Step 1: Open cmd

Open cmd as administrator

Step 2: Set NPM configuration, telling npm to ignore executing scripts in packages during installation (e.g., preinstall, postinstall, etc.)

setx NPM_CONFIG_IGNORE_SCRIPTS true

$env:NPM_CONFIG_IGNORE_SCRIPTS = “true”

Step 3: Configure the SHELL environment variable

setx SHELL "C:\Program Files\Git\bin\bash.exe"

Step 4: Install Claude Code

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

Step 5: Add to Environment Variables

Add this line to your environment variables: C:\Users\y.xie\.npm-global

Step 6: Restart the development environment

Restart CMD or your IDE (e.g., VS Code, IntelliJ IDEA), then log in to your Claude Code account or configure the API directly within the application to start using it.

Supplementary Notes

• Ensure Git for Windows is installed, with the path being C:\Program Files\Git\bin\bash.exe.

• If the Git installation path is different, please adjust the SHELL environment variable path accordingly.

• The path C:\Users\y.xie\.npm-global should also be added based on your actual path.

• It is recommended to set these variables permanently to avoid having to reconfigure after each restart.

• Later, if you want to uninstall and revert the changes from Step Two and Step Three, just execute setx NPM_CONFIG_IGNORE_SCRIPTS false and setx SHELL "".

What a title. Anyways, figured I'd make a quick little guide on how to do this.

Prerequisites:

• VS Code

• Git repository (not an actual requirement, just how I did it with my limited bash knowledge)

Steps

1. Open up PowerShell and install WSL with:

cmd
wsl --install

2. Set Ubuntu as default (important!):

cmd
wsl --set-default Ubuntu

3. Open a WSL terminal

Tip: check the upper left dropdown menu in Windows Terminal that will show various terminals available

4. Install Claude Code in the WSL terminal (if you have issues, please refer to Anthropic's guide):

bash
npx u/anthropic-ai/claude-code

5. Make a directory for your projects:

bash
mkdir coolProjects && cd coolProjects

6. Clone your project (optional):

bash
git clone https://github.com/yourrepo.git

7. Open VS Code

8. Install the official WSL extension

9. Press F1

10. Type "WSL"

IMPORTANT

11. Select "WSL: Connect to WSL using Distro"

Choose Ubuntu.

From here you can now open a folder within VS Code.

How do you know it worked? Check the bottom left corner of VS Code - it should say "WSL: Ubuntu" and your Claude Code extension should be enabled!

Troubleshooting

If you get Alpine Linux errors or "libstdc++ required" messages: This usually happens if you have Docker Desktop installed and it became your default WSL distribution instead of Ubuntu. Run wsl --list --verbose to check, and if docker-desktop-data has an asterisk (*), run wsl --set-default Ubuntu to fix it. That's why step 2 is so important!

Hope this is helpful!