Get Familiar with Claude Code
Install Claude Code and learn the basics before building Claygents
Want an interactive version?
Copy this page and paste it into Claude Code for a guided walkthrough.
What is Claude Code?
Think of Claude Code as a really smart friend who lives in your terminal. You tell it what you want to do in plain English, and it helps you build things, fix problems, and understand code.
AutoClaygent uses Claude Code to build Claygents for you automagically. But first, you need to know how to talk to Claude Code. That's what this lesson is for.
Good news: You don't need to be a programmer to use Claude Code. If you can type a sentence, you can use Claude Code.
Before You Start: Open Your Terminal
Everything in this lesson happens in your terminal (also called "command line"). Here's how to open it:
- Mac: Press
Cmd + Spaceto open Spotlight, type "Terminal", and press Enter - Windows: Press the
Windowskey, type "PowerShell", and press Enter
You should see a window with a blinking cursor. That's your terminal! This is where you'll type commands and talk to Claude Code.
Step 1: Install Claude Code
Installation takes about 30 seconds. Pick your operating system below, then copy the command and paste it into your terminal:
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bashOpen Terminal and paste this command (Cmd+V on Mac), then press Enter.
After running the command, type claude to start it up. The first time you run it, you'll see a login screen. Just follow the prompts!
If you're a developer with Node.js, you can install via npm instead:
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-codePaste this into your terminal and press Enter.
Step 2: Navigate to Your Project Folder
Claude Code works best when you run it from inside a project folder. It reads your files and understands your codebase automatically.
To change folders in the terminal, you use the cd command (which stands for "change directory"):
cd /path/to/your/projectDon't want to type the whole path? Type cd (with a space after it), then drag and drop your project folder from Finder/Explorer right into the terminal window. The path will appear automatically!
Once you're in your project folder, type claude and press Enter to start Claude Code.
Try this with any project folder on your computer:
Starting AutoClaygent
If you purchased AutoClaygent, starting it requires navigating to your AutoClaygent folder first. Claude Code reads the special instructions in that folder automatically.
Purchased AutoClaygent? Here's how to start it:
Option 1: Auto-Find Command (Mac)
This finds AutoClaygent wherever you put it:
cd "$(mdfind -name webhook_server.py -onlyin ~ 2>/dev/null | xargs -I{} dirname {} | head -1)" && claudeOption 2: Drag and Drop (All Systems)
- 1. Open Terminal
- 2. Type
cd(with a space) - 3. Drag your AutoClaygent folder into Terminal
- 4. Press Enter
- 5. Type
claudeand press Enter
AutoClaygent detects if you're in the wrong folder and helps you find the right one automatically.
Step 3: Talk to Claude
Once Claude Code is running, you just type what you want. No special syntax needed. Here are some things you can say:
- "What does this project do?" - Claude reads your files and explains them
- "Find the login function" - Claude searches your code
- "Add a button to the homepage" - Claude writes the code for you
- "Fix the bug in checkout.js" - Claude finds and fixes problems
Pointing to Specific Files
Use the @ symbol to tell Claude exactly which file you're talking about:
> Explain @src/main.js
> What's in @src/components/Header.tsx?
> Fix the bug in @checkout.jsExiting Claude Code
When you're done, type /exit and press Enter. You can also press Ctrl + C to stop what Claude is doing.
On Mac, Ctrl + C means the Control key, not the Command key. It's in the bottom-left corner of your keyboard.
Step 4: Learn the Keyboard Shortcuts
Here are the shortcuts you'll use most often:
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
Up Arrow | Go back to your previous message |
Down Arrow | Go forward in your message history |
Ctrl + C | Cancel or stop what Claude is doing (Control key, not Command!) |
Ctrl + L | Clear the screen (keeps your conversation) |
Shift + Tab | Switch between modes (more on this below!) |
Step 5: Try Plan Mode
Plan Mode is super important for building Claygents. When Plan Mode is on, Claude explores and analyzes your project without making any changes.
This is perfect when you want to:
- Understand a project before you start working
- Plan a big change before you commit to it
- Have Claude think through something first
AutoClaygent uses Plan Mode to analyze what you need, explore different approaches, and design the perfect prompt before generating anything. It's like having a conversation about what you want before Claude starts building.
Try it yourself with this interactive exercise:
Follow these steps in Claude Code, then check them off:
About the CLAUDE.md File
When you work with Claude Code in a project, it will automatically create a file called CLAUDE.md. This file stores instructions and context about your project so Claude remembers how you like things done.
You don't need to create this file yourself - Claude will do it automatically when needed. But it's good to know it exists! You can open it anytime to see what Claude has learned about your project.
Key Takeaways
Before you move on to the next lesson, make sure you can:
- Open your terminal (
Cmd + Space→ "Terminal" on Mac) - Navigate to a folder using
cd(or drag and drop!) - Install and start Claude Code
- Ask Claude questions in plain English
- Use
@to point to specific files - Turn on Plan Mode with
Shift + Tab - Exit with
/exitorCtrl + C
You're ready! Now that you know how to use Claude Code, AutoClaygent can build Claygents for you automagically. In the next lesson, we'll learn when to use Claygent vs. Clay's native integrations.