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Workshop setup

AI Workshop: Code and Automate with AI Setup Guide

Install Visual Studio Code, a Codex or Claude VS Code extension, Git, GitHub, Docker Desktop, and make sure your ChatGPT Plus or Claude Pro account is ready before AI Workshop: Code and Automate with AI.

AI Workshop: Code and Automate with AI setup guide featured image.

What you need

Install everything on the laptop you plan to use during the workshop. No custom scripts are required for setup. You only need the standard product installs and active accounts listed here.

  • Visual Studio Code (free)
  • Purchase or verify your ChatGPT Plus or Claude Pro account in your browser
  • Git (free)
  • GitHub account (free)
  • Docker account and Docker Desktop app (free account required)
  • Codex or Claude VS Code extension (free)

Recommended order

  1. Install Visual Studio Code.
  2. Confirm your ChatGPT Plus or Claude Pro login works in the browser.
  3. Install Git.
  4. Create or confirm your GitHub account.
  5. Create your Docker account and install Docker Desktop.
  6. Install a Codex or Claude extension in VS Code and sign in.

Prefer to start with a walkthrough? Watch the setup video on YouTube, then use this page as your reference as you go. This page may include more detail and follow-up notes than the video.

Open the setup video on YouTube

1

Visual Studio Code (free)

We will use VS Code as the main editing environment during the workshop.

Download Visual Studio Code

Install the stable release and open it once so the app can finish first-run setup.

2

ChatGPT Plus or Claude Pro

We recommend ChatGPT Plus or Claude Pro so you have reliable access during the live sessions.

You do not need to install a desktop app for ChatGPT or Claude. We recommend ChatGPT Plus or Claude Pro, and you should make sure your account works in the browser before the workshop starts.

Set up your AI account before moving on to Git so you know your login is working and ready for the workshop.

ChatGPT Plus: openai.com/chatgpt/pricing

Claude Pro: anthropic.com/pricing

3

Git (free)

Git is required for local version control before we connect your work to GitHub.

Download Git

On Windows, go to git-scm.com/install/windows and run the installer executable.

On macOS, open the Terminal app from Applications, Utilities, or press Command + Space, type Terminal, and press Return.

On macOS, open Terminal first, then install Homebrew, then install Git, and then configure Git.

Then install Homebrew by pasting this command into Terminal:

Terminal command

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

After Homebrew is installed on macOS, run:

Terminal command

brew install git

After Git is installed, open Terminal, Windows Terminal, or PowerShell and run:

Terminal commands

git config --global user.name "John Doe"
git config --global user.email johndoe@example.com
git config --global init.defaultBranch main

These commands set your Git username, email, and default branch to main.

4

GitHub (free account)

You need a GitHub account so you can push code, collaborate, and keep your app backed up.

Create a GitHub account

Use an account you can access during the workshop without company approval delays or multi-device login issues.

Enable two-factor authentication and make sure you can sign back in after fully closing your browser. Please test that before the workshop starts.

5

Docker Desktop (free account required)

We will use Docker to create a consistent development environment for your web app.

Install Docker Desktop

Create your Docker account first, then download Docker Desktop, install it, and sign in to the app with that account.

After installation, launch Docker Desktop, complete the first-run setup, and wait until it reports that Docker is running.

Install Docker first, then open Docker Desktop and complete the setup right away.

6

Codex or Claude VS Code extension (free)

Install one AI coding extension in VS Code so you can work inside the editor during the workshop.

Open VS Code Extensions Marketplace

In VS Code, the Extensions tab is the area where you browse and install add-ons for the editor. Look for the square icon on the left sidebar, or open it from the View menu.

Open the Extensions tab and install either the Codex extension or the Claude extension.

If you use ChatGPT, install the Codex extension first, then complete its sign-in flow.

If you use Claude, install the Claude Code extension next and authenticate it in VS Code.

After installation, sign in to the extension and make sure it appears in VS Code as ready to use before the workshop starts.

Checklist before Week 1

  • ✓ VS Code opens normally.
  • ✓ Your Codex or Claude extension is installed in VS Code and signed in.
  • ✓ You know how to open Terminal on Mac or Terminal/PowerShell on Windows.
  • ✓ Git is installed, your username and email are configured, and your default branch is set to main.
  • ✓ You can sign in to GitHub with two-factor authentication enabled.
  • ✓ You can close your browser, reopen it, and sign back in to GitHub successfully.
  • ✓ Docker Desktop starts successfully and you can sign in to the app.
  • ✓ You can sign in to ChatGPT Plus or Claude Pro in your browser.

All setup should be completed before the workshop starts. If you get stuck, use the contact page so Bill or a Cambermast team member can set up a meeting with you ahead of time and help you get unblocked before Week 1.