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How to install Claude Code the recommended way (curl, Homebrew, WinGet)

#ai #claude #productivity #webdev

Claude Code is Anthropic's terminal coding agent. The install path changed: the npm route is now marked deprecated in the anthropics/claude-code README, and native installers are recommended. Here is a clean setup, straight from the README.

Install it the recommended way

macOS or Linux:

curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
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Homebrew on macOS or Linux:

brew install --cask claude-code
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Windows PowerShell:

irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex
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WinGet on Windows:

winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode
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The old route still exists, but the README marks it deprecated:

npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
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If you installed with npm a while ago, move to one of the native installers and follow the uninstall steps in the setup docs so you do not end up with two copies on your PATH.

Start a session

Go to your project directory and run:

cd your-project
claude
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That is the whole start. Claude Code reads your codebase from the folder you launch it in, so launching from the repo root matters. It can explain unfamiliar code, run routine tasks, and handle git workflows from plain language prompts. The README also says you can use it in an IDE or tag @claude on GitHub.

First prompts worth trying

  • "Explain how authentication works in this repo and list the files involved."
  • "Run the tests, and fix the first failing one. Show me the diff before you apply it."
  • "Write a commit message for my staged changes."

Ask for diffs before edits on a codebase you do not know yet. You stay in control, and you learn what the agent assumes about your project.

Plugins

The repository ships several Claude Code plugins that add custom commands and agents. They live in the plugins directory of the repo, with their own README. Read what a plugin does before enabling it, since commands and agents can run with your permissions.

Report bugs from inside the session

Use the /bug command in Claude Code to file an issue without leaving the terminal. You can also open a GitHub issue.

Data you should know about

The README states that Anthropic collects feedback, including usage data such as code acceptance or rejection, conversation data, and anything you submit with /bug. It also lists limited retention periods and a policy against using feedback for model training. Read the data usage policies before using it on private code.

How people actually use it

Setup is the easy part. The interesting question is what people do with it afterward. We collected real use cases for the repo, with who they fit and what they solve: Claude Code use cases on Deduped. If you want to run it in CI or on pull requests, the sibling project is covered here: Claude Code Action use cases.

Quick checklist

  1. Install with the curl, brew, irm or winget command for your OS.
  2. Run claude from the project root.
  3. Ask for a plan or a diff before any edit.
  4. Review plugins before enabling them.
  5. Skim the data usage policy once.

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