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Claude Code for Data People: Your First Session
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How do I install Claude Code on Windows or Mac?

Pick the desktop app or the terminal, install Claude Code, open your practice folder and confirm it answers.

Free course. Your Maestro, an AI, .

On this page you'll get exactly one thing ready: open inside a folder called exoplanetas, set for your first data session in the next module. It takes 10 to 20 minutes.

To run Claude Code you need a paid Claude plan (Pro, Max, Ultra, Team or Enterprise) or Anthropic API credits. The free Claude plan doesn't include it; if you try to get in with a free account, the app shows you a prompt to upgrade. If you don't have a paid plan today, you can still read the whole course, practice by reading the code and results from each session, and run the exercises on your computer once you have one.

There are two ways to open it, and both run the same Claude Code:

  • The Claude desktop app. You work with menus and buttons, no command window: you pick the folder with a click and see each step on screen. It's the most direct path if you've never used a .
  • The terminal. You type claude inside your folder. It's the better fit if you already work in a terminal, use Linux, or want to automate tasks later on.

Pick one below. Throughout the course you'll see instructions for both.

1. Install the app. Download it from claude.com/download for macOS or Windows, open it and sign in with your Claude account.

2. Create your practice folder. In Documents (or wherever you keep your work), create a new folder called exoplanetas and leave it empty.

3. Open the Code tab. It's at the top of the app's sidebar. If you see an invitation to upgrade, your account doesn't include Claude Code yet.

4. Choose where it works. In the row below the box where you type, click the first environment selector and choose Local so it works on your computer. Then click the folder button next to it, select Open folder… and choose exoplanetas.

5. Choose the permission mode. In that same row you'll see the permission mode (it may show options like Manual, Accept edits, Auto or Plan). To start, select Manual: that way Claude Code asks your permission before creating or changing a file and before running any command.

6. Check that it answers. Type "Which folder are you in, and what files are there?" and press Enter. It should answer with the name of the exoplanetas folder and confirm that it's empty.

1. Open your terminal. On macOS, open the Terminal app. On Windows, open PowerShell: the line where you type starts with PS, for example PS C:\Users\your-username>.

2. Install Claude Code. On macOS, Linux or WSL, run:

Terminal
$ curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash

(If you use Homebrew on macOS, you can also install it with brew install --cask claude-code.)

On Windows, inside PowerShell, run:

Terminal
$ irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex

(If you prefer WinGet, you can run winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode.)

The installer takes a few moments without showing a progress bar; wait for the cursor to come back before you type. On Windows it's worth having Git for Windows installed so Claude Code has Bash; if you don't, use PowerShell and everything in this course works the same.

3. Open a new terminal window and check the version. A window you already had open before installing may not find the new command.

Terminal
$ claude --version

It should print a version number. If a new window answers "command not found" or says it doesn't recognize claude, the install folder still needs to be added to your PATH; copy the message and paste it to your Maestro.

4. Create your practice folder and go into it.

Terminal
$ mkdir exoplanetas$ cd exoplanetas

5. Start Claude Code.

Terminal
$ claude

The first time you open it, it asks you to sign in with your Claude account in the browser. Once it's ready, type "Which folder are you in, and what files are there?" and press Enter. It should answer with the location of exoplanetas and tell you it's empty. In its default mode, Claude Code asks your permission before creating files or running commands.

When you want to end the session, type /exit.

As soon as Claude Code answers you from exoplanetas, you're all set for Module 2. If any step shows an error or something different from what you expected, copy the message on screen and paste it to your Maestro. If you're on a work computer where you can't install programs, ask your Maestro what your options are.

A term you'll see throughout the course is session. A session starts when you open Claude Code in your (exoplanetas) and ends when you close the window or type /exit. The files you save in the folder stay there, but the conversation from one session doesn't carry over to the next; in Module 4 you'll see how to give it standing instructions so every new session starts with the context of your data.