Environment Check
Make sure your base environment is in place before configuring any CLI
No matter whether you end up using Claude Code, Codex, or Gemini, you first need to have Node.js and the corresponding CLI installed. This page walks you through the prerequisite checks.
1. Check Node.js
Run the following in your terminal:
node -v
npm -vNormally both commands print a version number (Node.js 18 or above is recommended). If you get a "command not found" or similar error, Node.js isn't installed properly. Head to the Node.js website first and download the LTS version to install.
2. Install the CLIs
Install everything in one go:
npm i -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code@latest
npm i -g @openai/codex@latestIf you only plan to use one of them, just install what you need — there's no need to install them all.
Windows users: If the commands above throw a permission error, open PowerShell / CMD using "Run as administrator" and run them again.
3. First run (generating the config directory)
This step is crucial. If you skip it, the config files you'll edit later won't be generated automatically.
claudeAn interactive interface or a login prompt appearing means the installation succeeded; press Ctrl+C to exit. At this point the ~/.claude/ directory has been created.
If running claude reports the error Unable to connect to Anthropic services, see FAQ: Claude Code cannot connect.
codexSame as above — exit once you see the interactive interface. The ~/.codex/ directory has been created.
geminiThe ~/.gemini/ directory has been created.
Once you've completed the three steps above, you can pick the tool you want to use and continue to its corresponding configuration page.