Claude Code for Everyone
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Welcome! This site is a complete, self-paced course that takes you from "I've never used a terminal" to "I automate my own document workflows with Claude Code."
You don't need to be a programmer. You need to be able to read, copy-paste, and not panic when something looks unfamiliar. That's it. Claude Code does the hard parts.
What you need before starting:
- A Mac — a company-managed laptop is fine (this course is written for macOS).
- An internet connection and ~20–30 minutes per module.
- Permission from IT to install developer tools — Module 01 walks you through getting it.
- A Claude account (you'll set it up in Module 07).
- Patience — especially while you wait on IT.
What you'll be able to do at the end#
- Open a terminal and feel comfortable in it
- Install software yourself with Homebrew
- Have Claude Code build small Python programs for you, in plain English
- Automate boring document work: renaming hundreds of files, pulling data out of PDFs, turning messy spreadsheets into clean reports, merging documents, and more
- Do all of this safely, without breaking your laptop or leaking company data
Want to see what's in it for your job first? The Recipe Cookbook has a Pick your path section for Finance/Ops, HR, Legal, and Sales/Marketing — the tasks each role automates first. Peek now for motivation, then start the modules in order.
How this course is structured#
Work through the modules in order. Each one builds on the last. Don't skip ahead — the terminal module makes the Homebrew module make sense, and so on.
| # | Module | What it's for | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00 | Welcome & Mindset | The big picture, no jargon | 20 min |
| 01 | Corporate Laptop Check | Do this first — what to ask IT | 30 min |
| 02 | The Terminal (Ghostty) | Your new command center | 1–2 hrs |
| 03 | Homebrew | How you install everything | 1 hr |
| 04 | VS Code | Where you'll see your files & code | 1 hr |
| 05 | Git Basics (light) | Save points for your work | 1 hr |
| 06 | Python & uv | The language your automations run in | 1 hr |
| 07 | Claude Code Setup | The main event | 1 hr |
| 08 | Your First Automation | Build something real | 1–2 hrs |
| 09 | Real Document Workflows | Automate PDF, Excel & SaaS exports | 2–4 hrs |
| 10 | Security & Good Habits | Stay safe at a company | 45 min |
Level up once the basics feel comfortable:
| # | Module | What it's for | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Using Claude Code Well | The habits that make you fluent | 1 hr |
| 12 | Making It a Habit | Actually adopting it into your work | 45 min |
| ★ | Capstone: Your Own Task | Automate one real task from your job | 1–2 hrs |
| — | What is MCP? | A buzzword explained — for later | 15 min |
Under the hood — optional, for the curious. What's actually happening when you run Claude Code:
| # | Module | What it's for | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | What an LLM Actually Is | Demystifying AI — and its limits | 25 min |
| 14 | Tools, Prompts, Context & Skills | The ideas that make AI useful | 30 min |
| 15 | How Claude Code Works | It all clicks together | 20 min |
Reference material you'll keep coming back to:
- Recipe Cookbook — copy-paste prompts for common tasks
- Cheat Sheet — the commands you'll actually use (print this)
- Glossary — plain-English definitions of every scary word
- Troubleshooting — what to do when something breaks
Suggested schedule#
This is designed to fit around a full-time job. One module every day or two. Don't binge it. The goal is comfort, not speed.
- Week 1: Modules 00–04 (setup + getting comfortable)
- Week 2: Modules 05–07 (the toolchain + Claude Code)
- Week 3: Modules 08–10 (building real things, safely)
- Week 4 & beyond: Modules 11–12 (level up), then the Capstone — automate one real task from your job
The golden rules#
- Typing commands is safe to explore. The worst that usually happens is an error message — and those are normal and useful. The rare commands that can delete or overwrite things are clearly flagged in this course (see rule 4).
- When stuck, ask Claude Code. Literally type your problem in plain English, including the error message. That's what it's for.
- Never paste company secrets, passwords, or client data into a chat box. Module 10 covers this properly. For now: when in doubt, don't.
- Read before you run. When Claude Code or this guide gives you a command, read the one-line explanation of what it does before pressing Enter.
Let's go. Start with Module 00.