Claude Code Course from Scratch

Claude Code is a tool from Anthropic that lets you create websites, applications, and complete scripts using natural language, without having to write code manually. To use it safely and quickly, it’s best to run it on a VPS server, not on your local computer.

In this guide, you’ll learn everything from the beginning: what it is, how to sign up for the right plan, how to connect to a VPS with Claude Code pre-installed, and how to ask it to create what you need.

What is Claude Code and what is it for?

Claude Code is a tool developed by Anthropic—the company behind the Claude AI model—that lets you write, modify, and run code directly from the terminal using natural language instructions.

In simple terms: instead of writing code line by line, you tell it in Spanish (or English) what you want to build, and Claude Code creates it for you.

This doesn’t mean it generates a snippet of code that you then have to paste somewhere. Claude Code works directly within a project: it creates files, organizes them into folders, installs dependencies, modifies whatever is necessary, and can provide you with a URL or path so you can view the result in your browser.

Who is it useful for? What makes Claude Code special compared to other code generators is that it works with the full context of the project. It doesn’t just generate a block of code: it understands the structure, reads existing files, detects errors, and proposes solutions. It’s like having a programmer available 24/7.

  • Entrepreneurs who want a website or digital tool without paying a developer.
  • Freelancers who want to speed up their workflow.
  • SMEs that need to automate processes or quickly create informational pages.
  • Anyone with an idea and the desire to bring it to life, even if they don’t know how to code.

Why run Claude Code on a VPS and not on your local machine

This is one of the most common questions when someone starts using Claude Code: Can I use it on my computer?

The answer is yes, technically you can. But in practice, running it on your local machine brings several issues that quickly become frustrating:

Problems with running Claude Code locally:Why a VPS solves all of that:

  • Interruptions: If you close the terminal, shut down your computer, or lose your connection, the process stops. Claude Code needs continuous sessions to work on complex projects.
  • Limited resources: Your computer has memory and a processor that it shares with other applications. An active Claude Code process can slow everything down.
  • Not accessible from outside: If you create something on your machine, only you can see it. There’s no public URL to show it to a client or test it from your phone.
  • System dependencies: Depending on the operating system you use, installation can be complicated and conflict with other tools.
  • No continuity: Every time you reboot, you have to reconfigure the environment.

A VPS (Virtual Private Server) is a remote server—a machine—that is on 24 hours a day, has dedicated resources, and allows you to access projects from any browser using a public URL.

When you run Claude Code on a VPS: This is especially important when Claude Code creates a website or an application: the result isn’t stored in a local folder that only you can see, but on a server with a public address.

  • The process runs continuously, even if you shut down your computer.
  • The files that Claude Code creates are saved on the server and are accessible from the browser.
  • You can give Claude Code direct access to the environment where the application will run.
  • If you work with clients, you can show them the results in real time simply by sharing a URL.

For Claude Code projects, the most practical approach is to have a Claude Code VPS hosting plan with sufficient resources and a preconfigured environment. Later in this guide, we’ll explain which specific option we recommend.

How to sign up for the Claude Pro plan on the Anthropic website

To use Claude Code, you need an Anthropic account with the Claude Pro plan (or Max, depending on how you plan to use it). The free plan does not include access to Claude Code.

Step-by-step guide to signing up for Claude Pro

1. Go to the official site

Visit https://claude.ai from any browser.

2. Create an account

If you don’t have an account yet, click “Sign up” and enter your email address. You can also sign up with a Google account. The process is simple and takes less than two minutes.

3. Access the plans

Once logged in, go to the top-left corner where your username appears and select “Upgrade plan,” or go directly to https://claude.ai/upgrade.

4. Select the Pro plan

The Pro plan costs approximately $20 per month (pricing may vary by region and exchange rate). This plan includes: If you plan to use Claude Code intensively—for multiple projects or in production—there’s the Max plan, which offers higher limits, but the Pro plan is more than enough to get started.

  • Priority access to Claude’s most advanced models.
  • Higher daily message limit.
  • Access to Claude Code.
  • Use of advanced tools such as file analysis, advanced code generation, and more.

5. Enter payment details

Anthropic accepts international credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express). Billing is monthly, and you can cancel at any time from your account settings.

6. Activate Claude Code

Once your plan is active, Claude Code is available in the terminal environment. No additional installation is required from the Anthropic dashboard: server installation is the next step.

