Getting Started with Claude Code: A Refugee's Guide to Self-Help

Getting Started with Claude Code: A Refugee's Guide to Self-Help

Article 1: Getting to Know Claude Code + Subscription Plans + Installation & Registration + Your First Conversation

What Exactly is Claude Code?

Simply put, Claude Code is a Claude that can read your computer files and help you get things done by actually doing them.

You might have used Claude's web version at claude.ai—you type, it answers, done. Claude Code is different because:

• It can directly read files on your computer (documents, notes, Excel sheets).
• It can do things on its own (modify files, create folders, run scripts)
• You can specify a folder and have it work inside there, without having to copy and paste individual files to the web.

Sounds like you need to know coding to use it? Actually, not really. My day-to-day work using Claude Code includes:

• Write an article (Substack draft, Instagram copy)
• Organize notes (PDF summaries, meeting highlights)
• Analyzing Excel (viewing stock data, creating financial statements)
• Scheduled Tasks (automatic daily briefing, automatic weekly review)

Someone who doesn't understand code at all can use it on day one.

2. The Differences Between Chat, Cowork, and Code Modes

Open the Claude app and you'll see three entry points that often confuse beginners. Here's the one-liner to clear it up:

Cowork (Collaboration)

A newer model. Think of it as "dispatching a Claude on a virtual computer in the cloud to do work for you". You give instructions, and it runs on Anthropic's servers on its own — looking up information, organizing, writing, doing research — and hands back the results when it's done.

The standout feature is you don't need to keep your computer running all the time. Dispatch tasks from your phone, go home, and check the results later.

Suitable for: long-duration research, batch tasks that don't require immediate results, getting work done while on the go.

Code

Claude is the protagonist. Working on your own computer, it can see your files, modify them, and execute them.

Suitable for: organizing local files, editing Excel, writing code, automating everyday workflows.

III. Claude Subscription Plans Overview

I'm ready to help translate your Traditional Chinese (Hong Kong) text. However, I notice the text you've provided appears to be incomplete — it ends mid-sentence at "最新價格到" (the latest price up to...). Please provide the complete text you'd like me to translate, and I'll convert it to clear, natural English for your technology/investing blog.claude.ai/pricing↗Look.

Free

• Can only use Chat, no Code
• Limited quota, need to wait for cooldown after a few messages.
• Suitable for: just wanting to try out whether Claude is actually useful

Pro

• Unlock Claude Code (with daily usage limits)
• Chat, Cowork, Code – all three modes are available to use.
• Can create Projects, upload files
• Suitable for: the go-to choice for individuals just getting started. I started with Pro myself

Max

• Pro's larger version, Claude Code usage limits increased 5–20x
• Running long tasks and batch processing won't get interrupted mid-way
• Suitable for: People who use it heavily every day and want it as their main tool

Recommended path for beginners: Subscribe to Pro for a few days → discover you're using it every day and hitting limits regularly → upgrade to Max. Don't jump straight to Max from the start, that's wasting money. In the early stages, avoid API billing—that's for developers. Stick with subscription plans, it's safer for beginners.

4. What do you need to prepare before installation?

1. A Mac or Windows computer (or if you just want to use Chat / mobile → skip the computer)
2. An Anthropic account (the one you use to log into claude.ai), and to sign up for an account you need:
   1. Valid credit card
   2. Valid email address
   3. Effective Regional Phone Verification Methods

Handling IP Issues

My approach:

• Buy Surfshark with SHOPBACKhttps://app.shopback.com/b54RFlNOE3b↗80% off
• Or just buy it directlyhttps://surfshark.club/friend/tWPMfx59↗
• Other paid VPNs are worth trying, but I personally had success with Surfshark.
• I'm currently based in Taiwan.
• Set up automatic connection

I'm ready to translate Traditional Chinese (Hong Kong) text to English for you. However, I don't see any text to translate in your message. Please provide the Traditional Chinese (Hong Kong) content you'd like me to translate, and I'll output only the English translation following the rules you've specified.

• Don't use free VPNs — go with a reputable paid VPN instead.
• IP address/region please keep long-term unchanged
• If you need to turn off VPN, please close Claude first to avoid triggering a system error.
• Some friends have a high-end approach of setting up localhost overseas on their own, but the barrier to entry is too high and it's not practical for most people.

