Setting Up Your Development Environment

Reading time: 12 minBeginner

Optimize your terminal and project setup for the best Claude Code experience.

Terminal Configuration

Since Claude Code is a terminal-native application, optimizing your terminal environment can significantly improve your experience. Here are some recommendations:

Shell Selection

Choose a modern shell that supports features Claude Code leverages:

  • Zsh - Recommended for macOS (default in recent versions)
  • Bash 4+ - Good cross-platform option
  • Fish - Excellent for interactive use with great autocompletion

Terminal Emulator

Use a capable terminal emulator:

  • iTerm2 - Recommended for macOS
  • Windows Terminal - Best option for Windows
  • Alacritty - Fast, cross-platform option
  • Terminator - Good for Linux with split-pane capabilities

Font Selection

Use a monospaced font with good readability:

  • JetBrains Mono - Excellent developer font with ligatures
  • Fira Code - Popular coding font with programming ligatures
  • Cascadia Code - Microsoft's open-source coding font

Project Structure Best Practices

Claude Code works best with well-organized projects. Follow these best practices:

Create a CLAUDE.md File

Add a CLAUDE.md file to your project root to provide context about your project. Include:

  • Project overview and purpose
  • Architecture description
  • Important directories and their purposes
  • Coding standards and conventions
  • Development workflow information
# Project: MyAwesomeApp

## Overview
MyAwesomeApp is a React-based web application that...

## Architecture
- Frontend: React with TypeScript
- State Management: Redux
- API: GraphQL with Apollo Client

## Directory Structure
- /src/components: UI components
- /src/pages: Page components
- /src/state: Redux store and slices
- /src/api: API integration

Include a Comprehensive README

Ensure your README.md contains setup instructions and other important information:

  • Installation steps
  • Configuration options
  • Development workflow
  • Testing procedures
  • Deployment process

Use Consistent File Organization

Organize your files consistently to help Claude Code understand your project structure:

  • Group related files together
  • Use consistent naming conventions
  • Create logical directory hierarchies
  • Consider feature-based organization for large projects

IDE Integration

While Claude Code is terminal-native, you can enhance your workflow by integrating it with your IDE:

VS Code Configuration

Configure VS Code for optimal Claude Code integration:

  • Use the integrated terminal (Ctrl+`)
  • Configure keyboard shortcuts for terminal commands
  • Install relevant extensions for your project type

JetBrains IDEs

Configure IntelliJ, WebStorm, PyCharm, or other JetBrains IDEs:

  • Configure the terminal tool window
  • Set up external tools for Claude Code commands
  • Create keyboard shortcuts for common operations

Terminal-in-Editor Workflow

Develop a workflow that leverages both your IDE and Claude Code:

  1. Edit code in your IDE
  2. Use Claude Code in the integrated terminal for assistance
  3. Review changes in your IDE
  4. Continue this cycle throughout development

Performance Optimization

Ensure Claude Code runs smoothly with these performance tips:

  • Configure sufficient memory for Node.js using the --max-old-space-size option
  • Use a .claudeignore file to exclude large directories (like node_modules)
  • Regularly clear Claude Code's cache with claude clear-cache
  • Keep your Claude Code installation updated
  • Consider using project-specific configurations for different project types

Next Steps

Now that your environment is optimized for Claude Code, explore these guides: