Before You Begin

Let's make sure your computer is ready for vibe coding. This checklist covers everything you need across Mac, Windows, and Linux.

🍎 macOS Requirements

  • ✓macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or newer
  • ✓Terminal app — pre-installed on all Macs
  • ✓Node.js 18+ — we'll install this together
  • ✓4GB RAM minimum — 8GB recommended

Tip: Press Cmd + Space and type "Terminal" to open it.

🪟 Windows Requirements

  • ✓Windows 10 or newer (Windows 11 recommended)
  • ✓PowerShell or Windows Terminal — pre-installed
  • ✓Node.js 18+ — we'll install this together
  • ✓4GB RAM minimum — 8GB recommended

Tip: Press Win + X and select "Windows Terminal" or "PowerShell".

🐧 Linux Requirements

  • ✓Ubuntu 20.04+, Debian 11+, Fedora 36+ or equivalent
  • ✓Terminal emulator — pre-installed on all distros
  • ✓Node.js 18+ — we'll install this together
  • ✓4GB RAM minimum — 8GB recommended

Claude Subscription

You'll need an active Claude subscription to use Claude Code. Here are your options:

Claude Pro

$20/month

  • ✓ Full Claude Code access
  • ✓ 5x more usage than free tier
  • ✓ Priority access during high demand
  • ✓ Perfect for learning

Claude Max

$200/month

  • ✓ Everything in Pro
  • ✓ 20x more usage than Pro
  • ✓ Extended context windows
  • ✓ Best for heavy usage

💡 Recommendation

Start with Claude Pro ($20/month). It's more than enough for learning and building your first several apps. You can always upgrade later if you need more usage.

Quick Check: Is Your System Ready?

Open your terminal and run this command to check if Node.js is installed:

$ node --version

If you see a version number like v18.0.0 or higher, you're good! If not, don't worry — we'll install it in the next lesson.