# Setup

A one-time checklist. It takes an afternoon the first time, and you never do it again. When a step goes wrong, paste the error into any AI chat and ask what it means. That's allowed.

## The basics

- [ ] **Open a terminal.** Mac: Terminal (or iTerm). Windows: Windows Terminal, ideally with WSL. Linux: you know where it is.
- [ ] **Learn three commands:** `pwd` (where am I?), `ls` (what's here?), `cd folder-name` (go in). There's more in `terminal-cheatsheet.md`.
- [ ] **Install git.** Check with `git --version`. If it prints a version number, you're done.
- [ ] **Install Node.js (the LTS version).** Lots of web projects and some agents need it. Check with `node --version`.
- [ ] **Make a GitHub account** and sign in on your computer (GitHub Desktop or the `gh` command both work).
- [ ] **Pick a code editor** so you can look at files yourself. VS Code is the common choice, and it's free.

## Pick one agent

Try one properly before you try them all. They cost different amounts and change fast, so check the current plans and install page yourself.

- [ ] **Claude Code** (Anthropic): runs in your terminal, the desktop app, or your editor. Reads `CLAUDE.md`.
- [ ] **Codex** (OpenAI): runs in your terminal, your editor, or the cloud. Reads `AGENTS.md`.
- [ ] **Something else** (Cursor, Copilot, Gemini CLI...): most can read `AGENTS.md` or have their own rules file.

The one I picked:

Install command from its docs:

- [ ] It's installed, and I've signed in.

## Your first run

- [ ] Make a folder for a project: `mkdir my-first-agent-app` then `cd my-first-agent-app`.
- [ ] Turn it into a git repo: `git init`.
- [ ] Start your agent in that folder (check its docs for the command).
- [ ] Say hello with something small and real:

```
This is an empty folder. Make a one-page website that says hello and
shows today's date. Keep it to plain HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Tell me
how to open it in my browser, then commit it with a clear message.
```

- [ ] I opened it in my browser.
- [ ] `git log` shows the commit.

## Bringing in your vibe-coded app

Got a single HTML file from level one? Put it in a new folder as `index.html`, run `git init`, commit it, and then start your agent there. Your first task can be: *"Read index.html and explain how this app works. Don't change anything."*

## Permissions, in one paragraph

Agents ask before they edit files or run commands. At first, read what they ask and say yes one step at a time. Once you trust how a project goes, you can allow more. Never approve a command you don't understand without asking what it does first. "What does this command do?" is a perfectly good reply.