Windows Installation

Local setup via WSL — for use beyond the workshop

This guide installs Claude Code on Windows via WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux). Takes about 20–30 minutes if WSL isn’t already set up.

Prerequisites

Windows 10 (version 2004+) or Windows 11
A Claude Pro subscription (sign up at claude.ai — $20/month, reimbursed by the Kiel Institute)

Why WSL?

Claude Code doesn’t run natively on Windows — it needs a Linux or macOS environment. WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) gives you a full Ubuntu terminal inside Windows. It doesn’t replace anything — it runs alongside your normal Windows setup.

Step 1: Install WSL

Open PowerShell as Administrator (right-click → “Run as administrator”) and run:

wsl --install

Restart your computer when prompted (even if no explicit prompt appears — WSL won’t work until you restart). After restart, an Ubuntu window will open automatically — create a username and password when asked.

Note

When you type your password, no characters will appear — not even dots. This is normal Linux behavior. Just type your password and press Enter.

Already have WSL?

If WSL is already installed, just open the Ubuntu app from the Start menu and skip to Step 2.

Step 2: Install Node.js

In the Ubuntu terminal:

sudo runs commands with administrator privileges — Ubuntu will ask for the password you created during setup.

# Update Ubuntu's package list and install available updates
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

# Install Node.js — the runtime that Claude Code is built on
curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_lts.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt install -y nodejs

Verify it worked:

node --version

You should see version 18 or higher.

Step 3: 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

If you get a permission error:

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

Step 4: First Launch

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

On first launch, Claude Code will give you a URL to open in your browser. Log in with your Anthropic account, 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
WSL won’t install	This usually means virtualization is disabled in BIOS — contact Kiel IT, or use the Nuvolos cloud setup instead
`command not found: claude`	Close and reopen the Ubuntu terminal
`npm: command not found`	Node.js didn’t install — rerun Step 2
Permission errors	Prefix the command with `sudo`
Authentication errors	Make sure you have an active Claude Pro subscription at claude.ai/settings
Stuck?	You can always use the Nuvolos cloud setup instead — no installation needed