Part A — One-time laptop setup

Do this once ever, on this laptop. If you've already done it, skip to Part B.

A1. Install Node.js

Node.js lets your laptop run JavaScript/TypeScript websites locally, before they go live. Download the LTS (Long Term Support) version from nodejs.org and run the installer, clicking through the defaults.

Check it worked — open a terminal (Git Bash or PowerShell, either works) and run:

node --version

Any version starting with a number of 20 or higher is fine.

A2. Install Git and Git Bash

Git is the actual tool that does "version control" — it's what records every change you make as a numbered snapshot you can go back to later. Download Git for Windows and install it, clicking through the defaults. This also installs Git Bash (see Part 0 above).

Check it worked:

git --version

A3. Install the GitHub CLI (gh)

This makes connecting your laptop to your GitHub account painless — no manually copying passwords or access tokens around.

Download from cli.github.com, install with the defaults, then in a terminal run:

gh auth login

Follow the prompts — choose GitHub.com, then HTTPS, then log in via the browser window it opens. This only needs doing once, ever, on this laptop.

A4. Get a Claude subscription

Claude Code — the assistant that actually writes the code, runs commands, and talks to GitHub and your VPS on your behalf — needs a Claude account behind it. There are two ways to pay for Claude, and they're not the same thing:

• A subscription (claude.ai) — a flat monthly price that covers chatting with Claude on the website and using Claude Code. This is what you want for following this guide.
• Pay-as-you-go API access — metered per-token billing, aimed at developers building their own separate apps on top of Claude. You don't need this just to use Claude Code yourself.

Plans, at the time of writing (check claude.com/pricing for current numbers — these change):

Pro is the practical starting point for everything in this guide — it's the cheapest plan that includes Claude Code at all. Sign up at claude.ai: create an account, then go to Settings → Upgrade and choose Pro.

A5. Install Claude Code

npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

Then run claude in a terminal inside any project folder to start a session. The first run walks you through logging in with the account you just set up.

Where you can actually run it

Claude Code isn't limited to one window — the same assistant is available from several places, and you can mix and match depending on what you're doing:

• Terminal / command line — the primary way, and what this whole guide uses: Git Bash or PowerShell on Windows, Terminal on Mac, or any shell on Linux. Just run claude.
• VS Code — an official extension embeds Claude Code directly in the editor as a side panel, so you can see your code and chat with Claude in the same window.
• JetBrains IDEs — IntelliJ, PyCharm, WebStorm, and the rest of the JetBrains family have an official extension too.
• Claude Desktop — a standalone native app for Mac and Windows, separate from your code editor.
• Web app — claude.ai/code, no install at all, runs entirely in the browser.

All of these use the same underlying assistant and the same account — pick whichever fits how you like to work, and switch anytime.

Skills and plugins — making Claude Code better at specific tasks

Two ways to extend what Claude Code knows how to do well:

• Skills — instruction packs for a specific kind of task (we used one called frontend-design earlier in this guide, for making visual design choices). Install one globally (available in every project) by asking Claude Code: "Install this skill globally: <GitHub URL>" — browse Anthropic's official collection at github.com/anthropics/skills.
• Plugins — bundle several skills, slash commands, and specialized sub-assistants together into one package. Browse and install them from inside a Claude Code session with the /plugin command.

Neither is required to follow this guide — the default setup already covers everything here — but they're worth knowing about once you're comfortable and want Claude Code to be sharper at a particular kind of work.

A6. (Optional but recommended) Install a code editor

VS Code is the standard free choice. You don't strictly need it — Claude Code can read and write every file for you — but it's handy for quickly glancing at a file yourself.