Claude Code Tutorial for Beginners 2026: From Installation to Building Your First Project

#claudecode #ai #tutorial #programming

If you've been copy-pasting code to ChatGPT, constantly switching between your editor and browser, and losing context every time — there is a better way.

Claude Code is Anthropic's official AI coding assistant that runs directly in your terminal. It understands your entire codebase, makes changes across multiple files, and even handles Git operations for you.

In my latest video tutorial, I walk you through everything you need to get started — from installation to building your first project.

What is Claude Code?

Claude Code is a terminal-based AI coding assistant built by Anthropic. Unlike other AI tools that require you to switch between your browser and editor, Claude Code lives right in your terminal. It can read your files, write code, run commands, handle Git operations, and much more — all while understanding the full context of your project.

Pricing

Before diving in, here is what Claude Code costs:

Claude Pro: $17/month (annual) or $20/month
Claude Max: $100/month for heavier usage
API Credits: Pay-as-you-go

If you are a developer who codes every day, the investment is well worth it.

Installation

The recommended way to install Claude Code is using the native installer. On macOS or Linux, open your terminal and run the install command from claude.ai/install.sh. Windows users can use the equivalent PowerShell command. You can also use Homebrew on Mac or winget on Windows, but the native installer is recommended by Anthropic because it auto-updates in the background.

After installation, verify it by running:

claude --version

First Login and Authentication

Once installed, simply type claude in your terminal. On first launch, you will choose a text style, then log in. You can authenticate with a Claude Pro/Max subscription, an Anthropic Console API account, or a third-party platform like Amazon Bedrock.

Key Features Covered in the Video

CLAUDE.md — The Project Memory System
This is like giving Claude a memory of your project. It stores your tech stack, coding preferences, run commands, and more. Every time you start Claude Code in a folder with a CLAUDE.md file, it reads it and knows your project context instantly.

Essential Slash Commands
The video walks you through /help, /clear, /context, /compact, /model, and /doctor — commands that help you manage your conversation, switch AI models, check diagnostics, and more.

File Operations and Permissions
Claude Code always asks before making changes to your files. You can review every edit before approving, keeping you in full control.

Building a CLI Tool from Scratch
I demonstrate building a complete temperature converter CLI tool that supports Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Kelvin — including error handling.