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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Claude Code set up is simple so long as you observe a couple of easy steps.
- Tasks are scoped by listing, so setup location issues.
- Correct setup unlocks quick, steady, agentic improvement workflows.
Claude Code has been making waves within the improvement world. I lately used Anthropic’s coding assistant to build a complex and fairly sophisticated iPhone app from begin to end.
I began by utilizing Claude Code inside Apple’s Code Intelligence feature of Xcode, however discovered Code Intelligence to be buggy. It crashed or hung pretty constantly. I confirmed that it was Code Intelligence, not Claude Code, inflicting the problems, as a result of after I tried using OpenAI’s Codex in Code Intelligence, I encountered the identical buggy habits.
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Once I arrange Claude Code to run from the terminal through command line, all the pieces settled down. I had an extremely productive expertise. That is what we’ll focus on on this article: easy methods to arrange Claude Code within the terminal, and easy methods to get it working with Xcode.
Please do not suppose this text will solely be useful in the event you’re planning to code an Apple app. Every part I will present you applies to different apps as nicely. It is simply that my mission is an iPhone app, so that is what shall be in my examples.
Let’s get you signed up
This is the factor: You’ll be able to’t get quite a lot of agentic coding executed with the free tier of Claude. You will want to enroll in the Pro plan ($17/month) or the Max plan (beginning at $100/month). I like to recommend beginning with the Professional plan. After about 5 hours, in the event you resolve you want Claude Code, you may have to maneuver to the Max plan, nevertheless it’s pretty simple to do.
I’ve discovered that you just get quite a lot of mileage from the Max plan. I have been utilizing it extensively this month, and it hasn’t minimize me off but. That places Claude Code at about $100/month lower than OpenAI’s Codex, which begins at $200/month in the event you do any ongoing improvement.
Subsequent, you may want to hook up with GitHub. I discovered that even in the event you do not need to use GitHub, you continue to want to hook up with it.
GitHub is a finest observe that many builders use, however not all tasks want GitHub, particularly in the event you’re a lone developer. So, in the event you’re already approach into GitHub, you are golden.
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If you happen to’re not utilizing GitHub, do not trouble attempting to keep away from it. Signing up for GitHub is free, and so is creating repos. Claude has some stage of separation nervousness. It is not going to transfer on with the mandatory setup steps with out a totally approved GitHub connection. Luckily, the method is just about on rails, so observe my pointers, and you will get previous this gorgeous simply.
I’ve a GitHub account and a few repositories, so I created a brand new repository and linked it to that. You will first must authorize your connection.
Subsequent, you may want to attach your repos. It says you are putting in the Claude Code GitHub app, however that is not solely correct. You are including some monitoring recordsdata. The true set up will come later.
Now, it is going to ask the place to put in Claude Code. This can be a choice field for all of your GitHub accounts. You simply want to decide on your account. As I stated, the actual Claude Code set up will come later. You are simply taking part in alongside to maintain the robotic completely satisfied.
This is one other one. This time, you are specifying the repository you need to hook Claude Code as much as. I am engaged on a 3D printing spool filament stock system, so mine is named “filamentory.” That is not its remaining identify, nevertheless it works for now.
OK, you are now connected sufficient to begin with the actual set up. Let’s do this subsequent.
Set up Claude Code in your pc
Claude Code will run inside varied improvement environments, nevertheless it’s designed for and works finest inside your terminal software. I used to be a bit hesitant about it, as a result of I did not need to swap forwards and backwards between my terminal and my IDE, nevertheless it turned out to be a really clean, very simple approach to go.
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Get began by pointing your browser to Claude’s settings, clicking the little braces icon (proven at 1 beneath), after which the “Set up directions right here” hyperlink (proven at 2).
Subsequent, you may see a command line. In my case, I am utilizing a Mac as my improvement machine, so I selected the Mac setting. Choose the choice that’s best for you, click on it, after which copy the command line.
Paste that into your terminal program, and press Enter.
Let it run till it says it is full.
