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Quick Start Guide

Getting Started

Get up and running with Claude Code and start using plugins from the registry in just a few minutes.

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Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have the following:

  • Node.js 18+ - Required for running Claude Code
  • An Anthropic API key - Get one at console.anthropic.com
  • A terminal - macOS Terminal, iTerm2, Windows Terminal, or any modern terminal

Installing Claude Code

Claude Code is installed globally via npm. Open your terminal and run:

Terminal
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

After installation, you can start Claude Code by running:

Terminal
claude

On first run, you'll be prompted to authenticate with your Anthropic API key. Follow the prompts to complete setup.

Tip: You can also set the ANTHROPIC_API_KEY environment variable to skip the authentication prompt.

Installing Plugins

Plugins from the squirrelsoft.dev registry can be installed using the /plugin command. Each plugin page shows the exact command to run.

Step 1: Add the Marketplace

Before installing any plugins, you need to add the squirrelsoft.dev marketplace to Claude Code. Run this command once to register the marketplace:

Terminal
/plugin marketplace add squirrelsoft-dev/squirrelsoft-marketplace

Verify the marketplace was added:

Terminal
/plugin marketplace list

Note: You only need to add the marketplace once. After that, you can install any plugin from the registry.

Step 2: Install Plugins

Browse plugins at /plugins and click the copy button on any plugin to get the install command. The format is:

Syntax
/plugin install plugin-name@marketplace-name

For example, to install the doc-fetcher plugin:

Example
/plugin install doc-fetcher@squirrelsoft-dev-tools

Important: After installing a plugin, you may need to restart Claude Code to use the new commands and features.

Managing Plugins

Use the /plugin command to open the interactive plugin management interface:

Terminal
/plugin

Or use these direct commands:

/plugin enable name@marketplaceEnable a disabled plugin
/plugin disable name@marketplaceDisable without uninstalling
/plugin uninstall name@marketplaceCompletely remove a plugin

Understanding Plugin Types

Claude Code supports several types of extensions, each serving different purposes:

Skills

Skills

Markdown files that provide Claude with domain-specific knowledge and workflows. Skills activate based on context or can be invoked with the /skill command. Use skills to give Claude expertise in specific frameworks, APIs, or development patterns.

Commands

Slash Commands

Custom commands that expand to prompts or trigger specific actions. Defined as Markdown files in .claude/commands/. Invoke with /command-name in the Claude Code interface.

Hooks

Hooks

Shell commands that run automatically in response to Claude Code events. Use hooks for formatting, logging, notifications, or any automation that should happen before or after tool calls.

Subagents

Subagents

Specialized AI agents that Claude can spawn for specific tasks. Subagents have isolated context and can use different models or tool sets. Great for delegating complex subtasks or domain-specific work.

Configuration

Claude Code stores configuration in your home directory at ~/.claude/. Project-specific settings go in .claude/ at your project root.

Key Configuration Files

~/.claude/settings.jsonGlobal settings and preferences
.claude/settings.jsonProject-specific settings
CLAUDE.mdProject context and instructions for Claude

Project Setup

Create a CLAUDE.md file in your project root to give Claude context about your codebase. Include information about:

  • • Project structure and architecture
  • • Development commands (build, test, lint)
  • • Coding conventions and patterns
  • • Important files and their purposes

Next Steps

Browse Plugins

Explore the full catalog of available plugins, skills, and tools

Official Documentation

Dive deeper into Claude Code features and capabilities