1. Create your track folder
mkdir -p ~/dev/web-dev
cd ~/dev/web-dev
2. Web dev tools: let Claude Code do it
Open Claude Code in your track folder:
claude
I'm setting up a web development environment. Please:
1. Install Node.js (latest LTS version) via nvm (Node Version Manager)
2. Verify npm is installed and working
3. Install VS Code if not already installed (or tell me how if it needs manual install)
4. Check if Docker is installed. If not, tell me how to install it (it needs admin access)
After each step, verify it worked and show me the result.
Note on Docker: Docker typically needs administrator access. If Claude Code can't install it directly, it will tell you what command to run yourself.
Verify
Once Claude Code finishes:
node --version
npm --version
docker --version
You should see version numbers for Node.js (20+), npm, and Docker.
If you've installed VS Code, check it too: code --version
3. Your first look
Everything is installed. Before you start Project 1, see what Claude Code can do when you point it at a web development problem.
Build a simple personal portfolio site with three sections: a hero with my name,
an "About" section, and a "Projects" section with three placeholder cards.
Use HTML, CSS, and vanilla JavaScript. Make it responsive. It should look good
on both desktop and mobile. Serve it locally so I can see it in my browser.
As you work through the track, you'll learn why a single prompt isn't enough: why that HTML might not be accessible, why that CSS might break on certain devices, why that layout might fail a performance audit, and why a client would have opinions about every design choice.
But for now, look at what just happened. That's the starting point.