Windows Setup Guide

This guide will walk you through setting up your Windows PC for development with Claude Code, VS Code, and Git/GitHub.

What You'll Install

•  VS Code
•  Claude Code CLI and Extension
•  Git for Windows
•  GitHub account and SSH keys
•  Node.js
•  Windows Terminal (recommended)
•  Python or R (for data analysis)

Prerequisites

• Windows 10 or Windows 11
• Administrator access
• Internet connection
• About 75 minutes

Step 1: Install Windows Terminal (Recommended)

Windows Terminal is a modern, powerful terminal application.

1.1 Install from Microsoft Store

1. Open Microsoft Store
2. Search for "Windows Terminal"
3. Click "Get" or "Install"
4. Pin it to your taskbar for easy access

Alternative: Download from GitHub

Step 2: Install VS Code

2.1 Download and Install

1. Visit https://code.visualstudio.com
2. Click "Download for Windows"
3. Run the installer (.exe file)
4. Important: Check these boxes during installation:
   •  Add "Open with Code" action to Windows Explorer file context menu
   •  Add "Open with Code" action to Windows Explorer directory context menu
   •  Add to PATH (important!)

2.2 Verify Installation

Open Windows Terminal or Command Prompt and run:

code --version

You should see the VS Code version number.

Step 3: Install Git for Windows

3.1 Download and Install

1. Visit https://git-scm.com/download/win
2. Download the installer
3. Run the installer

3.2 Installation Options

Use these settings (most are defaults):

• Adjusting your PATH: "Git from the command line and also from 3rd-party software"
• Choosing HTTPS transport backend: "Use the OpenSSL library"
• Configuring the line ending conversions: "Checkout Windows-style, commit Unix-style line endings"
• Configuring the terminal emulator: "Use Windows' default console window"
• Choose a credential helper: "Git Credential Manager"
• Configuring extra options: Enable file system caching

3.3 Configure Git

Open Windows Terminal and run:

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

Set VS Code as your default editor:

git config --global core.editor "code --wait"

Set default branch to main:

git config --global init.defaultBranch main

Configure line endings for Windows:

git config --global core.autocrlf true

Create useful aliases:

git config --global alias.st status
git config --global alias.co checkout
git config --global alias.br branch
git config --global alias.cm commit

Verify:

git --version
git config --list

Step 4: Set Up GitHub

4.1 Create GitHub Account

1. Go to https://github.com
2. Click "Sign up"
3. Follow the prompts

4.2 Generate SSH Key

SSH keys provide secure authentication to GitHub.

Check for existing keys:

ls ~\.ssh

If you see id_ed25519.pub, you already have a key. Skip to Step 4.3.

Generate a new key:

ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your.email@example.com"

When prompted:

• Press Enter to accept the default location
• Enter a passphrase (optional but recommended)
• Press Enter to confirm

Start the SSH agent:

# Start the service (run as Administrator if needed)
Get-Service -Name ssh-agent | Set-Service -StartupType Manual
Start-Service ssh-agent

Add your key:

ssh-add ~\.ssh\id_ed25519

4.3 Add SSH Key to GitHub

Copy your public key:

Get-Content ~\.ssh\id_ed25519.pub | Set-Clipboard

This copies your key to the clipboard.

Add to GitHub:

1. Go to https://github.com/settings/keys
2. Click "New SSH key"
3. Title: "My Windows PC" (or any name)
4. Key type: Authentication Key
5. Paste your key (Ctrl + V)
6. Click "Add SSH key"

Test your connection:

ssh -T git@github.com

You should see: "Hi [username]! You've successfully authenticated..."

Step 5: Install Node.js

5.1 Download and Install

1. Visit https://nodejs.org
2. Download the LTS (Long Term Support) version
3. Run the installer
4. Accept all defaults
5. Important: Check "Automatically install the necessary tools" for native modules

Verify:

node --version
npm --version

Step 6: Install Claude Code

6.1 Install Claude Code Extension

1. Open VS Code
2. Click Extensions icon (or press Ctrl + Shift + X)
3. Search for "Claude Code"
4. Click "Install" on the official Anthropic extension

6.2 Install Claude Code CLI (Optional)

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

6.3 Sign In

1. Click the Claude icon in VS Code sidebar
2. Click "Sign in to Claude"
3. Follow the authentication prompts

Step 7: Install Python (For Data Analysis)

7.1 Download and Install Python

1. Visit https://www.python.org/downloads/
2. Download Python 3.11.x (latest stable)
3. Run the installer
4. Important: Check "Add Python to PATH"
5. Click "Install Now"

Verify:

python --version
pip --version

7.2 Create a Virtual Environment

For your first project:

1# Create project folder
2mkdir ~\projects
3cd ~\projects
4mkdir my-first-project
5cd my-first-project
6 
7# Create virtual environment
8python -m venv venv
9 
10# Activate it
11.\venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1

You'll see (venv) in your prompt.

