Issue 02 | Environment Setup and Authorization: Windows/Mac/Linux Rapid Installation Guide

Updated on 4/5/2026

🎯 Learning Objectives

By the end of this issue, you will be able to:

  1. Successfully install Claude Code on Mac / Windows / Linux
  2. Complete terminal authentication and authorization
  3. Start a Claude Code session in your first project

📖 Core Concepts Explained

2.1 Installation Methods Overview

Claude Code offers various installation methods, adapting to different operating systems and scenarios:

Installation Method Platform Applicable Scenario
Native Install (Recommended) Mac / Linux / Windows Automatic updates, most stable
Homebrew Mac Homebrew user preference
WinGet Windows Windows package manager
VS Code Extension All Platforms Integrated within IDE
Desktop App Mac / Windows GUI interface preference
Web Version All Platforms No installation required

2.2 Subscription Plans

Using Claude Code requires a paid subscription:

Plan Price Target Audience
Pro $20/month Daily development, light usage
Max 5x $100/month Daily intensive development
Max 20x $200/month Professional teams/heavy users
API (Console) Pay-as-you-go Integration into automation pipelines

💻 Code Demo: Three-Step Installation

Mac / Linux Installation

# Step 1: One-click installation (recommended method)
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash

# Step 2: Verify installation
claude --version
# Output: Claude Code v2.3.0

# Step 3: Authenticate login
claude auth login

Windows Installation (PowerShell)

# Step 1: One-click installation
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex

# Step 2: Verify
claude --version

# Step 3: Authenticate
claude auth login

Homebrew Installation (Mac Alternative)

# Install
brew install --cask claude-code

# Upgrade
brew upgrade claude-code

💻 Simulate Claude TUI Interaction: First Launch

$ cd ~/my-project
$ claude

╭──────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
│                                                      │
│  Welcome to Claude Code v2.3.0!                      │
│                                                      │
│  You need to sign in to continue.                    │
│  Press Enter to open the browser for authentication  │
│                                                      │
╰──────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯

   ↵ Enter

   ✓ Browser opened. Waiting for authentication...
   ✓ Successfully authenticated as [email protected]
   ✓ Plan: Max (5x)

╭──────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
│                                                      │
│  Claude Code is ready!                               │
│                                                      │
│  📁 Working directory: ~/my-project                  │
│  📄 Found: package.json, tsconfig.json               │
│  📝 No CLAUDE.md found (run /init to create one)     │
│                                                      │
│  What can I help you with?                           │
│                                                      │
│  Tips:                                               │
│  • Press Shift+Tab to switch modes                   │
│  • Type /help for available commands                 │
│  • Type /init to set up project memory               │
│                                                      │
╰──────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯

> /help

╭─ Available Commands ────────────────────────────────╮
│                                                      │
│  /help          Display help information            │
│  /init          Initialize CLAUDE.md project memory │
│  /clear         Clear current context               │
│  /compact       Compress long sessions into a summary│
│  /memory        View/edit auto-memory               │
│  /permissions   Manage tool permissions             │
│  /agents        View available sub-agents           │
│  /schedule      Create scheduled tasks              │
│  /desktop       Switch to desktop application       │
│  /loop          Repeat prompt execution             │
│  /teleport      Pull session from Web client        │
│                                                      │
╰──────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯

💻 Code Demo: Authentication Status Check

# Check current authentication status
claude auth status

# Output example:
# ✓ Authenticated
# Account: [email protected]
# Plan: Max (5x usage)
# Organization: Personal

# Logout (use when switching accounts)
claude auth logout

# Authenticate using API Key (CI/CD scenarios)
claude auth login --console

🔧 Involved CLI Commands

Command Function Official Documentation
claude Start interactive session CLI Reference
claude auth login Login authentication Supports --email, --sso, --console parameters
claude auth status View authentication status
claude auth logout Logout
claude --version View version
claude update Update to the latest version

⚠️ Common Troubleshooting

Problem 1: claude command not found after installation

# Mac/Linux: Add Claude Code to PATH
export PATH="$HOME/.claude/bin:$PATH"

# For permanent effect
echo 'export PATH="$HOME/.claude/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc
source ~/.zshrc

Problem 2: Authentication window cannot open

# Manually authenticate using Console method
claude auth login --console
# It will output a URL, open it manually in your browser

Problem 3: Windows PowerShell reports && error

# Windows CMD and PowerShell have different syntax
# If an error occurs, use Git Bash or WSL to run the installation script

📝 Key Takeaways from this Issue

  1. It is recommended to use the Native Install method for installation (automatic updates)
  2. First-time use requires completing OAuth authentication in the browser
  3. Use claude auth status to check authentication status at any time
  4. For CI/CD environments, use claude auth login --console for API Key authentication
  5. Remember common slash commands: /help, /init, /clear, /compact

🔗 References