Important note: Claude Code is not used via the claude.ai web interface like a chat. It is used from the terminal on your server or computer. The Anthropic account is only for accessing the model; the tool itself is installed and run separately.

Getting Started with the Claude Code VPS (Pre-installed)

The fastest and easiest way to get started with Claude Code is by using the Neolo Claude Code VPS 3, which includes a snapshot with Claude Code already installed and configured.

The Claude Code VPS 3 is especially useful for those who don’t want to waste time setting up the environment from scratch. The snapshot has everything ready to go: Node.js, the necessary dependencies, and Claude Code installed.

Plus, if something breaks, it won’t be on your local machine where you keep your personal data—it’ll be on the VPS, which can be restored and you’re good to go.

What’s included in Neolo’s Claude Code VPS 3

  • Linux operating system (Ubuntu)
  • Claude Code pre-installed
  • Node.js and npm included
  • SSH access from the start
  • Public IP to access your projects from the browser
  • Consistent uptime and high availability

How to connect to the VPS for the first time

Once you sign up for the plan and receive the login credentials, connect via SSH from your computer.

On Mac or Linux, open Terminal and type:

ssh root@YOUR_VPS_IP

Neolo will provide you with your VPS IP and password once you sign up for the VPS. Activation is instant after payment, so you’ll receive them in about 5 to 10 minutes—that’s how long it takes to set up the VPS server.

On Windows, you can use PuTTY or the built-in SSH client in Windows 10/11. Open PowerShell or CMD and type the same command:

ssh root@YOUR_VPS_IP

Replace YOUR_VPS_IP with the IP address Neolo sends you when you activate the plan.

How to launch Claude Code on the VPS

Once inside the server, type:

claude

That’s it. Claude Code will launch and ask you to authenticate your Anthropic account. It will open a URL in your browser so you can log in with your Pro account.

Once authenticated, you’re ready to start creating.

Your first project: creating a basic website step by step

Let’s get practical. Claude Code runs within a project folder. First, create the folder, then enter it and run Claude Code.

Step 1: Create the project folder

mkdir my-first-website

cd my-first-website

Step 2: Launch Claude Code in that folder

claude

When Claude Code starts up, an interactive prompt appears in the terminal. That’s where you speak to it in natural language.

Step 3: Ask it to create the website

Just type what you need. For example:

Create a modern website for a coffee shop called “El Rincón.”

Make sure it has a home section with a background photo,

a menu with 5 items,

contact information, and a booking form.

The design should be warm, using brown and beige colors.

Claude Code will read your instructions, create the necessary files (HTML, CSS, JavaScript), organize them in the folder, and confirm what it did.

The response will look something like this:

I have created the following files:

- index.html (homepage with all sections)

- styles.css (responsive design with a brown/beige color palette)

- script.js (reservation form with validation)

To view the result, run:

npx serve . -p 3000

Then open in your browser: http://IP_DE_TU_VPS:3000

Step 4: Start the server to view the result

Now open your browser and type:

http://IP_DE_TU_VPS:3000

You’ll see the fully functional website, with the design you requested, accessible from any device using that URL.

Step 5: Request improvements or changes

From Claude Code, you can continue iterating. For example:

Change the button color to olive green.

Add a reviews section with 3 customer comments.

Claude Code modifies existing files without deleting what you’ve already done.

Step 6: Ask where everything is

If at any point you don’t remember the project structure, you can ask:

Where are the files you created?

Give me the path and tell me how to access the website from the browser.

And it will answer you exactly.

What else can you create with Claude Code: real examples

Claude Code isn’t limited to simple websites. Here are somereal projects you can ask it to create:

Full websites

  • A website for your local business (restaurant, yoga studio, clinic, store)
  • A professional portfolio with project sections and a contact form
  • A landing page to attract potential customers
  • A static blog with several posts already included

Tools and Applications

  • A calculator with custom logic (e.g., quote generator)
  • A PDF invoice generator
  • A simple task or to-do list system
  • A statistics dashboard with charts using data you enter

Automation scripts

  • A script that downloads data from an API and saves it to a file
  • A bot that checks a URL and notifies you if the content changes
  • A process that renames hundreds of files following a pattern

Simple APIs and backends

  • A REST API that returns data in JSON format
  • A basic authentication system
  • A backend for a contact form that sends emails

What makes Claude Code different from simply copying code from the internet is that it understands context.

