# Prerequisites for Using learn-claude-code: Complete Setup Guide

> Learn the prerequisites for using learn-claude-code. Ensure you have Python 3.9+, an Anthropic API key, and install all dependencies for a smooth setup.

- Repository: [shareAI-Lab/learn-claude-code](https://github.com/shareAI-lab/learn-claude-code)
- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-03-08

---

**To use learn-claude-code, you need Python 3.9 or higher, a valid Anthropic API key stored in an `.env` file, and the dependencies listed in [`requirements.txt`](https://github.com/shareAI-lab/learn-claude-code/blob/main/requirements.txt) installed via pip.**

The shareAI-lab/learn-claude-code repository provides a hands-on framework for building AI agents with Claude. Before you can execute agent loops or launch the optional web interface, you must configure your environment with specific runtime dependencies and API credentials as defined in the source code.

## Core System Requirements

### Python Runtime and Package Manager

The codebase requires **Python 3.9 or newer** and a functional `pip` installation. This is the minimum version supported by the `anthropic` Python SDK dependency specified in the project.

You also need **Git** to clone the repository from GitHub.

### Anthropic API Credentials

All agent functionality requires external API access. You must obtain a valid **Anthropic API key** (or compatible provider key) and store it in an environment variable file.

According to the `.env.example` template in the repository root, create a `.env` file containing:

- `ANTHROPIC_API_KEY` – Your secret API key (e.g., `sk-ant-...`)
- `MODEL_ID` – The specific model identifier (e.g., `claude-sonnet-4-6` or other supported variants)

The `python-dotenv>=1.0.0` package (listed in [`requirements.txt`](https://github.com/shareAI-lab/learn-claude-code/blob/main/requirements.txt)) loads these variables at runtime.

### Python Dependencies

Install the required libraries using the lock file provided:

```bash
pip install -r requirements.txt

```

This command installs two critical packages:
- **`anthropic>=0.25.0`** – The official SDK for interacting with Claude models
- **`python-dotenv>=1.0.0`** – For loading environment variables from `.env` files

## Optional Web Interface Prerequisites

### Node.js and npm for the Next.js Frontend

If you want to run the visualization web UI located in the `web/` directory, you need **Node.js 16 or higher** and `npm`. The frontend is built with Next.js and requires separate installation steps from the Python backend.

Reference the [`web/package.json`](https://github.com/shareAI-lab/learn-claude-code/blob/main/web/package.json) file for the specific Node dependency tree.

## Step-by-Step Installation

Follow these verified steps to satisfy all prerequisites for using learn-claude-code:

1. **Clone the repository**

   ```bash
   git clone https://github.com/shareAI-lab/learn-claude-code
   cd learn-claude-code
   ```

2. **Install Python dependencies**

   ```bash
   pip install -r requirements.txt
   ```

3. **Configure environment variables**

   ```bash
   cp .env.example .env
   # Edit .env to add your ANTHROPIC_API_KEY and MODEL_ID

   ```

4. **Verify the core agent runs**

   ```bash
   python agents/s01_agent_loop.py
   ```

   This executes the minimal agent implementation at [`agents/s01_agent_loop.py`](https://github.com/shareAI-lab/learn-claude-code/blob/main/agents/s01_agent_loop.py), confirming your API credentials and dependencies are functional.

5. **Start the web UI (optional)**

   ```bash
   cd web
   npm install
   npm run dev
   ```

   This launches the Next.js development server on `http://localhost:3000` as documented in [`web/README.md`](https://github.com/shareAI-lab/learn-claude-code/blob/main/web/README.md).

## Key Configuration Files

The following files define the exact prerequisites and versions required:

- **[`requirements.txt`](https://github.com/shareAI-lab/learn-claude-code/blob/main/requirements.txt)** – Specifies `anthropic>=0.25.0` and `python-dotenv>=1.0.0` as runtime Python dependencies
- **`.env.example`** – Template defining required environment variables (`ANTHROPIC_API_KEY`, `MODEL_ID`)
- **[`agents/s01_agent_loop.py`](https://github.com/shareAI-lab/learn-claude-code/blob/main/agents/s01_agent_loop.py)** – Entry point script to verify Python setup and API connectivity
- **[`web/package.json`](https://github.com/shareAI-lab/learn-claude-code/blob/main/web/package.json)** – Lists Node.js dependencies for the optional frontend
- **[`web/README.md`](https://github.com/shareAI-lab/learn-claude-code/blob/main/web/README.md)** – Contains Node.js version requirements and npm commands for the UI

## Summary

- **Python 3.9+** with `pip` is mandatory for running any agent code
- **Anthropic API key** and **Model ID** must be configured in a `.env` file copied from `.env.example`
- **`pip install -r requirements.txt`** installs the `anthropic` and `python-dotenv` packages
- **Git** is required only for initial repository cloning
- **Node.js 16+** and **npm** are optional dependencies needed only for the web visualization interface

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What Python version is strictly required for learn-claude-code?

You need **Python 3.9 or higher**. The [`requirements.txt`](https://github.com/shareAI-lab/learn-claude-code/blob/main/requirements.txt) file specifies dependencies compatible with Python 3.9+, and the `anthropic` SDK requires this minimum version to function correctly with the repository's agent loop implementations.

### Is the web interface mandatory to use the framework?

No. The **Node.js and npm** prerequisites are optional. You can execute all core agent functionality and learning exercises using only the Python runtime and the scripts in the `agents/` directory, such as [`agents/s01_agent_loop.py`](https://github.com/shareAI-lab/learn-claude-code/blob/main/agents/s01_agent_loop.py). The web UI at `web/` provides visualization but is not required for the API interactions.

### Where do I obtain the Anthropic API key?

You must create an account at the Anthropic developer console (or compatible provider) and generate an API key. Copy this key into the `.env` file as `ANTHROPIC_API_KEY`. Without this credential, the agent scripts cannot authenticate with the model endpoints.

### Can I use a different model provider instead of Anthropic?

The repository is configured for Anthropic's API by default, as seen in the `.env.example` file's `MODEL_ID` variable structure. While the code in [`agents/s01_agent_loop.py`](https://github.com/shareAI-lab/learn-claude-code/blob/main/agents/s01_agent_loop.py) uses the `anthropic` Python SDK, you could theoretically adapt the client initialization for compatible API endpoints, though this would require modifying the source code directly.