FREE: Get Set Up in 10 Minutes

To get the most out of this course, you'll need the right tools. Let's get you set up quickly so you can start working like a pro.

The Core Setup

For this course, I'll be demonstrating with VS Code as the editor, using either GitHub Copilot or Claude as the AI assistant. Here's what you need:

VS Code (Required)

Download and install Visual Studio Code if you don't already have it. It's free, powerful, and has become the standard for professional development.

AI Assistant (Choose One or Both)

You'll need a subscription to at least one of these AI coding assistants:

GitHub Copilot

• Deeply integrated with VS Code
• Excellent for in-line suggestions and code completion
• Strong at understanding context within your codebase
• Requires a GitHub Copilot subscription (~$10-20/month)

Claude Code

• Powerful for complex reasoning and architectural discussions
• Great at handling multi-file changes
• Excellent for planning and documentation
• Requires a Claude Pro subscription (~$20/month)

Having both gives you the flexibility to use the right tool for each task, but one is sufficient to follow along with this course.

Alternative Tools

While I'll be using VS Code with Copilot and Claude, you can use alternative editors if you prefer:

• Cursor - A fork of VS Code with deep AI integration
• Windsurf - Another AI-first code editor
• Other AI-powered editors

Important: If you choose an alternative, you'll need to translate the specific tool interactions and features I demonstrate into your editor's equivalent functionality. The core concepts and techniques will remain the same, but the specific buttons, commands, and workflows may differ.

Getting Started

Once you have your tools installed:

1. Open VS Code
2. Install the GitHub Copilot extension and/or Claude extension
3. Sign in with your subscription credentials
4. You're ready to start the course!

Don't worry about mastering all the features yet as we'll explore them together as we progress through the lessons.