Week 1

Amplifier, not a replacement

How an agent works

Setting up Claude Code

First project and CLAUDE.md

Figma → code via MCP

Practice

Assignment

Back to Track

Week 1 Overview

A dense first week with three parts. First, the mental model: what an AI coding agent actually is, how it works, and what your role is when working with one. Second, setup: Claude Code installed, authenticated, running inside VS Code. Third, your first real project built with the agent — connected to Git, with a proper CLAUDE.md, and (optionally) a page generated from a Figma design.

The single most important idea of this week — and of the whole track — is that the agent is an amplifier of your programming skill, not a replacement for it. Everything else builds on that.

Learning goals

• Understand what an AI coding agent is, what a context window is, and why the agent "forgets" and sometimes confidently makes things up.
• Internalize the amplifier-not-replacement principle and the architect/executor working relationship.
• Install Claude Code, authenticate, and run it inside VS Code.
• Build a first project from scratch with the agent: folder structure, Git connected, first push.
• Write your first CLAUDE.md and see how it changes the agent's behavior.
• Connect Figma via MCP and generate code from a design.

Resources

Official (source of truth):

• Claude Code 101 — Anthropic's free official course: https://anthropic.skilljar.com/claude-code-101
• Quickstart: https://code.claude.com/docs/en/quickstart
• Terminal guide for beginners: https://code.claude.com/docs/en/terminal-guide
• Figma MCP server setup for Claude Code: https://help.figma.com/hc/en-us/articles/39888612464151-Claude-Code-and-Figma-Set-up-the-MCP-server

The HackYourFuture curriculum is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 *https://hackyourfuture.net/*

Built with ❤️ by the HackYourFuture community · Thank you, contributors

Found a mistake or have a suggestion? Let us know in the feedback form.