Getting Started with a Dev Environment
From turning on the computer to running your first code. A 5-step climb for beginners.
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Lessons
- 5
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
- Get cozy with the terminal — Windows Terminal / iTerm install, basic cd/ls
- Your first Git commit — install Git, GitHub account, first push
- VS Code and extensions — install VS Code, ESLint · Prettier · GitLens
- Node.js + pnpm — install Node 20, enable pnpm, first React project
- 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.