Windows Installation#
Choose your setup method.
Git Bash + Claude Code — simplest setup, desktop apps just work.
01 Install Git for Windows#
Download from git-scm.com/downloads/win. During installation, keep all defaults (this includes Git Bash).
02 Install Claude Code#
Open PowerShell and run:
Before running install scripts from the internet, read this security guide.
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex* If you see "not recognized" or PATH issues, close and reopen PowerShell.
03 Install VS Code#
Download Visual Studio Code from code.visualstudio.com. Install the Live Share extension.
04 Verify Setup#
Open Git Bash (search "Git Bash" in Start menu) and run:
claude* This launches Claude Code. You'll authenticate on first use.
Full Linux environment inside Windows — for advanced users or Linux-specific tooling.
Desktop app kits (voice-to-text, GUI apps) will need extra steps on WSL. If you're unsure, choose Native Windows above.
01 Install WSL2#
Open PowerShell as Administrator (right-click PowerShell in Start menu → "Run as administrator") and run:
wsl --install -d Ubuntu* Reboot when prompted. After reboot, "Ubuntu" will open automatically and ask you to create a username and password.
02 Update Ubuntu#
You should now see the Ubuntu terminal (green text on black background). Run:
sudo apt update && sudo apt -y upgrade* Enter the password you just created. You won't see characters as you type - this is normal.
03 Install Development Tools#
Still in your Ubuntu terminal, install Git and build tools:
sudo apt -y install git curl build-essential04 Install Claude Code#
Install the Claude Code CLI directly (no Node.js required):
Before running install scripts from the internet, read this security guide.
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash* Close and reopen Ubuntu after installation to reload your shell.
05 Install VS Code#
- Download Visual Studio Code (Windows version) from code.visualstudio.com. During installation, ensure "Add to PATH" is checked. Then install these extensions:
- WSL - by Microsoft
- Live Share - by Microsoft
06 Verify Setup#
In your Ubuntu terminal, create a test project and open it in VS Code:
mkdir -p ~/projects/test && cd ~/projects/testcode .claude * First run installs VS Code Server in WSL. You should see "WSL: Ubuntu" in the bottom-left corner of VS Code.
* Confirms Claude Code is installed. You'll authenticate on first use.
Windows Session Protocol#
Repeat these steps at the start of every mentoring session.
If you installed natively (Git Bash)#
01 Open Git Bash#
Open Git Bash from the Windows Start menu (search "Git Bash").
02 Navigate to Project#
Change to your project directory:
cd ~/projects/your-project-name03 Launch VS Code#
Open VS Code from the terminal:
code .04 Start Live Share#
In VS Code, click Live Share in the bottom status bar, then click Start Collaboration Session. Copy the link and send it to your mentor.
05 Grant Terminal Access#
In VS Code, open a terminal with Ctrl+` (backtick). Right-click the terminal tab and select Make Read/Write so your mentor can run commands.
If you installed with WSL#
01 Open Ubuntu#
Open Ubuntu from the Windows Start menu. You should see your Ubuntu terminal.
02 Navigate to Project#
Change to your project directory:
cd ~/projects/your-project-name03 Launch VS Code#
Open VS Code connected to WSL:
code .* VS Code should show "WSL: Ubuntu" in the bottom-left corner.
04 Start Live Share#
In VS Code, click Live Share in the bottom status bar, then click Start Collaboration Session. Copy the link and send it to your mentor.
05 Grant Terminal Access#
In VS Code, open a terminal with Ctrl+` (backtick). Right-click the terminal tab and select Make Read/Write so your mentor can run commands.
Mac Installation#
Homebrew + Claude Code
01 Install Homebrew#
Homebrew is the package manager for macOS:
Before running install scripts from the internet, read this security guide.
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"* Follow the "Next steps" shown after installation to add Homebrew to your PATH.
02 Install Claude Code#
Install the Claude Code CLI directly (no Node.js required):
Before running install scripts from the internet, read this security guide.
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash* Close and reopen Terminal after installation.
03 Install VS Code#
Download Visual Studio Code from code.visualstudio.com. Install the Live Share extension.
04 Verify Setup#
claude* This launches Claude Code. You'll authenticate on first use.
Mac Session Protocol#
Repeat these steps at the start of every mentoring session.
01 Open Terminal#
Open Terminal from Applications → Utilities, or press Cmd+Space and type "Terminal".
02 Navigate to Project#
Change to your project directory:
cd ~/projects/your-project-name03 Launch VS Code#
Open VS Code from the terminal:
code .04 Start Live Share#
In VS Code, click Live Share in the bottom status bar, then click Start Collaboration Session. Copy the link and send it to your mentor.
05 Grant Terminal Access#
In VS Code, open a terminal with Ctrl+` (backtick). Right-click the terminal tab and select Make Read/Write so your mentor can run commands.