What Is Claude Code?
Module: Getting Started | Lesson: 1 of 6 | Time: ~10 minutes
What You Will Learn
- What Claude Code is and who makes it
- How it differs from ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, and other AI tools
- What Claude Code can do for you, even without coding experience
- What you need to get started
Prerequisites
- None — this is the first lesson!
So, What Is Claude Code?
Claude Code is an AI-powered assistant made by Anthropic that lives inside your terminal (also called the "command line"). You type instructions to it in plain English, and it helps you build software, manage files, and automate tasks on your computer.
Think of it like having a very knowledgeable coworker sitting next to you who can:
- Read your files and understand what is in them
- Edit your files to make changes you ask for
- Run commands on your computer (like installing software or starting a project)
- Search your code to find specific things across hundreds of files
- Create entire projects from scratch based on your description
- Manage Git (a version-control tool you will learn about later)
- Connect to external tools like GitHub, databases, and more
The key idea is that Claude Code does not just talk about code — it actually does things on your computer, with your permission.
A terminal is a text-based way to talk to your computer. Instead of clicking buttons and icons, you type commands and press Enter. It looks like a dark window with text in it — you have probably seen it in movies when someone is "hacking."
Do not worry if you have never used one before. We will teach you everything you need to know, step by step. By Lesson 2, you will be comfortable opening it and typing commands.
How Is Claude Code Different from ChatGPT?
You may have used ChatGPT before. ChatGPT is a chatbot that runs in your web browser. You type a question, and it types an answer. That is great for many things, but it has a big limitation: ChatGPT cannot see or touch your computer.
Here is the difference:
| Feature | ChatGPT | Claude Code |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | In your web browser | In your terminal (on your computer) |
| Can it read your files? | No — you have to copy/paste code into the chat | Yes — it can read any file in your project |
| Can it edit your files? | No — you have to copy its answer and paste it yourself | Yes — it can directly edit files for you |
| Can it run commands? | No | Yes — it can run commands like installing packages |
| Can it search your code? | No | Yes — it can search across your entire project |
| Can it create files? | No (it only shows you text) | Yes — it can create new files and folders |
In short: ChatGPT is like texting a smart friend for advice. Claude Code is like having that friend sit at your computer and do the work alongside you.
How Is Claude Code Different from GitHub Copilot?
If you have heard of GitHub Copilot, that is another AI coding tool. Copilot works inside a code editor (like VS Code) and autocompletes your code as you type — kind of like the suggestions your phone gives you when you are typing a text message.
Claude Code is different:
| Feature | GitHub Copilot | Claude Code |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Autocompletes code as you type | You have a conversation — you describe what you want |
| Where it runs | Inside a code editor (VS Code, etc.) | In your terminal |
| Scope | Suggests the next few lines of code | Can work on entire projects — creating, editing, and organizing many files |
| Can it run commands? | No | Yes |
| Can it manage Git? | No | Yes |
| Can it explain code? | Limited | Yes — you can ask it to explain anything in detail |
Think of it this way: Copilot is like autocorrect for code. Claude Code is like a full assistant that can plan, build, and manage an entire project for you.
What Can Claude Code Actually Do?
Here is a more complete list of what Claude Code can help you with:
- Read and understand files — Ask it "What does this file do?" and it will explain it in plain English.
- Edit files — Tell it "Change the background color to blue" and it will find the right file and make the change.
- Create new projects — Say "Create a simple website with a homepage and contact page" and it will build it.
- Run commands — It can install software, start servers, run tests, and more.
- Search your code — Ask "Where is the login function?" and it will find it, even across hundreds of files.
- Manage Git — It can save your work, create branches, and even help you collaborate with others (you will learn about Git later in this course).
- Connect to external tools — With special plugins (called MCP servers), Claude Code can talk to GitHub, databases, and other services.
- Debug problems — Paste an error message and ask "What is wrong?" and it will figure it out.
Even if you have never written a line of code, Claude Code can help you. You describe what you want in plain English, and it does the technical work. This course will teach you how to communicate effectively with it.
Who Is This Course For?
This course is designed for:
- Windows users (Windows 10 or Windows 11)
- Complete beginners — no coding or command-line experience needed
- People who want to use AI to build real things on their computer
- Anyone curious about AI-assisted development
If you can browse the web and install an app, you have all the skills you need to get started.
What You Will Need
Before we begin the hands-on lessons, make sure you have:
- A computer running Windows 10 or Windows 11 — That is it for hardware. Any modern Windows PC or laptop will work.
- An internet connection — Claude Code communicates with Anthropic's servers, so you need to be online.
- A Claude account — You will sign up at claude.ai (it is free to create an account).
A Quick Note on Pricing
Claude Code requires a subscription or API credits to use:
- Claude Pro ($20/month) — Includes access to Claude Code with a generous usage allowance. This is the easiest way to get started.
- Claude Max ($100/month or $200/month) — Higher usage limits for heavy users.
- API credits — For pay-as-you-go usage. You load credits into your Anthropic account and pay based on how much you use. This is more advanced and we will not focus on it in this course.
You can create a Claude account for free and explore the Claude.ai web chat. However, to use Claude Code (the terminal tool), you will need at least a Claude Pro subscription or API credits. We will walk through setting this up in Lesson 4.
What You Will Build in This Course
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Open your terminal and launch Claude Code with confidence
- Ask Claude Code to create, edit, and manage files
- Build real projects (websites, scripts, tools) by describing what you want
- Use Git to track your changes and collaborate with others
- Connect Claude Code to external tools for even more power
- Troubleshoot common issues on your own
You will go from "I have never used a terminal" to "I am building real things with AI."
Try It Yourself
You do not need to install anything yet — that comes in the next two lessons. For now, do these two things:
Step 1: Create a Claude Account
- Open your web browser (Edge, Chrome, Firefox — any will work).
- Go to https://claude.ai.
- Click "Sign up" if you do not have an account, or "Log in" if you do.
- Follow the prompts to create your account (you can use your email or Google account).
- Once you are logged in, you will see the Claude chat interface. Feel free to say hello and try it out!
This is the web version of Claude. Claude Code (the terminal tool) is a separate product that we will install in Lesson 3. But having a Claude account is the first step.
Step 2: Browse the Official Documentation
- Go to https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/claude-code.
- You do not need to read everything — just skim the page to see what it covers.
- This is the official reference. Whenever you get stuck later, this is a great place to look for answers.
What You Learned
- Claude Code is an AI assistant that runs in your terminal and can read, edit, and create files on your computer.
- It is different from ChatGPT (which only chats) and GitHub Copilot (which only autocompletes code).
- Claude Code can do a lot: create projects, run commands, search code, manage Git, and more.
- This course is for Windows beginners — no experience needed.
- You need Windows 10 or 11, an internet connection, and a Claude account.
- You will need a Claude Pro subscription or API credits to use Claude Code.
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Next Up
In the next lesson, you will install the tools that Claude Code needs to run: Node.js and Git. You will also learn the basics of PowerShell, the command-line tool built into Windows.