Getting Claude Code on Your Machine
Claude Code is distributed as an npm package. You can install it globally or run it temporarily using npx.
Option 1: Global Installation (Recommended)
This allows you to run claude from anywhere in your terminal:
Option 2: Running with npx
If you prefer not to install globally, you can run it on demand:
Prerequisites
- Node.js 18+: Claude Code requires Node.js version 18 or higher
- Terminal access: Works in any modern terminal (bash, zsh, PowerShell)
To verify your Node version: