MODULE 0: Why Claude Code?

For financial consultants, not programmers

You won’t write code here. You’ll speak to Claude in plain English to draft analyses, summarize docs, and structure deliverables. No IDE setup today—Module 1 handles installation in a few clicks, and Module 2 walks you through using the workspace. You stay in charge: Claude proposes; you review and approve.

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Powered by Anthropic's official Claude Code (current release) — the IDE‑integrated coding assistant for VS Code and JetBrains on macOS, Windows, and Linux. Read the docs.

📍Context: Why This Matters Now

What Claude Code actually is

Claude Code is Anthropic’s official assistant that lives inside an editor app called an IDE (think: your digital desk where documents and tools live together). You’ll chat in plain English to draft, transform, and check work. No prior IDE knowledge is required—this course sets it up for you.

Safeguard: Claude never changes files without your approval. You’ll see a clear preview of proposed edits first, then click Approve to apply. Installation is a guided, one‑time step in Module 1 (official extension + simple npm support).

💡Core Content: 10 Reasons to Start

Secure & local — runs in your IDE; reviews diffs before changes land.
Business logic → working code — turn a brief into scripts, with tests.
Explains unfamiliar repos — map functions, flows, and side‑effects.
Refactors with oversight — propose edits, you approve per hunk.
Boilerplate in seconds — CLIs, ETL jobs, APIs scaffolded safely.
Cross‑platform — VS Code/JetBrains on macOS/Windows/Linux.
npm installer — fast setup, enterprise‑friendly.
Team workflows — shared prompts and consistent patterns.
Compliance by design — you keep control of source and secrets.
Faster delivery — from idea to reviewed PR in hours, not days.

🛠️Hands-On: See the Difference

Below is a simulated view of the Claude Code interface in VS Code. You'll use the real workspace in Module 2.

Claude Code in VS Code — Interactive Simulation

💡 Click the highlighted Claude panel areas to learn more

How it works: Chat in plain English → Claude proposes code changes → Review the diff (green = added, red = removed) → Click Approve to apply or Reject to discard. Nothing changes in your files until you approve.

⌨️Quick Simulator

Try a dry‑run

Type this in your head as if you were in the terminal: claude "list my files". Imagine Claude showing a small diff‑style preview of what it plans to read. In Module 2, you’ll try it for real.

💬3 Key Tips from Early Adopters

“I treated it like training a junior associate. Once I explained context clearly, results became eerily accurate.”

“I started with client-agnostic data just to see patterns. Confidence grows fast when nothing’s at risk.”

“My first three prompts were awful because I didn’t specify what output I wanted. Be explicit: ask for ‘table format’ or ‘3 key insights.’”

🧯Common Errors, Decoded

"command not found"

Close and reopen your terminal. Then try claude --version again.

"permission denied"

You’re trying to write where your user can’t. Switch folders (e.g., Desktop) and try again.

🧠Reflection Questions

Before moving on, take a moment to think about your own work:

Which of the "10 Reasons" resonates most with the challenges you face in your daily workflow?
What is one repetitive, time-consuming task you currently do (e.g., summarizing meeting notes, formatting reports) that an LLM could potentially draft for you?
Considering the "Before and After" example, what could you do with the hours saved each week?
What’s your risk tolerance for experimenting with paid APIs? Set a small, safe budget before Module 2.

❓Common Questions

📚6 Key Terms You Just Learned

Claude Code: Anthropic's official coding assistant that integrates with your editor. You interact with it using the claude command in your terminal or a chat panel in your IDE.
IDE (Integrated Development Environment): Your workspace app (like VS Code/JetBrains). In this course, you’ll only need basic actions we guide step‑by‑step—no programming expertise required.
Prompt: Your natural language instruction to Claude. It's a question or a command, not computer code.
LLM (Large Language Model): The underlying AI engine (like Claude) that understands and generates text.
Synthesis: The process of combining information from multiple sources to create a new, structured understanding. This is a core consulting skill that LLMs accelerate.
Workflow: A series of steps you take to complete a task. LLMs can help automate or speed up parts of your workflow.
Guardrails: The safety rules you must follow, like not using confidential client data in public AI tools.

✅Knowledge Check

🪜What You Learned & What's Next

Where you are now:

You understand what Claude Code is: an official Anthropic product for VS Code/JetBrains, how it behaves (local, secure, explicit approvals), and the value it brings to a consulting workflow.

Where you’re going next:

In Module 1, we’ll install the IDE extension. In Module 2, you will use the real Claude Code workspace to chat, generate, and apply changes for the first time.

Continue to Module 1: Setup & Installation