Start here / accounts, one tool, one proof
Setup
Tonight you set up, then you build. Work down this page in order — accounts, one tool, one proof.
Step 1 — Accounts
All free to start. Make them now; you'll want them all semester.
- Google account — then claim the student offer: a free year of Google AI Pro for US college students, claim by Dec 31, 2026 (needs a payment method; set a reminder to cancel before it renews).
- Claude — sign up at claude.ai. The free tier is enough for chat; Claude Code needs a paid plan (below).
- ChatGPT — chatgpt.com. ChatGPT Edu is free for CU Boulder students — a short required AI training unlocks it.
- GitHub — github.com/signup. Where your work will live and how you'll ship it to the web.
Step 2 — Pick ONE tool and install it
They're all good. Choose one, go deep. You can switch later.
Terminal agent
Claude Code
Install (Mac/Linux): curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash · Windows PowerShell: irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex. Then run claude in a project folder. Official docs.
Needs Claude Pro ($20/mo) or an API key.
Terminal agent + ChatGPT
Codex
Install the CLI: npm install -g @openai/codex, then run codex and sign in with ChatGPT. Or use it inside ChatGPT. Official docs.
Free taste on any ChatGPT account; real sessions need Plus ($20/mo). CU's Edu accounts can't sign into Codex yet — CU says that's coming later this year.
Agentic editor
Antigravity
Download from antigravity.google/download, install, sign in with your Google account. Have Chrome installed — its agents use it for browser testing.
Free (weekly quota); the student AI Pro year raises its limits.
AI code editor
Cursor
Download from cursor.com/download, install, sign in. Open a folder and press the AI panel shortcut it shows you.
Free hobby tier; Pro $20/mo. Student free-year closed June 2026.
Chat companion
Grok
No install — use grok.com, the app, or Grok on X.
Free tier; SuperGrok $30/mo if you want more.
Step 3 — Prove it
Ask your tool to make you a one-page website about something you love. Open it in a browser. That's it — you're building.
More on what each tool costs and what it's good at: the tools page. When your tiny thing works, claim your tile on the studio wall — and sign in to your account to see your work, starting with your Week 1 intentions.