Coding assistants 4 min

Install and first run

Most CLIs follow the same install pattern.

Every coding CLI follows the same three steps. Examples below.

Three steps

Install

npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code   # Claude Code
npm install -g @openai/codex               # Codex CLI
pip install aider-chat                     # aider
brew install cursor                        # Cursor (editor)

Authenticate

claude          # opens browser login
codex           # opens browser login
aider           # reads OPENAI_API_KEY / ANTHROPIC_API_KEY env var

One-time per machine. Most CLIs use OAuth; aider uses env vars.

First prompt

cd ~/my-project && claude

Try: "What does this project do?"

No Node.js installed?

Get it from nodejs.org (LTS). Or use Homebrew (macOS) / your distro's package manager (Linux).

Exit with Ctrl+C twice or /exit. Most CLIs let you resume the last session — check --continue or similar.