Get Ready to Build
Pick your tool, set it up, decide what you're building.
By the end of today
- Choose Cursor or Terminal
- Set up your tools
- Define your project
This is Day 0. Everything builds from here.
You're not learning to code. You're learning to communicate with something that codes.
Cursor or Terminal
Two ways to build with Claude.
Cursor ↗ — Visual interface. Files and AI in the same window. Easier if you've never touched code. $20/month.
Terminal (Claude Code) ↗ — Text interface. More flexible. Adapts to how you actually work. $20/month for Claude Pro.
Pick one. You can switch later.
Not sure? Start with Cursor. It's more forgiving for beginners.
Voice Input
Building with AI is a conversation. Typing that conversation is slow.
Wispr Flow ↗ (1 month free with this link) lets you talk to your computer and have it transcribe in real-time. Optional, but it removes a lot of friction.
What to Build
A tool. Not a platform. Not a business. One thing that does one thing well.
Something you already do manually that could be faster. Something achievable in 7 days.
Good first projects
Proposal generator
Quote calculator
Landing page
Email templates
Content formatter
Data dashboardThe test: Can you explain it in one sentence? If not, it's too big.
Skip these for now
- Anything with user accounts
- Anything that saves data between sessions
- Anything with payments
- Anything "like [successful product]"
Build simple first. Add complexity later.
Set Up Your Tools
- 1.Pick Cursor or Terminal
- 2.Download and install it
- 3.Set up billing ($20/month)
- 4.Optionally: set up voice input
- 5.Run a test to verify it works
What happens: Claude responds confirming it can access your file system.
Define Your Project
Answer these questions to generate your project brief.
Checklist
Tomorrow: Scope your project with Claude as your thinking partner.