SOP-004: Installing Claude Code

Fresh

Source: Claude Code in Action

Document Control

Field	Value
SOP ID	SOP-004
Version	1.0
Status	Active
Last Updated	2024-12

Overview

Install and configure Claude Code, a command-line AI assistant for development tasks.

Prerequisites

• Node.js 18+ installed
• Terminal/Command prompt access
• Anthropic API key

Installation Process

Step 1: Install via npm

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

Or use npx (no install):

npx @anthropic-ai/claude-code

Step 2: Configure API Key

# Set environment variable
export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="sk-ant-api03-..."

# Or configure interactively
claude config set api_key sk-ant-api03-...

Step 3: Initialize in Project

cd /path/to/your/project

# Initialize Claude Code
claude /init

This creates a CLAUDE.md file with project context.

Claude Code Architecture

Essential Commands

Command	Description
/init	Initialize project context
/clear	Clear conversation
/help	Show available commands
/compact	Reduce context size
@file.ts	Reference specific file
Escape	Cancel current operation

CLAUDE.md File Structure

# Project: My App

## Overview
Brief description of the project.

## Tech Stack
- Framework: Next.js
- Language: TypeScript
- Database: PostgreSQL

## Key Patterns
- Use functional components
- Follow existing naming conventions

## Important Files
- src/lib/db.ts - Database connection
- src/app/api - API routes

Verification Checklist

• [ ] Claude Code installed globally
• [ ] API key configured
• [ ] Project initialized with CLAUDE.md
• [ ] Can run basic commands
• [ ] File references working (@file)

Troubleshooting

Issue	Solution
Command not found	Reinstall or use npx
API key invalid	Check key format
Permission denied	Check file permissions
Context too large	Use /compact

See Also

• Workflow-006: Claude Code Workflow
• SOP-005: MCP Server Setup