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Getting Claude Code Running (hand-held, assume nothing)

Updated Jun 15, 2026 · Affirmology_ClaudeCode_Onboarding_v1.md

Getting Claude Code Running (hand-held, assume nothing)

Claude Code is a version of Claude that runs in your Mac's Terminal. It can read and edit the project files and run commands (like the tests and deploys), and it asks your permission before doing anything. It is the same kind of help you get here, but it can run the command-line steps itself instead of handing them to you. Your Claude Max plan covers using it.

You cannot break anything: it asks before editing or running, and your code is backed up on GitHub.

Step 1. Open Terminal

Press Cmd+Space, type Terminal, press Enter. A black or white window opens. You type commands and press Enter.

Step 2. Check you have Node (Claude Code needs it)

Paste this and press Enter:

node --version

• If you see a version like v20.x or higher, good, skip to Step 3.
• If it says "command not found", install Node first by pasting:

brew install node

(If brew is also "command not found", tell me and I will give you the one-line Homebrew install.)

Step 3. Install Claude Code

Paste this and press Enter:

npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

It downloads for a minute. When it finishes and you get your prompt back, it is installed. (If it errors, copy the error to me.)

Step 4. Open your project and start Claude Code

Paste these two lines (one at a time, Enter after each):

cd "/Users/jeffreyparker/CLAUDE/AFFIRMOLOGY"
claude

The first time, claude will open your browser to log in with your Claude account. Approve it, come back to Terminal.

Step 5. It reads your project automatically

When it starts in this folder, Claude Code automatically reads CLAUDE.md, which points it at Affirmology_PROJECT_STATE.md and all your rules. So it starts oriented and will not miss your setup.

Step 6. Give it the first task (just type in plain English)

Type this as your first message to Claude Code:

Read Affirmology_PROJECT_STATE.md, Affirmology_Studio_Spec_v1.md, and Affirmology_TechniquesLibrary_v1.md. Then run pytest to confirm the chart tests pass. Then let's build the Studio engine described in the spec, starting with the CLI so I can generate a concept-driven, chart-grounded, voice-only audio plus the team build report. Walk me through each step and ask before anything risky.

How to work with it day to day

• Talk to it in plain English, exactly like you talk to me here.
• When it wants to edit a file or run a command, it shows you and asks. Type y (yes) to approve, or tell it to change course.
• To stop, type exit or press Ctrl+C twice. To come back, cd to the folder and run claude again.
• It remembers the conversation while open. Your project files and PROJECT_STATE are the long-term memory across sessions.

If anything looks confusing

Copy whatever Terminal shows and paste it to me here. I will tell you exactly what to do next. There is no wrong move you can make that we cannot undo.