Claude Code installed and launching on your laptop
quote.html — a working roof + solar quote calculator
The mindset: "I describe, Claude builds."
Up till now Claude was a writer.
Words in, words out. Files in, files out — but it never touched the rest of your computer.
Now: Claude with hands.
Makes files on your computer
Edits files on your computer
Runs commands (start a server, install stuff)
Watches what happens. Fixes what's broken.
Same brain. Different access.
The interaction pattern
1
You describe
In plain English. "Make me a quote calculator."
2
Claude thinks and writes
You don't read the code.
3
Claude runs it (or asks you to)
The thing shows up.
4
You react
"Looks wrong" / "Add a Y" / "Change X"
5
Claude fixes
Loop until you're happy.
You're not learning to code tonight.
You're learning to be a good describer. Same skill you've been practicing for 6 weeks.
Don't read the code. Trust the loop.
Hands-on
Install Claude Code.
Step by step. If it fights us, we install on Ryan's machine and you follow along.
Windows install · the commands
# 1. Install Node.js (one-time)
# Go to nodejs.org → LTS → install
# Close + reopen Windows Terminal after install
# 2. Install Claude Code
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
# 3. Make a folder for tonight's project
cd Desktop
mkdir quote-calculator
cd quote-calculator
# 4. Launch Claude Code
claude
First — a tiny win
Hello world.
Create an HTML file called hello.html that
says "Hello from [COMPANY NAME] — roofing
and solar in [CITY]" as a big headline.
Dark background, light text.
Open it in my browser when done.
It's ugly. It's tiny. It works.
Demo · the hello world flow
Now the real thing
The quote calculator.
[Company Name] · Quick Quote
Roof sqft2,400
Roof typeArchitectural
PitchStandard
Solar panels18
BatteryYes
Bundle savings−$5,460
Total estimate$72,540
Demo · describing the calculator
Now iterate
Tell Claude Code what's wrong.
Fix these:
1. Header is too small — make it bigger
2. Bundle savings should always show, with $0
if no bundle, so customers see what they're
missing
3. Change asphalt to $8/sqft, architectural to
$11/sqft, metal to $15/sqft
4. Add my phone at the bottom: [PHONE]
5. Show savings as both percentage AND dollars
Demo · iterating in plain English
Test it without Claude Code running
Use it on your own.
Close Claude Code
Open File Explorer → Desktop → quote-calculator
Double-click quote.html
Confirm it computes a real number
Email it to yourself as backup
You're not a developer. But you built software.
Tomorrow you can build another. Anytime you say "I wish there was a tool for X" — you can make one.
Three things tonight
1. Claude with hands
Same brain, different access. Files, commands, the whole computer.
2. You describe, it builds
Don't read the code. Trust the loop.
3. Iterate in plain English
"This is wrong, fix it." Like you'd tell a junior dev.
Before next week
Make one tweak to the calculator.
Update prices. Add a field. Change colors. Whatever you want. Only rule: don't delete the file. Email yourself a copy.
Next session — graduation
Session 8 — Deploy & Capstone
We put your calculator on the internet. Real URL. Anyone can use it. Then we walk through everything you've built and tour the broader AI landscape.