Step 1 of 5

Setup your tools

Three things to install before Level 2. Follow the steps below exactly. If you hit an error, screenshot it and paste it into Claude — it's great at troubleshooting installer errors. Still stuck after Claude's suggestions? Bring the screenshot to Level 2 and we'll fix it in the first 10 minutes.

Sign up for Vercel (free)

Vercel is the platform that hosts the tools you'll build. Free for everything we'll be doing.

Go to vercel.com/signup and create your free account
When asked, choose the Hobby (Free) plan
You don't need to create a project yet — just having the account is enough

Done — I have a Vercel account

Install Node.js

Node.js lets your computer run the next tool we need.

🍎If you're on a Mac

Go to nodejs.org
Click the big green “Get Node.js” button
Open the file that downloads (it ends in .pkg)
Keep clicking Continue, then Install — enter your Mac password if asked
Wait for “Installation Successful”, then close the installer

🪟If you're on Windows

Go to nodejs.org
Click the big green “Get Node.js” button
Open the file that downloads (it ends in .msi)
Keep clicking Next, then Install — click Yes if Windows asks for permission
Wait for the “Completed” screen, then click Finish

Quick check (optional)

To confirm Node.js installed correctly, open Terminal (Mac) or Command Prompt (Windows) — see Step 3 for how to open these — type node -v and press Enter.

You should see a number like v20.18.0. If you see “command not found,” reinstall Node.js.

Done — Node.js is installed

Install Vercel CLI

The Vercel CLI is the tool Claude Code uses to launch your projects online.

🍎If you're on a Mac

Press Cmd + Space, type Terminal, press Enter
In the window that opens, type: npm install -g vercel
Press Enter and wait 1-2 minutes
When it's done, type vercel --version and press Enter — you should see a number like 36.x.x

🪟If you're on Windows

Click the Start menu, type Command Prompt, press Enter
In the window that opens, type: npm install -g vercel
Press Enter and wait 1-2 minutes
When it's done, type vercel --version and press Enter — you should see a number like 36.x.x

Done — Vercel CLI is installed

Pro tip: if the Vercel CLI install fails with “permission denied”

On a Mac: type sudo npm install -g vercel instead. It will ask for your Mac password — type it and press Enter. (You won't see the characters as you type — that's normal.)

On Windows: close Command Prompt. Click the Start menu and type Command Prompt, then right-click it and choose Run as administrator. Try the install command again.