What you'll do: install VS Code and Claude Code, a separate tool from the Claude desktop app, then describe something you want built and watch it get built.
โฑ 25 minutes (plus setup time if needed)Installation may take longer if you hit common setup issues (see troubleshooting). Plan 60-90 min for your first attempt. That's normal and expected.
Follow along as I learn โ
๐ธ Instagram ๐ฅ Facebook ๐ต TikTok ๐งต Threads ๐ Twitter ๐ฆ Bluesky โถ๏ธ YouTubeYou downloaded the Claude desktop app in Module 4. That's Cowork, it accesses your files and runs tasks in the background. Claude Code is different. It's a separate tool you install once and type commands to inside VS Code's terminal. Same company, completely different tool.
I described a website to Claude Code. 9 pages. Quizzes. Progress tracking. A score comparison system. Share buttons. I wrote zero HTML. I wrote zero CSS. I reviewed each page in my browser and told Claude Code what to change. That's it. That's the whole process.
Claude Code writes the code, runs it, and creates the actual files on your computer. You don't read the code. You don't need to understand it. You review the output, exactly like reviewing any other work product.
You don't need to be building software to get value from Claude Code. Most of what small business owners build with it is simple, useful, and done in an afternoon:
Same principle as Cowork. Before you ask Claude Code to build anything, write out what you want in plain words. Who is it for? What does it do? What does done look like?
The clearer that picture is before you start, the closer the first build lands and the fewer rounds of changes you'll need. A vague "build me a website" gets a generic result. A specific brief gets something that looks like yours.
Claude Code requires a Claude Pro subscription at $20/month, the same plan that gives you Cowork. No separate account. No API key. Sign in with your claude.ai credentials when Claude Code asks. If you already upgraded for Module 4, you're all set.
Create a folder on your Desktop called my-first-ai-project. In VS Code, go to File โ Open Folder and select it. Open the terminal (Terminal โ New Terminal), type claude, and press Enter. Now describe what you want.
With Claude Code running in your project folder, paste this and fill in the brackets:
Create a simple, beautiful HTML page for my business called [business name]. It should have: a headline with my business name, a one-sentence description of what I do, a contact button that opens an email to [your email address], and a clean, professional design using purple and white colors. Make it mobile-friendly. When it's done, tell me how to open it in my browser.
Claude Code didn't describe a page to you. It wrote real, working HTML and CSS, then created an actual file in your project folder. You can open it in your browser right now. It exists. It works.
That's the exact process behind the website you're reading. Every page, every quiz, every button started as a plain-English description and became a real file. No coding knowledge in the loop, only clear briefs and review.
I started this course website on a Monday. By Tuesday evening it was done. 9 pages, 3 JavaScript files, a full design system, quizzes, progress tracking, a score comparison mechanic, and share buttons. I wrote none of the code. I described what I wanted. I reviewed what Claude Code built. I said "change the purple to be darker" or "the quiz feedback isn't showing" and it fixed it. The only things I typed were descriptions and feedback. That's what you're about to do.
Node.js is not installed. Go back to Step 1, install from nodejs.org. Restart VS Code completely after installing (not just the terminal).
Install finished but VS Code didn't pick it up. Close VS Code completely. Reopen it. Type claude again. If still stuck, restart your computer.
Windows: npm might not have write permissions. Right-click VS Code โ Run as administrator, then retry. Mac: You may need to use sudo (ask Claude Code troubleshooting guide). Don't run npm with sudo unless necessary.
Apple Silicon Macs may have architecture issues. Try: npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code --arch=arm64. If that fails, try the x64 version instead. This is a known compatibility issue, not a bug in your setup.
Add Node.js to your antivirus exclusions list, or temporarily disable antivirus during npm install. Your antivirus is protecting you, but npm needs to write files to your computer.
Claude Code needs Claude Pro. Go to claude.ai/upgrade, subscribe to Pro ($20/month). Then try signing in again. Make sure you're using the same email as your claude.ai account.
Still stuck? Email info@builtwithsally.com with a screenshot of the exact error message. I'll help within 24 hours.
Check the official Claude Code troubleshooting guide. Most errors are: Node.js not installed, VS Code path wrong, or file permissions. The guide covers the top 10. If you're stuck, screenshot the error and paste it into Claude.ai: "I got this error setting up Claude Code. What does it mean and how do I fix it." Claude often knows the fix.
That's expected. Code needs iteration. You don't write working code on the first try, and Claude doesn't either. Tell Claude: "There's an error on line 15. Here's the full error message: [paste error]." Claude will fix it. Usually takes 1-2 rounds.
Your instructions weren't specific enough. "Build me a form" gets a basic form. "Build me a form that collects name, email, and biggest business challenge. Style it to match [my website]. Send submissions to my Gmail via Zapier." gets exactly what you need. Be specific about: what it collects, what it looks like, where it sends data, what happens after submission.
Ask Claude to explain it. "Walk me through this code section by section" or "Explain this function in plain English." Claude can break it down. You don't need to understand every line to use it, but if you want to modify it later, understanding helps.
Depends what you asked for. Building a simple form takes 30 seconds. Building a full app with a database takes minutes. If it feels stuck, check the terminal. Claude shows progress as it writes. If truly stuck (no output for 5 minutes), cancel and rewrite your request more simply.
The Iteration Habit: Code is the same as prompts. First attempt gets 70% right. Second attempt gets 90% right. Third attempt is usually done. Each time, tell Claude exactly what to change: "Add a button that says..." or "Change the color to..." or "Make it validate email addresses." Iteration is the whole game.
After Claude Code builds something: open it in your browser, click every button, test it on your phone. AI writes code fast but makes assumptions. Your job is to test before you publish.
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