This is pretty common to have different options to install binaries and I assume part of the reason why they do have the second option is to gear towards to non-developers or those unfamiliar with nodejs. Most developers familiar with nodejs would use option 1, `npm install` is as easy as it gets. Usually with nodejs, developers work in many different projects with many nodejs versions. So it's common to manage multiple nodejs environments (with something like nvm or asdf). This is how we avoid installing packages in system folders (which requires sudo). I encourage you to ask Claude honestly, you'll get some pretty good answers. Everything is done in good intentions. Answer from sirneb on reddit.com
🌐
Claude
code.claude.com › docs › en › setup
Set up Claude Code - Claude Code Docs
Do NOT use sudo npm install -g as this can lead to permission issues and security risks.
🌐
npm
npmjs.com › package › @anthropic-ai › claude-code
@anthropic-ai/claude-code - npm
2 days ago - Install Claude Code: npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code · Navigate to your project directory and run claude. We welcome your feedback. Use the /bug command to report issues directly within Claude Code, or file a GitHub issue.
      » npm install @anthropic-ai/claude-code
Published   Dec 22, 2025
Version   2.0.76
Author   Anthropic
Repository   https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code
Homepage   https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code
Discussions
New to Claude Code - why are there 3 different ways to install this thing?
This is pretty common to have different options to install binaries and I assume part of the reason why they do have the second option is to gear towards to non-developers or those unfamiliar with nodejs. Most developers familiar with nodejs would use option 1, `npm install` is as easy as it gets. Usually with nodejs, developers work in many different projects with many nodejs versions. So it's common to manage multiple nodejs environments (with something like nvm or asdf). This is how we avoid installing packages in system folders (which requires sudo). I encourage you to ask Claude honestly, you'll get some pretty good answers. Everything is done in good intentions. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/ClaudeAI
8
5
August 27, 2025
Don't forget to update your Claude CLI! It makes a huge difference
u can enable auto update. only thing is you have to restart the chat. you can continue from where you left off with `claude -c` More on reddit.com
🌐 r/ClaudeAI
19
20
June 11, 2025
Remove claude code cli on mac
npm uninstall -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code bun uninstall -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code rm -rf $HOME/.bun/bin/claude rm -rf $HOME/.bun/bin/../install/global/node_modules/@anthropic-ai rm -f $HOME/.npm-global/bin/claude rm -rf $HOME/.local/share/claude rm ~/.claude.json rm -rf ~/.claude/ rm -rf $HOME/.local/share/claude rm ~/.claude.json rm -rf ~/.claude/ # check which claude # → not found ls ~/.claude* # → not exist # to reinstall brew install --cask claude-code https://docs.yemreak.com/claude-code/remove-claude-code-macos More on reddit.com
🌐 r/ClaudeAI
11
3
September 2, 2025
How to Install and Use Claude Code, Maybe the Best AI Coding Tool Right Now?
I think better comparison would be something like aider. How does it compare with it? More on reddit.com
🌐 r/ChatGPTCoding
37
61
February 26, 2025
Videos
🌐 YouTube
How to Install Claude Code (for beginners) - YouTube
July 28, 2025
08:35
🌐 YouTube
Claude Code on Windows - EASY Setup & Cursor Integration ...
July 14, 2025
04:18
🌐 YouTube
How to Install And Use Claude Code - YouTube
February 24, 2025
04:53
🌐 YouTube
How to Get Started With Claude Code in 5 Minutes - YouTube
March 4, 2025
08:10
🌐 YouTube
Getting Started With Claude Code: Introducing and Installing - YouTube
1 month ago
10:11
🌐 YouTube
Claude Code Tutorial #1 - Introduction & Setup - YouTube
August 21, 2025
View all
View all
🌐
Reddit
reddit.com › r/claudeai › new to claude code - why are there 3 different ways to install this thing?
r/ClaudeAI on Reddit: New to Claude Code - why are there 3 different ways to install this thing?
August 27, 2025 -

Hey everyone, I'm new to Claude Code and just spent an hour in installation hell. I'm on a Mac

So apparently, there are THREE ways to install this:

  1. npm install: npm install -g u/anthropic-ai/claude-code

    • Docs say this is "standard installation"

    • Gets a permission denied error

    • Docs then warn "DO NOT use sudo"

  2. curl installer: curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash

    • Called "beta" but actually works

    • Buried in a random troubleshooting article

    • Installs to ~/.local/bin (need to fix PATH)

  3. sudo npm: sudo npm install -g u/anthropic-ai/claude-code

    • What actually makes npm work

    • But docs specifically say DON'T do this

    • "Security risks" apparently

How did you all install this?
Also, why do they recommend npm when they literally have a note saying "Claude Code has a native installation that doesn't depend on npm" - THEN MAKE THAT THE DEFAULT??

