This guide gets you up and running with Claude Code, from terminal basics to MCP integrations and production-ready project structure. No prior developer experience required. Work through it top to bottom the first time, then use it as a reference whenever you need it.
Before touching Claude Code, you need to be comfortable with the terminal. It's just a text-based way to talk to your computer. Here's everything you need.
| Command | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
pwd |
Print Working Directory — shows where you are right now | pwd → /Users/YourFolder/projects |
ls |
List — shows all files and folders in your current location | ls → leads.csv scripts/ CLAUDE.md |
cd |
Change Directory — move into a folder | cd projects → you're now inside projects/ |
cd .. |
Go back one level (parent folder) | If you're in /Users/YourFolder/projects, takes you to /Users/YourFolder/ |
mkdir |
Make Directory — create a new foudre | mkdir my-campaign → creates the folder |
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
Tab |
Auto-complete file/folder names (type first few letters then Tab) |
↑ / ↓ |
Scroll through previous commands (history) |
Ctrl + C |
Cancel/stop whatever is currently running |
Ctrl + L |
Clear the screen (same as typing clear) |
Cmd + T |
Open a new tab in terminal |
Ghostty is the recommended terminal for Claude Code in 2026.
Step 1 — Install Ghostty
Download from ghostty.org and drag it to your Applications folder.
Step 2 — Pick a theme
Open Ghostty and run:
ghostty +list-themes
This will display all available themes. Scroll through and pick one you like (for example: Catppuccin Mocha, Dracula, GitHub Dark, Tokyo Night, etc.).
