https://github.com/velesnitski/claude-code-quickstart
Claude Code in 12 minutes – terminal setup, install, project structure, copy-paste examples. Markdown + auto-built PDF.
https://github.com/velesnitski/claude-code-quickstart
ai-coding ai-pair-programming anthropic claude claude-code claude-code-guide claude-code-tutorial cli-tool coding-assistant developer-tools documentation getting-started hooks llm mcp-servers onboarding quickstart skills tutorial
Last synced: 11 days ago
JSON representation
Claude Code in 12 minutes – terminal setup, install, project structure, copy-paste examples. Markdown + auto-built PDF.
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/velesnitski/claude-code-quickstart
- Owner: velesnitski
- License: mit
- Created: 2026-05-06T15:51:51.000Z (about 2 months ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2026-05-19T15:56:36.000Z (about 1 month ago)
- Last Synced: 2026-05-19T19:14:07.623Z (about 1 month ago)
- Topics: ai-coding, ai-pair-programming, anthropic, claude, claude-code, claude-code-guide, claude-code-tutorial, cli-tool, coding-assistant, developer-tools, documentation, getting-started, hooks, llm, mcp-servers, onboarding, quickstart, skills, tutorial
- Language: Dockerfile
- Size: 1.64 MB
- Stars: 1
- Watchers: 0
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- Contributing: CONTRIBUTING.md
- License: LICENSE
Awesome Lists containing this project
README
# Claude Code – 5-Minute Quickstart
> The shortest path from "what is Claude Code?" to "I'm using it."
[](https://github.com/velesnitski/claude-code-quickstart/blob/main/LICENSE)
[](https://github.com/velesnitski/claude-code-quickstart/releases/latest)
[](https://github.com/velesnitski/claude-code-quickstart/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md)
[](docs/02-install.md)
[](docs/02-install.md)
**Languages:** **English** · [Русский](https://github.com/velesnitski/claude-code-quickstart/blob/main/README.ru.md)
---
## What is Claude Code?
A smart assistant that lives in your **terminal** (the black-and-white text window where developers type commands). You ask it things in plain English – it reads your files, edits them, runs commands, explains errors.
Think of it as **ChatGPT that can actually touch your computer**.
```mermaid
flowchart LR
You([You]) -- "ask in English" --> Claude["claude
(in your terminal)"]
Claude -- "reads, edits, runs" --> Files[(Your files)]
Files -- "results" --> Claude
Claude -- "answers" --> You
```
That's the whole experience. You type. It works. You read.
> **60-second demo video** – coming soon. Want to record one? Open a PR linking it here.
---
## How Claude works (the safe loop)
Claude doesn't just blurt out edits. Every action runs through a loop:
```mermaid
flowchart LR
Gather["Gather
reads your files,
CLAUDE.md, project"] --> Plan["Propose
shows the change
before doing it"]
Plan -- "you approve" --> Act["Act
edits, runs commands,
creates files"]
Act --> Verify["Verify
checks output,
flags issues"]
Verify -.-> Gather
```
Three things to know:
- **Nothing changes without your "yes."** Claude shows the diff and asks before editing.
- **Use Plan Mode** (`/plan`) to see the *full* plan before any work starts – good for bigger changes.
- **Read your `CLAUDE.md`** – the more context that file gives, the less Claude has to ask.
---
## Install in one line
| Your computer | Paste this in your terminal |
|---|---|
| **Mac** / Linux | `curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh \| bash` |
| **Windows** (PowerShell) | `irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 \| iex` |
> **Important:** Claude Code needs a **paid Claude plan** (Pro / Max / Team / Enterprise) or a **Console account** with API credits. The free Claude.ai plan doesn't include it. See [pricing](https://claude.com/pricing).
>
> **Prefer no terminal?** Get the **[Desktop app](https://claude.com/download)** – same agent, regular app window.
Don't have a terminal yet? Start at **[Step 1](docs/01-terminal.md)** below.
---
## The four steps
| # | Section | What you'll learn | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | **[Open the terminal](docs/01-terminal.md)** | What a terminal is, which one to use | 2 min |
| 2 | **[Install Claude](docs/02-install.md)** | Get `claude` running on Mac or Windows | 2 min |
| 3 | **[Set up a project](docs/03-folders.md)** | What folders Claude looks at, and how to help it | 3 min |
| 4 | **[Try real examples](docs/04-examples.md)** | Five things to do today | 5 min |
Bonus: **[One-page cheatsheet](CHEATSHEET.md)** · **[PDF download](https://github.com/velesnitski/claude-code-quickstart/releases/latest)**
---
## Starter pack (drop into your project)
Everything in the four steps above pays off faster if you start from the **[starter-pack](starter-pack/)** folder:
- `CLAUDE.md.example` — a filled-in brand-voice file. Tweak the placeholders, save as `CLAUDE.md` at your repo root, done.
- `prompts/` — five battle-tested copy-paste prompts: find feedback themes, blog → social, headline variants, tone-check, localize.
```bash
# get just the starter pack
curl -L https://github.com/velesnitski/claude-code-quickstart/archive/refs/heads/main.tar.gz \
| tar -xz --strip=2 claude-code-quickstart-main/starter-pack
```
Adapt the brand voice in `CLAUDE.md`, then use the prompts as-is.
---
## Why this guide?
The other excellent guides – [Florian Bruniaux's Ultimate Guide](https://github.com/FlorianBruniaux/claude-code-ultimate-guide), [Cranot's Guide](https://github.com/Cranot/claude-code-guide), [awesome-claude-code](https://github.com/hesreallyhim/awesome-claude-code) – are 10,000+ lines each. Brilliant references, overwhelming for newcomers.
**This is the on-ramp.** Twelve minutes. Plain language. Pictures. When you're done, graduate:
- **Free official courses** – [Anthropic on Skilljar](https://anthropic.skilljar.com/) – start with **Claude Code 101**, then **Introduction to Agent Skills** and **Introduction to Subagents**.
- **Long-form references** – the guides linked above for exhaustive depth.
---
## Who is this for?
- **Marketing & content folks** explaining Claude Code to others.
- **Developers** wanting a fast on-ramp before diving into the long guides.
- **Team leads** onboarding people to AI-assisted workflows.
If you've never opened a terminal before – **start at [Step 1](docs/01-terminal.md)**. We'll walk you through it.
---
## Liked it?
If this guide saved you 5 minutes, **[give the repo a star](https://github.com/velesnitski/claude-code-quickstart/stargazers)** – it's the best way to help others find it.
## Contributing
- **Translations** – open a PR with `README..md` (Russian already done at [README.ru.md](https://github.com/velesnitski/claude-code-quickstart/blob/main/README.ru.md)).
- **Screenshots & GIFs** – real captures beat ASCII art. Drop them in `docs/images/`.
- **Corrections** – fix a section directly, send a PR.
- See [CONTRIBUTING.md](https://github.com/velesnitski/claude-code-quickstart/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md) for details.
## License
[MIT](https://github.com/velesnitski/claude-code-quickstart/blob/main/LICENSE) – use freely, including in commercial training material.