Before you start

Four things to sort before you start.

0.02

Claude Code in VS Code

1
Install VS Code
Download it from code.visualstudio.com and open it. It is free, and everything on this course happens inside it.
2
Add Claude Code inside it
- Click the Extensions icon on the far-left strip, the one that looks like four blocks.
- Search for Claude Code and install it, and a Claude logo appears in that strip.
- Click the logo and sign in with the account your plan is on.
3
Make a folder called ecosystem and open it
- Use File, then Open Folder, and make a plain new folder called ‘ecosystem’, somewhere like Documents or on the Desktop.
- Leave it empty and open it, and if it asks whether you trust the files, click Trust everything.
4
Check it worked
- Your folder name shows down the left of VS Code.
- The Claude panel is open beside it.
- Typing hello into that panel gets an answer back.
Note: Claude keeps each folder’s chats separately, so always come back to this same folder with File, then Open Recent. Your old chats are under Past conversations at the top of the Claude panel.