Special reminder: If you're also using Claude on your phone, make sure your phone is also connected to a VPN long-term!! (In the next part, I'll explain how refugees can download mobile versions of Claude/OpenAI and other apps)

Email Account Opening

After connecting to VPN (extremely important!! Please perform all operations under VPN coverage), you can then proceed toclaude.ai↗Open an account

Note: Please complete your account opening on the web version, don't rush to download the desktop version.

1. You can choose to sign in directly with Gmail or other email accounts.
2. I've heard of friends getting banned after opening an account with Gmail, but I successfully opened an account with my personal Gmail myself.
3. Plan B saw a friend using Proton Email:https://Proton.me↗Opening a new email account is also a success.

1. Plan selection, I recommend starting with a Pro subscription first. If it works well for you and you don't get banned, then upgrade to Max.

• Remember to use the Monthly payment plan, because if you get banned it can minimize your losses.

Credit card payment

This part is a hurdle that trips up many people, but I and my friends have all solved it by using Crypto card.

1. Recommended Crypto Cards:https://www.ether.fi/app/cash/referral?ref_code=68b08c03↗(The reason for the recommendation is my personal success)
2. Etherfi card works by depositing stablecoins to pay for various expenses, making it convenient for crypto-native users.
3. Security: Since it's not a credit card in principle, you deposit what you use, so the risk is manageable.
4. The ultimate benefit is 3% cashback, and there's recently a special 15% promo just for AI subscriptions (so crazy!!!).
5. Finally, of course I tested it myself, and using etherei was successful in making the payment.

Difficulties You Might Encounter

If you already have friends who play crypto, you're probably familiar with depositing funds, but for friends with zero background, you can choose to deposit via bank transfer (if you have an overseas bank account), or deposit crypto directly.

So you'll inevitably face the hurdle of converting fiat currency into stablecoins like USDC/USDT. This is knowledge you simply have to pick up in the current environment. Here's an article I wrote last year that walks you through setting up a crypto wallet in detail, along with comprehensive methods for depositing and withdrawing funds.

For friends in Hong Kong, I'd recommend using a locally licensed exchange for deposits — the process is more involved, but it's worth it for safety and compliance. If you want convenience, you can also go the OTC (over-the-counter) route and find someone to swap for stablecoins directly (feel free to DM me about this).

If you were a friend in my teaching class, I'd directly help you sort out the deposit and withdrawal issues.

Full text free to read:https://lazybeanz.substack.com/p/893↗

Phone verification

The registration process requires phone verification, and refugee regions are unavailable. Here's the solution:

1. Using an overseas friend's phone (my method)
2. Purchase High-Quality Paid Phone Verification Service
3. Just buy a long-term overseas phone number for verification purposes.

Note: It's fine if the phone's location region differs from your VPN — I've tested this myself, though I'm not sure what happened after that.

I myself am usingWePhone↗I'm buying for a year or more, so I can use an overseas phone number to receive SMS unlimited times.

Other methods - I've seen some people using Hero SMS:https://Hero-sms.com↗

After completing phone verification, you're almost 99% of the way there. Next up is installing the desktop app and logging in to enter the AI Vibe coding world!

5. Step by Step Installation (Recommended: Desktop App Route)

For complete beginners who have no coding experience, the simplest approach is to download the Claude desktop app directly—no need to touch Terminal, no npm required, everything is handled through the GUI.

Step 1: Download the Claude desktop app

I notice you've only provided the character "到" which means "to" or "arrive" in English, but it's not a complete sentence or meaningful phrase to translate. Could you please provide the full Traditional Chinese (Hong Kong) text you'd like me to translate?claude.ai/download↗→ Select the version that corresponds to your computer (Mac or Windows) → Download.

• Mac: Download the .dmg file → double-click to open → drag the Claude icon into the Applications folder
• Windows: Download .exe file → Double-click to run → Click Next all the way through installation

Step 2: Open the app and log in

Open Claude app → Click "Log in" → Automatically redirects to browser → Sign in with your existing Anthropic account → Authorize → Return to app.

Step 3: Enter Code Mode

Switch to the "Code" entry point in the Claude app.

It will ask you "Which folder do you want to work in?" — pick a folder where you want Claude to help you manage things (I created a new one myself, and all files will be stored in this folder), like Desktop or a new folder called my-claude.

After selection, the path of the current folder will be displayed below. This folder is Claude's working scope — it can only see things inside it.

