Before Chapter 1, you need a working environment. This section tells you exactly what to get and where to get it. No extras, no optional suggestions — just what you need.
Plan for 20–30 minutes to complete this the first time.
The Three-Tool Stack¶
This course runs on three tools. You will use all three, and you will come to understand why you use all three — each one has a distinct role. For now, just get them running.
Tool 1 — Claude (Anthropic)¶
What it is: Your primary AI workspace. Claude is the model used for most reasoning, writing, and agent tasks throughout this course.
What you need:
A Claude Pro account ($20/month) at claude.ai
Claude Desktop (the desktop application) — download at claude.ai/download
Claude Desktop is required (not optional). Several exercises in later modules use features that only work in the desktop app — specifically MCP tool connections and extended thinking mode.
Tool 2 — Gemini (Google)¶
What it is: Your long-context and multimodal workhorse. Gemini 2.5 Pro handles documents, PDFs, and large-scale analysis tasks where context length is the constraint.
What you need:
A Google account (you likely already have one)
Access to gemini.google.com — the free tier works for most exercises; Gemini Advanced ($20/month, included with Google One AI Premium) is recommended but not required until Module 5
Tool 3 — One More (Your Choice)¶
The third tool in your stack is intentionally left open. By Module 2, you will understand why — the three-tool stack is a pattern, and the third slot is where you develop your own judgment. You will be guided through this choice in Chapter 2.
For now: Make sure you have Claude and Gemini set up. That’s all you need for Modules 0 and 1.
Other Requirements¶
A modern browser — Chrome or Firefox, updated to current version. Several web-based exercises require it.
A Gmail address — Most integrations and exercises assume Google-based email. If you don’t have one, create a free Gmail account before Chapter 1.
A text editor — Any plain text editor works. VS Code is recommended if you don’t have a preference. Download free at code
Verify Your Setup¶
Before starting Chapter 1, confirm:
You can log into Claude at claude.ai and start a conversation
Claude Desktop is installed and opens on your machine
You can log into Gemini at gemini.google.com
You have a Gmail address active
You have a text editor installed
If any of these fail, resolve them before moving on. The early exercises assume all five are working.