How to Start With Codex or Claude Code: A Beginner's Guide
Choose one AI program, see how to install it and learn exactly where to paste your first Academy prompt. Follow the Windows or macOS steps for the tool you choose.
Read this guide and the two Academy lessons free. AI software access is separate.
Your first time using an AI agent
Choose one program. Get your first result.
The Academy is your course. Codex or Claude Code is the separate program where you paste our instructions and do the exercise.
- Agent
- An AI program that can carry out a task, work on files and check the result in a folder you allow.
- Prompt
- A written instruction you paste into the AI program. The lesson provides it for you.
- Result
- The answer or file the program makes. You compare it with the lesson example before continuing.
On a phone, you can read this guide, inspect the examples and download the free PDF. Follow the installation steps on your computer when you are ready.
Check access before installing
Use your own OpenAI / ChatGPT account. Check the current access and usage limits shown by OpenAI. The Academy purchase does not include an AI plan or usage credits.
Download the app for Windows
Open the official OpenAI desktop setup guide below. The current desktop download is labelled ChatGPT; it includes the project and local-file workflows used for Codex. Run the downloaded installer, follow its prompts, then open the app from the Start menu. If the download offers a processor choice, match it to your computer.
Open official Codex setupOfficial setup reference, checked 21 October 2026. Read the source. Sign in and choose the right workspace
Sign in with your OpenAI / ChatGPT account. Open the ChatGPT product dropdown and select Codex, then start a new chat. In earlier layouts, Codex is already the app name. Next, create and select your practice folder. You will type the lesson prompt into the message box in that Codex workspace.
Create an empty practice folder
Open File Explorer, go to Documents and choose New > Folder. Name it Academy Practice. In your AI app, choose Open folder or the project-folder control and select that folder.
Select only your empty practice folder for the exercise.
Copy, paste and send the lesson prompt
Return to the free lesson and press Copy prompt. Switch to Codex, click the message box and press Ctrl+V. Send the message using the app's send control. Keep the Academy lesson open beside it so you can compare the answer with the example.
Find the answer and check it
Read the answer in the AI app. The first exercise should produce a short service card. If the app asks to save service-card.md in Academy Practice, review that folder and approve only the exercise file. Return to the lesson to compare the customer, problem and offer with our example.
Ready to try the lesson prompt?
Your AI app is open, Academy Practice is selected and you can see a message box. The lesson contains the complete prompt and an example answer.
Return to your free lessonSomething looks different or will not work
- I cannot find the program: check Applications on macOS or the Start menu on Windows. Use the official download page for the current app name.
- I only see ordinary chat: select Codex from the ChatGPT product dropdown and open a local project/folder, or select the Code tab in Claude Desktop.
- It asks me to pay or I reached a limit: review the provider's current plan and usage details. You can continue reading the Academy examples without making a purchase.
- The agent gave instructions but no card: ask “Please make the service card now using the supplied cleaning-company example.”
- It requests unrelated access: keep this exercise inside Academy Practice and use fictional data. Return to the lesson's sample before connecting anything else.
Instructions checked against the official OpenAI desktop quickstart and Claude Code desktop quickstart on 21 October 2026. Product layouts and plan eligibility can change.