOS/Linux/WSL using a curl command or brew install, noting Homebrew lacks auto-update.
• For Windows, use Invoke-RestMethod in PowerShell, a curl command in cmd, or winget, but winget also doesn't auto-update.
• After installation, run claude in your project directory to sign in with your Claude account (Pro, Max, Enterprise) or an API key and set initial preferences.
• Installing Claude Code in VS Code involves searching for the "Claude Code" extension by Anthropic in the extensions panel and restarting the IDE after installation.
• For JetBrains IDEs, install the "Claude Code" plugin from the JetBrains marketplace and restart your IDE.
• Claude Code Desktop provides a dedicated environment similar to Claude Chat but optimized for working within specific folders, managing permissions, and cloud environments.
• The web version of Claude Code (claude.ai/code) functions like the desktop app but is exclusively restricted to GitHub repositories.
• The terminal experience for Claude Code receives new features the fastest, making it ideal for users who want to stay most up-to-date.
• Choose your environment based on workflow: IDE integrations for a deeply intertwined experience, desktop for background operations, or web for remote GitHub-based projects and parallel sessions.

IDE — Integrated Development Environment; a software application that provides comprehensive facilities to computer programmers for software development. WSL — Windows Subsystem for Linux; a compatibility layer for running Linux binary executables natively on Windows. Homebrew — A free and open-source software package management system that simplifies the installation of software on Apple's macOS and Linux. Winget — The Windows Package Manager; a free and open-source package manager designed for Windows 10 and 11. PowerShell — A cross-platform command-line shell and scripting language developed by Microsoft. API key — A unique identifier used to authenticate a user, developer, or calling program to an API (Application Programming Interface). Control Palette — A command search interface in Visual Studio Code that allows users to quickly access various commands and features. JetBrains marketplace — An online platform where developers can find and install plugins and extensions for JetBrains IDEs. GitHub repository — A storage location on GitHub that holds all the project files and their revision history, often used for version control of code.

Claude Code is simple to install whether you want to use it in your terminal, the web, or your IDE. If you're on Mac OS, Linux, or WSL, use this curl command to install it in one go. If you prefer to use Homebrew, you can also use brew install to install it. But note that this doesn't have auto update capabilities. For Windows, there's also a couple ways. In PowerShell, use the invoke rest method command. If you're on cmd, you can also use this curl command. We also have a winget command as well if you'd prefer, but just like homebrew, it won't auto update. Now go to your project directory and run claude. You will go through some initial instructions like choosing your color theme and signing in with your claude account, which could be the pro, max, or enterprise. Or you can use an API key. If your organization has a Claude enterprise account, be sure to select that option. Whatever directory you decide to run Claude in, it will have access to that directory in all of its subfolders. In Visual Studio Code, open up your extensions panel and search for Claude Code. You will see the extension by anthropic. Make sure it has the blue check and hit install. After installation, you might need to restart VS Code. After that, you can open up the control palette with control or command and shift and P and search Claude Code. Open a new tab. You can also click on the Claw logo if you see it when a file is open. You can also opt out of the UI and just use the terminal experience directly in your settings file. For Jet Brains IDEs, you can install the Claude Code plugin from the Jetrains marketplace. Once you install, restart your IDE. And when you reopen, you'll see the Claude logo. This will open up a pane where you can see the terminal experience. And this will work alongside you. On Claude Desktop, you can also run Claude Code. After you installed Claude desktop and signed in, you will see a toggle at the top that says code. The look and feel is similar to Claude Chat side of things, but allows you to work in a specific folder, change permissions, and even work in a cloud environment. On the web, you can access Claude Code by going to claude.ai/code. This works very similar to the desktop app. However, you're restricted to GitHub repositories only. If you want to constantly keep up to date with everything, the terminal is the best bet. Features ship there the fastest. For the most part, you'll have extremely similar experiences with the IDE integrations if you like Claude Code to feel more intertwined with your favorite code editor. Desktop is great for letting Claude run in the background while you run other tasks. Claude Code on the web is a great option if you want to remotely work on a project through a GitHub repository or have multiple sessions work in parallel. However you want to use Claude Code, it's up to you.