I'm not even mad, this is hilarious. Just want to know if I'm missing something obvious here

Top answer
1 of 3
4
This is pretty common to have different options to install binaries and I assume part of the reason why they do have the second option is to gear towards to non-developers or those unfamiliar with nodejs. Most developers familiar with nodejs would use option 1, `npm install` is as easy as it gets. Usually with nodejs, developers work in many different projects with many nodejs versions. So it's common to manage multiple nodejs environments (with something like nvm or asdf). This is how we avoid installing packages in system folders (which requires sudo). I encourage you to ask Claude honestly, you'll get some pretty good answers. Everything is done in good intentions.
2 of 3
1
This is normal
🌐
ClaudeLog
claudelog.com › home › install
Install Claude Code | ClaudeLog
November 11, 2025 - Claude Code supports the following operating systems: ... Note: The native installer does not require Node.js. Only the legacy npm installation method requires Node.js 18.0+.
🌐
Bind AI IDE
blog.getbind.co › 2025 › 08 › 26 › how-to-install-claude-code-cli
How to Install Claude Code CLI – Bind AI IDE
August 27, 2025 - If you encounter permissions errors, consider using a user-local npm directory (npm documentation covers these details). Alternatively, for a fast and dependency-free installation: Open Terminal. Enter: bash curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash · This script auto-downloads and installs the latest stable release of Claude Code CLI.
🌐
Eesel AI
eesel.ai › blog › npm-install-claude-code
A guide to `npm install claude-code`: Features, limitations, and alternatives - eesel AI
November 14, 2025 - Learn how `npm install claude-code` works and explore its powerful features. We'll also cover the hidden costs and limitations of agentic coding tools and suggest a more integrated approach.
🌐
npm
npmjs.com › package › @ay-claude › cli
@ay-claude/cli - npm
November 8, 2025 - Latest version: 1.0.0, last published: 16 days ago. Start using @ay-claude/cli in your project by running `npm i @ay-claude/cli`. There are no other projects in the npm registry using @ay-claude/cli.
      » npm install @ay-claude/cli
Published   Nov 08, 2025
Version   1.0.0
Author   AY Claude Platform
Repository   https://github.com/walidboulanouar/ay-claude-templates
Homepage   https://github.com/walidboulanouar/ay-claude-templates#readme
Find elsewhere
🌐
DEV Community
dev.to › shahidkhans › from-zero-to-ai-powered-developer-your-complete-claude-code-cli-setup-guide-4l9i
From Zero to AI-Powered Developer: Your Complete Claude Code CLI Setup Guide - DEV Community
August 6, 2025 - For developers who want access to the latest features or need to avoid npm permission complexities entirely, the native binary installation offers a compelling alternative. ... # Install stable version (recommended for most users) curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash # Install latest version (for early adopters) curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash -s latest # Install specific version (for compatibility requirements) curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash -s 1.0.58
🌐
KDnuggets
kdnuggets.com › top-5-agentic-coding-cli-tools
Top 5 Agentic Coding CLI Tools - KDnuggets
November 13, 2025 - npm install -g @openai/codex · I have started using it because it is an almost free tool for me to access the latest OpenAI Codex and GPT-5 models. After Claude Code and Droid, I think I will continue using it for my projects.
🌐
Buildwithclaude
buildwithclaude.com › docs › cli
CLI Tool - Claude Code Subagents & Commands Collection
# Search for testing-related tools bwc search test # Add multiple items interactively bwc add # Select "Subagent" # Select category or "All" # Use SPACE to select multiple items # Press ENTER to install all ... # .github/workflows/setup.yml - name: Install bwc CLI run: npm install -g bwc-cli ...
🌐
Z
docs.z.ai › scenario-example › develop-tools › claude
Claude Code - Overview - Z.AI DEVELOPER DOCUMENT
# Install Claude Code npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code # Navigate to your project cd your-awesome-project # Complete claude
🌐
Medium
drlee.io › let-claude-code-write-your-next-app-in-minutes-yes-on-windows-7e40a5e29db6
Let Claude Code Write Your Next App in Minutes (Yes, on Windows) | by Dr. Ernesto Lee | Nov, 2025 | Medium
November 15, 2025 - The Micro-Why: Claude Code is built on Node.js infrastructure. Without Node, the installation script has nothing to work with. Think of Node as the foundation and Claude Code as the house. You need an active Claude account before the CLI will authenticate.
🌐
npm
npmjs.com › package › @schuettc › claude-code-setup
@schuettc/claude-code-setup - npm
August 4, 2025 - ... # Install the package npm install -g @schuettc/claude-code-setup # Initialize Claude Code in your project (interactive) claude-setup init # Or initialize with defaults claude-setup init --quick # List installed plugins and their contents ...
      » npm install @schuettc/claude-code-setup
Published   Aug 04, 2025
Version   0.17.0
Author   Court Schuett
Repository   https://github.com/schuettc/claude-code-setup
Homepage   https://github.com/schuettc/claude-code-setup#readme
🌐
npm
npmjs.com › package › @kunihiros › claude-code-mcp
@kunihiros/claude-code-mcp - npm
September 11, 2025 - Start using @kunihiros/claude-code-mcp in your project by running `npm i @kunihiros/claude-code-mcp`. There are no other projects in the npm registry using @kunihiros/claude-code-mcp.
      » npm install @kunihiros/claude-code-mcp
Published   Sep 11, 2025
Version   0.1.6
Author   KunihiroS
Repository   https://github.com/KunihiroS/claude-code-mcp
Homepage   https://github.com/KunihiroS/claude-code-mcp#readme
🌐
Claude
claude.com › product › claude-code
Claude Code - AI coding agent for terminal & IDE | Claude
1 month ago - ⏺ Bash(cd /Users/claude-code/codebase && npm run lint)…
🌐
JetBrains
plugins.jetbrains.com › plugin › 27310-claude-code-beta-
Claude Code [Beta] - IntelliJ IDEs Plugin | Marketplace
2 weeks ago - IMPORTANT: This plugin requires Claude Code to be installed separately. For more information, see claude.com/claude-code. Integrate Claude Code with your favorite...
🌐
Substack
designwithai.substack.com › p › how-to-install-claude-code
How to install Claude Code - Design with AI
October 2, 2025 - Guide to installing Claude Code: Simple steps, troubleshooting tips, and solutions if you run into errors.
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