macOS Installation

Local setup for use beyond the workshop

This guide installs Claude Code on your Mac. Takes about 10 minutes.

Prerequisites

  • macOS 12 (Monterey) or later
  • Terminal.app (built in — Applications → Utilities)
  • A Claude Pro subscription (sign up at claude.ai — $20/month, reimbursed by the Kiel Institute)

Step 1: Install Node.js

Open Terminal and check if Node.js is already installed:

node --version

If you see a version number (18 or higher), skip to Step 2. Otherwise:

NoteNever used the terminal?

Check our Terminal Basics guide first — it explains what these commands do.

# Install Homebrew — a package manager for macOS (like an app store you use from the terminal)
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

# Install Node.js — the runtime that Claude Code is built on
brew install node
ImportantApple Silicon Macs (M1/M2/M3/M4)

After Homebrew installs, it prints two commands starting with eval. Copy and run both of them. If you skip this, brew will not be recognized. If you missed them, run:

eval "$(/opt/homebrew/bin/brew shellenv)"

Step 2: Install Claude Code

npm is the package manager that comes with Node.js — think of it as R’s install.packages() or Python’s pip install for the terminal.

npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

Step 3: Verify

claude --version

You should see a version number.

Step 4: First Launch

cd ~/Desktop
mkdir test-project && cd test-project
claude

On first launch, Claude Code opens your browser to log in with your Anthropic account. Follow the prompts, then return to the terminal.

Type your first prompt:

What files are in this folder?

If Claude responds, you’re ready for the workshop.

Troubleshooting

Problem Fix
command not found: claude Close and reopen Terminal, then try again
npm: command not found Node.js didn’t install — run brew install node again
Authentication errors Make sure you have an active Claude Pro subscription at claude.ai/settings
brew: command not found after install On Apple Silicon Macs, run eval "$(/opt/homebrew/bin/brew shellenv)"
Homebrew won’t install See brew.sh for alternative installation methods
Stuck? You can always use the Nuvolos cloud setup instead — no installation needed