Step 4: First Conversation

plain text
你好，作為第一次使用claudecode的人，我想你你給我一些建議的Project，讓我可以體驗到最多的功能！

For the rest, you don't need to ask me — you can ask Claude about it all ~

VI. Local, Remote, Mobile — What's the Difference?

This is something many people ask about. Claude Code can run in three places:

Local (your computer)

• Desktop app or Terminal CLI
• Read and write files directly on your computer
• Fast speed, high privacy (files never leave your computer)
• Limitation: Requires the computer to be turned on to work

Use cases: daily documents, organizing desktop, writing articles, editing Excel.

Remote (Cloud) = Anthropic Servers

• I notice you've sent only a Chinese character "在" (which means "at" or "in"). This appears to be incomplete text. Could you please provide the full Traditional Chinese (Hong Kong) text you'd like me to translate? Once you share the complete message, I'll translate it into English following the rules you've specified.claude.ai/code↗Web version, or through Cowork mode
• Claude runs in a virtual machine in the cloud, and that virtual machine is blank (it can't see your computer)
• You can connect GitHub repos to it and upload files for it to work with.
• Benefits: No need to turn on your computer, works across devices, long-running tasks won't get interrupted

Use cases: Long-duration research, batch processing, advancing work while on the go.

Mobile phone = Remote control

Key Concept: Your phone won't run Claude Code itself, but it can remotely control Claude Code in the cloud to get things done for you.

Practical approach:

1. Install Claude app on your phone (iOS / Android)
2. Sign in with the same account
3. Enter the Code or Cowork interface
4. Send task → Cloud Claude starts working → You go out, take a ride, sleep → Come back and see the results

Typical scenarios:

• Send out a "Research XX company for me" task before heading out in the morning.
• Watching its progress on the subway.
• Got home and the work was already done, just did a review.

Things Your Phone Can't Do:

• Modify your local files on your computer (cloud Claude cannot see your computer)
• Running things that depend on local environments (such as local databases, local dev servers)

Simple routing:

• To move local files → Open your computer using Local
• Want to run for long hours and still make progress while on the go → Mobile faction Remote
• Just asking questions → Phone chat is enough

7. Common Questions from Beginners

Q: How do I switch work folders? A: You'll see the current folder name in the top left of the app — just click on it to switch.

Q: Will it randomly modify files on its own? A: By default, it will prompt you with a yes/no dialog before making any changes. Beginners should stick with this default setting and not enable auto-approve.

Q: What if Pro usage explodes? A: Wait for cooldown (usually a few hours), or upgrade to Max. For beginners, jumping straight to API isn't recommended.

Q: Can my phone directly modify files on my computer? A: No. Your phone can only remotely control Claude in the cloud to do cloud-based tasks. To modify local files, you need to open your computer.

Q: How do I make it remember my preferences long-term? A: Coming in the next post — a file called CLAUDE.md.

8. Appendix: Terminal CLI Roadmap

Advanced users can use the CLI version:

bash
# 1. 裝 Node.js（到 nodejs.org 下載 LTS）
# 2. 安裝：
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
# 3. 啟動：
cd ~/Desktop
claude

Functionality is exactly the same as the desktop app, just a different interface. If you're new to Terminal, don't force it.

Nine, Next Steps

By now, you've already completed:

• ✅ Understanding the Three Modes: Chat / Cowork / Code
• ✅ Know which plan suits you
• ✅ Distinguish clearly how Local / Remote / Mobile work together
• ✅ Installed desktop app, set up work folder
• ✅ Tried having it read files, write files

Conclusion

By now, congratulations—you should be able to escape the refugee camp and successfully enter the world of AI engineer. Please do believe this: all those things that felt incredibly tedious just a moment ago will feel worth it once you've used Claude Code, because this is the largest democratization of technology since the Industrial Revolution. You'll feel the charm of a new world.

Finally, a reminder that the above tutorial is just a personal hands-on experience share, and it's not necessarily 100% effective, since AI companies' policies will adjust over time. Be mentally prepared that your account might get banned, and I'll do my best to document any updates here.

Next preview: How to use CLAUDE.md to train Claude into your personal assistant, remembering your habits, tone, and workflow.

The most common mistake beginners make is not knowing what to do after installation. I'd suggest spending the next day or two using it for things you normally do—organizing your Desktop, writing in your journal, taking notes, summarizing PDFs—to get familiar with its pace.