How to Build an AI App Without Writing Code: A Beginner’s Guide to Claude Code

Claude Code turns your terminal into an AI software developer that builds apps for you. You don't need to know how to code—just describe what you want, and Claude Code handles the technical work.

This guide shows you how to set up Claude Code with Cursor (a code editor) and build your first AI app, even if you've never touched a terminal before.

What You'll Need

• A Mac or PC
• About 30 minutes for setup
• A paid Anthropic account ($20/month) or API key

Step 1: Install Node.js

Node.js is the platform Claude Code runs on. You don't need to understand it—just install it.

1. Go to nodejs.org
2. Download the installer for your operating system
3. Run the installer and follow the prompts
4. Restart your computer when done

Step 2: Download Cursor

Cursor is a code editor that makes Claude Code easier to use. It shows your project files and lets you chat with AI when you hit problems.

1. Visit cursor.sh
2. Download Cursor for your device
3. Install and open it

Step 3: Install Claude Code

1. Go to Anthropic's Claude Code documentation
2. Copy this command: npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
3. In Cursor, click Terminal → New Terminal
4. Paste the command and press Enter

If you get permission errors, try this instead:

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

Enter your computer password when prompted.

Step 4: Set Up Authentication

Claude Code will ask you to connect your account. Choose one option:

Option A: Paid Anthropic Account (Recommended)

• Log into claude.ai
• Upgrade to a paid plan ($20/month)
• Follow the prompts in your terminal

Option B: API Key

• Get an API key from console.anthropic.com
• Paste it when Claude Code asks
• You'll pay based on usage

Step 5: Create Your First Project

1. In Cursor, click Open Project
2. Create a new folder (name it something like "my-first-app")
3. Click Open to open that folder

You now have three windows:

• Left: Your project files
• Middle: Code editor and terminal
• Right: Chat with Cursor's AI

Step 6: Set Up Claude Rules

Create a rules file to tell Claude how to behave:

1. In your project folder, create a new folder called "rules"
2. Inside that folder, create a file called "claude.md"
3. Copy and paste these rules:

# Standard Workflow

1. First think through the problem, read the codebase for relevant files, and write a plan to projectplan.md
2. The plan should have a list of todo items that you can check off as you complete them
3. Before you begin working, check in with me and I will verify the plan
4. Then, begin working on the todo items, marking them as complete as you go
5. Please every step of the way just give me a high level explanation of what changes you made
6. Make every task and code change you do as simple as possible. We want to avoid making any massive or complex changes. Every change should impact as little code as possible. Everything is about simplicity
7. Finally, add a review section to the projectplan.md file with a summary of the changes you made and any other relevant information

Step 7: Start Building

In your terminal, switch to Plan Mode by pressing Shift + Tab. You should see "Plan Mode: ON".

Now describe your app. For example:

I want to build a recipe finder app where users can search for recipes by ingredients they have at home, save their favorites, and rate dishes they've tried. Can you create a detailed step-by-step plan for an MVP?

Claude Code will:

1. Think through your request
2. Create a detailed project plan
3. Ask if you want to proceed
4. Start building when you say yes

Step 8: Review and Approve the Plan

Claude Code creates a file called projectplan.md with checkboxes for each step. Review this plan and tell Claude to proceed if it looks good.

If you want changes, just ask:

Can you add a grocery list feature that exports missing ingredients?

Step 9: Build Your App

Once you approve the plan, Claude Code switches to building mode. It will:

• Create files and write code
• Ask permission before major changes
• Explain what it's doing at each step
• Check off completed items in your project plan

Say "yes" when it asks for permission, or type "yes and don't ask again" to speed things up.

Step 10: Test Your App

When Claude Code finishes a phase, ask to test it:

Let's test this to see if it works

Claude Code will start a local server and give you a web address (like http://localhost:3000) where you can see your app.

Troubleshooting Tips

If Claude Code gets stuck:

1. Use Cursor's chat (right panel) to diagnose the error
2. Copy any error messages to the chat
3. Ask: "This error is happening in my project. How can we fix it?"
4. Tell Claude Code what the chat suggests

If you want to continue later:

1. Close Cursor
2. Reopen your project folder
3. Tell Claude Code: "Read the projectplan.md file and continue where we left off"

Pro Tips

1. Turn on dictation (Mac): System Preferences → Keyboard → Dictation. Set it to activate with Control+Control. Now you can talk to Claude Code instead of typing.
2. Keep it simple: Ask for one feature at a time. Let Claude Code finish each step before moving to the next.
3. Use the project plan: Always keep your projectplan.md file open to track progress.
4. Save regularly: Cursor auto-saves, but it's good practice to tell Claude Code to save important changes.

What You've Built

By following this guide, you've:

• Set up a complete AI development environment
• Created your first project with Claude Code
• Learned how to guide AI through building an app
• Understand how to test and iterate

Your app runs locally on your computer. To make it live on the internet, you'll need to deploy it using services like Netlify or Vercel—but that's a topic for another guide.

Next Steps

Now that you have Claude Code working, try building:

• A simple calculator
• A weather app
• A personal blog
• Whatever you can imagine

Remember: you don't need to know how to code. Just describe what you want in plain English, and Claude Code will build it for you.