If you get an execution policy error:

Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser

7.3 Install Data Science Packages

pip install pandas numpy matplotlib jupyter

Deactivate when done:

deactivate

Step 8: Install R (Optional - For R Users)

8.1 Install R

1. Visit https://cran.r-project.org/bin/windows/base/
2. Click "Download R x.x.x for Windows"
3. Run the installer
4. Accept all defaults

8.2 Install RStudio (Optional)

Download from https://posit.co/download/rstudio-desktop/

8.3 Install R Extension for VS Code

1. Open VS Code Extensions
2. Search for "R"
3. Install the official R extension

Step 9: Clone Your First Project

9.1 Create Projects Folder

mkdir ~\projects
cd ~\projects

9.2 Clone Starter Repository

git clone git@github.com:yourusername/claude-code-integration.git
cd claude-code-integration

9.3 Open in VS Code

code .

9.4 Explore Templates

Check out:

• CLAUDE.md - Project context for Claude
• .claudeignore - Context management
• .vscode\settings.json - VS Code configuration

Step 10: Verify Your Setup

Run these commands to check everything:

1# VS Code
2code --version
3 
4# Git
5git --version
6 
7# Node.js
8node --version
9npm --version
10 
11# Python
12python --version
13 
14# SSH to GitHub
15ssh -T git@github.com

All should work without errors!

Next Steps

You're ready to code! Choose your path:

1. Learn Git: Git & GitHub Basics
2. Data Analysis: Python or R track
3. Build Apps: App Builder track
4. Automate: Automation track

Troubleshooting

PowerShell Execution Policy

If scripts won't run:

Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser

Command Not Found

If commands aren't recognized:

1. Close and reopen Windows Terminal
2. Check if the program is in PATH:
   powershellCopy

   $env:PATH -split ';'

3. Restart your computer if needed

Git Authentication Issues

If git keeps asking for credentials:

1. Verify SSH key: ssh -T git@github.com
2. Use Git Credential Manager (should be installed with Git)
3. Store credentials:
   powershellCopy

   git config --global credential.helper manager

VS Code Can't Find Git

1. Open VS Code settings (Ctrl + ,)
2. Search for "git.path"
3. Set to: C:\Program Files\Git\cmd\git.exe

Python Not Found

If Python isn't recognized:

1. Find Python installation:
   powershellCopy

   where python

2. Add to PATH manually:
   • Search "Environment Variables" in Windows
   • Edit "Path" variable
   • Add: C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python311

Windows-Specific Tips

PowerShell Useful Commands

1# List files
2ls
3 
4# Change directory
5cd path\to\folder
6 
7# Create directory
8mkdir folder-name
9 
10# Delete file
11rm file.txt
12 
13# Clear screen
14cls
15 
16# Show command history
17Get-History

Keyboard Shortcuts

• Windows Terminal:

  • Ctrl + Shift + T: New tab
  • Ctrl + Shift + W: Close tab
  • Ctrl + Shift + D: Split pane

• VS Code:

  • Ctrl + Shift + P: Command Palette
  • `Ctrl + ``: Toggle terminal
  • Ctrl + B: Toggle sidebar

Path Differences

Windows uses backslashes (\) in paths, but Git and many tools use forward slashes (/). PowerShell usually handles both.

Windows path:

C:\Users\YourName\projects

Git/Unix path:

/c/Users/YourName/projects

Additional Tools (Optional)

Git Bash

Installed with Git for Windows. Provides a Unix-like terminal:

• Find it in Start Menu: "Git Bash"
• Right-click folder � "Git Bash Here"

WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux)

For advanced users who want a full Linux environment:

wsl --install

Restart required. Provides Ubuntu on Windows.

Windows Package Manager (winget)

Modern package manager for Windows:

1# Already installed on Windows 11
2# Install VS Code
3winget install Microsoft.VisualStudioCode
4 
5# Install Python
6winget install Python.Python.3.11

Additional Resources

• VS Code on Windows
• PowerShell Documentation
• Git for Windows
• Windows Terminal Tips

You're all set! Proceed to Git & GitHub Basics to learn version control.