If halfway through the project you tell it “add a dark mode” or “I need this to work in Spanish too,” it does so without breaking what already exists.

Common mistakes when using Claude Code

1. Vague requests

If you tell it “create a nice website,” the result may not look like what you had in mind. The more specific you are, the better the result will be.

Instead of this:

“Create a website for my business”

Say this:

“Create a website for my computer repair business. Name: TechFix. Colors: dark blue and white. Sections: home, services (5 types of repairs), pricing, and contact. Include a WhatsApp number in the header.”

2. Not creating a project folder before starting

If you run Claude Code without being in a specific folder, the files may end up scattered. Always create the folder first and enter it before running claude.

3. Forgetting to start the server to view the result

Claude Code creates the files, but it doesn’t serve them automatically. You need to run a local server (such as npx serve, python3 -m http.server, or similar) to view the result in the browser.

4. Interrupting the process in the middle of a complex task

If Claude Code is creating multiple files and you close the terminal, the process is interrupted. On a VPS, this doesn’t happen if you use screen or tmux to keep the session active:

12

screen -S claudecode

claude

To disconnect without closing the process: Ctrl + A, then D. To reconnect: screen -r claudecode.

5. Don’t ask Claude Code to explain what it did

One of the most useful features is asking for a summary at the end:

1

What files did you create, where are they, and how can I view the project in the browser?

This saves you from blindly searching for files on the server.

6. Using the VPS with insufficient resources

Claude Code can consume memory when working on large projects. If the VPS has low RAM, processes become slow or get interrupted. Neolo’s Claude Code VPS 3 is sized for this type of load.

What Neolo’s customers say

★★★★★ Martin Aberastegue

“Neolo is the best web hosting company I’ve ever worked with. I’ve relied on their services for over 7 years, both for my own projects and those of my clients.”

★★★★★ Pablo Gutiérrez

“I’d highlight the speed of their support and the server uptime, which is 100%.”

★★★★★ Matias

“It’s the only company that was able to solve all the hosting issues I had. Constant and super professional support.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to know how to code to use Claude Code?

No. Claude Code is designed to receive instructions in natural language. You can describe what you want to build just as you would explain it to a programmer, and Claude Code handles the code. That said, if you have basic terminal knowledge (such as navigating between folders or running commands), the experience is smoother.

What’s the difference between Claude Code and the claude.ai chat?

The claude.ai chat is a conversational interface: you ask it questions, and it responds with text or code. Claude Code is a terminal tool that works directly with the files on your system: it creates, edits, and organizes actual files on your server or computer. It’s much more powerful for building complete projects.

Can I use Claude Code for free?

Not on an ongoing basis. Anthropic offers a limited trial period, but to use Claude Code regularly, you need the Pro plan (approximately $20/month). It’s a reasonable investment when compared to hiring a developer for one-off tasks.

Why do I need a VPS instead of just using it on my computer?

Your computer shuts down, loses connection, and doesn’t have a public URL. A VPS runs 24/7, has a static IP, and makes what you create accessible from any browser. For projects you need to showcase or that must be continuously available, a VPS is indispensable.

What kinds of projects can I create from scratch with Claude Code?

Informational websites, landing pages, basic online stores, APIs, automation scripts, calculation tools, forms, control panels, static blogs, and much more. The limitation isn’t technical—it’s how clearly you describe what you need.

Are the files Claude Code creates mine?

Yes. Everything Claude Code generates is saved on your server or in your project folder. Anthropic does not retain the files. They are entirely yours.

Can I connect Claude Code to my own domain?

Yes. Once your project is running on the VPS, you can point your own domain to that IP and configure a server like Nginx or Apache so the site is accessible via a clean URL (such as www.tunegocio.com). If you don’t know how to do this, you can ask Claude Code itself for instructions.

Conclusion

Claude Code is one of the most practical tools available today for creating digital projects without relying on a development team. The combination of natural language with direct access to the file system makes it something qualitatively different from a simple code generator.

The most straightforward starting point is having the right environment: a VPS with Claude Code already installed eliminates all the technical hurdles of getting started and lets you go from idea to result in minutes.

If you want to get started hassle-free, Neolo’s Claude Code VPS hosting with a pre-installed Claude Code image is the most practical option. With over 20 years of experience, technical support provided by real people, and a 30-day money-back guarantee, it’s a solid starting point for any project you have in mind.


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