Getting Started with a Dev Environment

The first stair — "setting up your environment" — is where most beginners stumble. This course breaks it into 5 small steps.

Who is this for

• People who want to become developers but don't know what to install first
• Comfortable with Windows / macOS but awkward with terminal · Git · VS Code
• Non-developers who want to try AI coding tools yourself

What you'll be able to do

• Open a terminal and type commands on Windows / macOS
• Manage versions with Git (commit, push, pull)
• Run a first React project in VS Code
• Connect an AI coding tool like Claude Code

Flow

[1] Terminal ──▶ [2] Git ──▶ [3] VS Code ──▶ [4] Node + pnpm ──▶ [5] AI tool

Starting from a blank machine, each step adds one new tool to your hands.

Steps

1. Get cozy with the terminal — Windows Terminal / iTerm install, basic cd/ls
2. Your first Git commit — install Git, GitHub account, first push
3. VS Code and extensions — install VS Code, ESLint · Prettier · GitLens
4. Node.js + pnpm — install Node 20, enable pnpm, first React project
5. Connect an AI coding tool — install Claude Code, generate first code

Each step builds on the previous one. You can pause mid-course and pick up the next session right where you left off.