However, alas, it is probably not full. Discover within the following screenshot that the unique command line is proven at 1. At 2, the installer signifies {that a} path change is required. It reveals you the command line for that. So, at 3, I went forward and pasted in that command line and hit return.
Now, Claude Code is put in.
Get began coding
This is the large secret about utilizing Claude Code: Every part works from the present working listing. So, when you have a mission in /a/b/c/project1 and one other in /a/b/c/project2, Claude working in project1 will know nothing of project2. And Claude, when working in project2, will know nothing of project1.
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So long as you retain that in thoughts, and cd to the correct listing earlier than initiating Claude, all shall be good. So let’s do this. I maintain my Improvement folder in My Paperwork. It is a straightforward approach to ensure it will get picked up on all of the backup sweeps, and it really works. I’ve a reasonably deep folder construction inside, however my present iPhone mission is situated in a folder referred to as xcode.
So, the very first thing I do is cd to that folder. Then, go forward and launch Claude by typing ‘claude’ in your command line. Claude will carry out a sequence of startup steps that shall be repeated for every new mission folder you arrange. Right here, it is asking concerning the theme. Darkish, after all.
Subsequent, it might want to hook up with your subscription. Most of you’ll undergo the subscription choice, so choose that.
Subsequent, you may must authorize the hyperlink.
At this level, Anthropic will share with you the details of life. Press Enter to simply accept the truth that our robotic overlords are fallible.
I strongly advocate you let Claude Code use its really useful settings. You’ll be able to change issues later, if you want. However that is probably the most easy approach to get issues working.
Now, you want to verify you are in the precise folder, need to work on it, and belief what’s in it. Belief is an ephemeral factor. Sooner or later, you must belief one thing, otherwise you’ll be fully by yourself (Mother Cautionary Life Lesson #47).
And now, we’re right here.
You would begin working now, however there are a couple of extra issues it’s best to do to make sure all the pieces is ready up appropriately. We’ll soar into that subsequent.
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Initializing and first steps
Claude Code makes use of a number of slash instructions that modify its habits. You’ll be able to even add your personal slash instructions down the highway.
The primary one it’s best to run is /init. It can scan your folder, create a CLAUDE.MD file, which it might use as a reference, and usually change into accustomed to your code.
As you possibly can see, it has constructed up an understanding of what is inside my codebase.
My folder shouldn’t be pristine. I initially created the mission utilizing Claude in Xcode with Code Intelligence. That course of was documented in this article. So, as Claude does its /init course of, it is attending to know that code.
Lastly, when it accomplished that scan, I gave Claude its first agentic task. I needed it to dig by means of the mess that Code Intelligence left and guarantee there have been no duplicate recordsdata or code cases.
From right here, I went on to “vibe code” my approach to a totally working iPhone app. I hope this helped you get began.
Claude’s new Slack integration
This is a fast point out of one other approach to speak to Claude Code: through Slack. Anthropic announced this a couple of days in the past as a analysis preview.
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I feel it is an attention-grabbing method, however I might be involved about by accident typing one thing into Slack and having it ship Claude into some form of agentic tizzy. It is value contemplating, however do not get carried away with this interplay mode till you do some extra analysis. It is most likely finest to attend till the function comes out of beta.
Have you ever tried Claude Code?
What about you? Have you ever tried Claude Code but, both inside an IDE or from the terminal? If that’s the case, how did it examine to instruments like OpenAI Codex or built-in Code Intelligence options? Do you favor AI coding assistants embedded straight in your editor, or do you discover a command-line workflow extra steady and productive? And the way do pricing, reliability, and setup friction issue into whether or not you’d undertake a device like this long-term? Tell us within the feedback beneath.
You’ll be able to observe my day-to-day mission updates on social media. Make sure you subscribe to my weekly update newsletter, and observe me on Twitter/X at @DavidGewirtz, on Fb at Facebook.com/DavidGewirtz, on Instagram at Instagram.com/DavidGewirtz, on Bluesky at @DavidGewirtz.com, and on YouTube at YouTube.com/DavidGewirtzTV.
