Installing and your first session
Module 1 — Installing and your first session
← Module 0 | Index | Next: Module 2 →
Claude Code (developers). It runs in your terminal. You install it once with a package manager (for example npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code), then type claude inside any project folder to start. The first run asks you to log in.
Cowork (everyone else). It lives inside the Claude desktop app. You don’t install anything from a terminal — you open the app, switch to Cowork mode, and point it at a folder you want it to work in. It’s currently a research preview.
Your first session
In either tool, the first session looks the same in spirit:
- You open it inside (or point it at) a folder.
- You type a request in plain English — “summarize every PDF in this folder,” or “fix the bug in app.py.”
- Claude reads what it needs, does the work, and reports back.
- You review, then ask for changes or move on.
The single most useful first command in Claude Code is /init. It scans your project and writes a CLAUDE.md file describing the codebase. That file becomes Claude’s standing briefing for the project (Module 3 explains it fully).
Starter habits that pay off immediately
- Start small. Ask for one change, see how it goes, then ask for more.
- Be specific. “Make it better” is weak. “Add input validation to the login form and show an error message” is strong.
- Let it finish. The agent often takes several steps. Watch, but don’t interrupt mid-task unless it’s clearly off track.