Get Started With Code — Install Guide

Everything you need to set up your Mac for coding, in the right order.

What You'll Install

Each tool builds on the previous ones, so follow this order.

Step 1: Warp

Why: The terminal (also called the command line) is how you'll install tools, run code, and interact with Git. Every developer uses it daily. Warp is a modern terminal built specifically to be more approachable — it has features like auto-complete suggestions, clickable command output, and a text-editor-like input that feels familiar if you're new to the command line.

How to Install

1. Go to warp.dev
2. Click "Download for Mac" and open the downloaded .dmg file
3. Drag Warp to your Applications folder
4. Open Warp and create a free account (no paid plan needed — the free tier has everything you need)

Verify It Works

Open Warp and type the following command, then press Enter:

echo "Hello, World!"

You should see "Hello, World!" printed back to you.

Tip: Don't be intimidated by the terminal. You'll start with just a few commands and build up from there. Warp's built-in AI command search (Ctrl+`) can help if you get stuck.

Step 2: Homebrew

Why: Homebrew is a package manager for macOS. Think of it like an app store for developer tools — it makes installing, updating, and managing command-line tools effortless. It simplifies installing almost everything else in this guide.

How to Install

1. Open Warp
2. Paste the following command and press Enter:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

3. Follow the on-screen prompts (you may need to enter your Mac password)
4. After installation, follow any instructions shown to add Homebrew to your PATH

Verify It Works

brew --version

You should see a version number like "Homebrew 4.x.x".

Step 3: Git

Why: Git is a version control system that tracks changes to your code. It lets you save snapshots of your work, undo mistakes, and collaborate with others. Every professional developer uses Git.

How to Install

brew install git

Configure Git

After installing, set your name and email (these appear in your code history):

git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "your.email@example.com"

Verify It Works

git --version

You should see something like "git version 2.x.x".

Step 4: GitHub Account

Why: GitHub is where developers store and share code online. It pairs with Git and serves as your code portfolio, collaboration hub, and backup system. A GitHub profile is essentially a developer's resume.

How to Set Up

1. Go to github.com and click "Sign up"
2. Create a free account with your email
3. Choose a professional username (this will be public)

Optional: GitHub Desktop

If the command line feels overwhelming at first, GitHub Desktop provides a visual interface for Git. It's a great way to learn Git concepts before moving to the command line.

Tip: Your GitHub username will be part of your public profile URL (github.com/username), so pick something professional.

Step 5: GitHub CLI

Why: The GitHub CLI (gh) lets you create repos, open pull requests, manage issues, and more — all from the terminal without switching to the browser. We'll use this extensively with Claude Code to commit code, push to GitHub, and manage your projects, so it's important to have this set up.

How to Install

brew install gh

Authenticate with GitHub

After installing, log in to your GitHub account:

gh auth login

Follow the prompts and choose "Login with a web browser" for the easiest setup.

Verify It Works

gh --version

Useful Commands to Know

gh repo create my-project --public    # Create a new repo
gh repo clone username/repo-name      # Clone a repo
gh pr create                          # Open a pull request
gh issue list                         # View issues

Step 6: Node Version Manager (nvm)

Why: nvm lets you install and switch between different versions of Node.js. This is better than installing Node directly because different projects may require different versions. It prevents version conflicts and makes upgrading painless.

How to Install

Run this in Warp:

curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.40.1/install.sh | bash

Close and reopen Warp after installation.

Verify It Works

nvm --version

You should see a version number.

Step 7: Node.js

Why: Node.js is a JavaScript runtime that lets you run JavaScript outside of a web browser. It's essential for modern web development — it powers build tools, package managers (npm), server-side code, and most JavaScript frameworks.

How to Install (via nvm)

1. Install the latest LTS (Long Term Support) version:

nvm install --lts

2. Set it as your default:

nvm alias default lts/*

Verify It Works

node --version
npm --version

Both commands should return version numbers. npm (Node Package Manager) is installed automatically with Node.js and is how you'll install JavaScript libraries and tools.

Tip: LTS versions are recommended for beginners. They're stable and well-supported. Avoid "Current" releases unless you have a specific reason.

Step 8: Cursor

Why: Cursor is a code editor built on top of VS Code with AI assistance baked in. It has all the same features — syntax highlighting, built-in Git support, a terminal, intelligent code completion, and thousands of extensions — plus AI-powered tools that can help you write, understand, and debug code as you learn.

How to Install

1. Go to cursor.com
2. Click "Download for Mac"
3. Open the downloaded .dmg file and drag Cursor to your Applications folder
4. Open Cursor and sign up for a free account

Step 9: Cursor Extensions

Why: Extensions add superpowers to your editor. The ones below will help you write cleaner code, catch errors faster, and be more productive from day one.

Open Cursor, click the Extensions icon in the left sidebar (or press Cmd+Shift+X), and search for each of these:

Must-Have Extensions

Prettier — Automatically formats your code so it looks clean and consistent. Set it as your default formatter and enable "Format on Save" in settings.

ESLint — Catches common JavaScript errors and enforces coding best practices in real time.

Live Server — Launches a local web server that automatically refreshes your browser when you save changes. Essential for HTML/CSS/JS projects.

GitLens — Supercharges the built-in Git features. See who changed each line of code and when.

Error Lens — Shows errors and warnings inline, right next to the problematic code, instead of only in the Problems panel.

Tip: You can install extensions from the terminal too: cursor --install-extension esbenp.prettier-vscode

Step 10: Claude Code

Why: Claude Code is an AI coding assistant that lives in your terminal. It can understand your entire codebase, write and edit code, run commands, handle Git workflows, and explain complex code — all through natural language. Think of it as having a senior developer available in your terminal whenever you need help. We'll use Claude Code together with the GitHub CLI to commit your code, push it to GitHub, create pull requests, and more.

How to Install

Run this in Warp:

curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash

After the install completes, reload your shell:

source ~/.zshrc

Authenticate

Run Claude Code for the first time:

claude

You'll be walked through a one-time login process to connect your Anthropic account. Follow the prompts and choose "Login with a web browser" for the easiest setup.

Verify It Works

claude --version

You should see a version number. You can also run claude doctor to check that everything is configured correctly.

How to Use It

Navigate to any project folder and type claude to start a session. From there you can ask it things in plain English:

claude                              # Start a session in your current project
claude "explain this codebase"      # Ask about your code
claude "create an index.html file"  # Have it write code for you

Tip: Claude Code updates automatically in the background, so you'll always have the latest version. You'll need a Claude Pro/Max subscription or Anthropic API key to use it.

You're All Set!

With everything above installed, you have a professional-grade development environment. Here's a quick summary of what you can now do:

Write code in Cursor with syntax highlighting, AI assistance, and extensions

Get AI help in your terminal with Claude Code for writing, debugging, and understanding code

Run JavaScript with Node.js in Warp or in the browser

Track changes to your code with Git

Share & collaborate on code through GitHub and the GitHub CLI

Debug web pages using Chrome DevTools

Install tools & libraries with Homebrew and npm

Happy coding!

Need help getting set up? Get in touch — we're happy to walk you through it.