Claude Code Turns Prompts Into Products: Build Apps, Sites, and Workflows Without Writing Code

Claude Code runs in your terminal and helps you code faster. It can understand your codebase, edit files, run commands, and handle coding workflows through natural language commands. This guide shows you how to use it effectively.

Getting Started

Install What You Need

Prerequisites:

• Node.js 18+ from nodejs.org
• An Anthropic account with either:
  • Active billing at console.anthropic.com, OR
  • Claude Pro or Max subscription

Open Terminal on Mac/Linux or Command Prompt/WSL on Windows. Type:

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

Note: Do NOT use sudo with npm install as it can cause permission issues.

Authenticate Claude Code

When you first run Claude Code, you'll need to authenticate:

claude

Choose your authentication method:

1. Anthropic Console (default): Complete the OAuth process in your browser
2. Claude App: If you have a Pro or Max subscription

Test Your Setup

Navigate to any project directory and run:

claude

Claude Code will start and you can begin giving it commands. It will ask for permission before making any file changes or running commands.

Basic Terms

• Terminal: Text interface for your computer
• Directory: A folder
• CLI: Command Line Interface
• MCP: Model Context Protocol (for connecting external tools)

Part 1: Build a Recipe Management System

Let's start with something useful - organizing your cooking recipes.

Create the Structure

cd ~/Documents
claude

Tell Claude:

Create a folder called "recipe-manager" here. Inside, make three folders: "ingredients" for shopping lists, "recipes" for complete recipes, and "meal-plans" for weekly planning. Add a readme file that explains this system.

Claude will ask for permission to create these folders and files, then build the structure.

Add Content

Tell Claude:

Create a sample recipe for spaghetti carbonara in the recipes folder. Include ingredients list, instructions, and prep time. Format it nicely in markdown.

Generate a Meal Plan

Once you have several recipes saved:

Create a weekly meal plan using the recipes in the recipes folder. Include a combined shopping list in the ingredients folder.

Part 2: Build a Portfolio Website

Now let's create something for the web.

Set Up Your Project

mkdir portfolio-site
cd portfolio-site
claude

Create the Website

Tell Claude:

Build a portfolio website for a freelance photographer. Create an index.html with a clean, minimal design. Add separate pages for portraits, landscapes, and contact info. Include CSS for styling with smooth animations. Use vanilla JavaScript for any interactions.

Claude will:

• Create HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files
• Set up the folder structure
• Add responsive design

Preview Your Work

Tell Claude:

Start a local server so I can preview the website

Or manually:

python3 -m http.server 8000
# or
npx http-server

Open http://localhost:8000 in your browser.

Part 3: Deploy Your Site

Set Up Version Control

1. Create a GitHub account if you don't have one
2. Create a new repository
3. Initialize git in your project:

Initialize this as a git repository and create a proper .gitignore file

Upload to GitHub

Help me push this code to my GitHub repository at [your-repo-url]

Deploy with Netlify or Vercel

1. Sign up for Netlify (netlify.com) or Vercel (vercel.com)
2. Connect your GitHub account
3. Import your repository
4. Deploy automatically

Your site will get a public URL like your-site.netlify.app

Add a Custom Domain (Optional)

1. Buy a domain from a registrar
2. In Netlify/Vercel, add your custom domain
3. Update your domain's DNS settings as instructed

Part 4: Build a Book Club App with React

Set Up the Project

claude

Tell Claude:

Create a new React app called book-club-app using create-react-app

Plan the Features

I want to build a book club app with these features:
- User registration and login (we'll use local state for now)
- Add books to a reading list
- Discussion threads for each book
- Book recommendations

Create the basic React component structure for this.

Build the Components

Claude will create the React components. You can iterate:

Add a BookList component that displays books in a grid layout with cover images

Add Styling

Style the app using CSS modules or styled-components. Make it look modern and clean.

Run the Development Server

Start the React development server

The app will open at http://localhost:3000

Working with Claude Code Effectively

Command Options

Skip confirmation prompts (use carefully):

claude --auto-approve

Non-interactive mode for scripts:

claude -p "Create a Python script that organizes files by date"

Best Practices

1. Be Specific: Give clear, detailed instructions
2. Iterate: Build features incrementally
3. Review Changes: Claude shows diffs before applying changes
4. Use Context: Claude understands your whole project structure

MCP Integration

Claude Code can connect to external tools via MCP:

• Google Drive for documents
• GitHub for issues and PRs
• Slack for team communication
• Custom tools via MCP servers

Useful Commands

Inside Claude Code:

• /help - Show available commands
• /clear - Clear conversation context
• /bug - Report issues
• /mcp - Manage MCP connections

What You Can Build

With these skills, you can create:

• Static websites and landing pages
• React/Vue/Angular applications
• Node.js backend services
• Python scripts and automation
• Data analysis tools
• API integrations
• Chrome extensions
• And much more

Troubleshooting

Installation Issues:

• Ensure Node.js 18+ is installed
• Don't use sudo with npm
• Check the troubleshooting guide

Authentication Problems:

• Ensure you have an active Anthropic account
• Check your billing is set up or you have a Pro/Max subscription

Performance:

• Claude Code uses API tokens at standard pricing
• Consider using --small-model flag for simpler tasks

Important Notes

• Claude Code always asks permission before making changes
• It runs locally and connects to Anthropic's API
• Your code stays on your machine
• Feedback is collected to improve the tool but not used for model training

Keep Learning

The official documentation at docs.anthropic.com/claude-code has comprehensive guides on:

• Advanced MCP usage
• CI/CD integration
• Team collaboration
• SDK for building custom tools

Remember: Claude Code is a powerful assistant, but you remain in control. It helps you code faster while you focus on what you want to build.