This article will guide you through installing Claude Code from scratch, configuring your API Key, and integrating it with Wishmere, so you can get started with AI-assisted programming quickly.

Installation Prerequisites

Before installing Claude Code, ensure your environment meets the following requirements:

Check your Node.js version:

node --version
# Should output v20.x.x or higher

Installation Steps

Global Installation

Install Claude Code globally using npm:

npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

Verify Installation

After installation, verify the setup was successful:

claude --version
# Should output claude-code/x.x.x

Initial Authentication

Run Claude Code and complete authentication:

claude
# First run will prompt for API Key or browser login

You can also set the API Key directly via environment variable:

export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-xxxxx

Configuration Details

API Key Configuration

Claude Code supports multiple methods for configuring the API Key:

Custom Base URL

If you’re using a proxy or custom endpoint, you can set the Base URL:

export ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL=https://your-proxy.example.com/anthropic

Model Selection

Claude Code defaults to claude-sonnet-4-20250514, and you can switch models via parameters:

claude --model claude-opus-4-20250514

Or configure the default model in CLAUDE.md:

# CLAUDE.md
model: claude-sonnet-4-20250514

Reasoning Effort Level

Control reasoning depth through --thinking-budget:

claude --thinking-budget high    # Deep reasoning, suitable for complex tasks
claude --thinking-budget medium  # Balanced mode (default)
claude --thinking-budget low     # Fast response, suitable for simple tasks

Integration with Wishmere

Auto Detection

Wishmere automatically detects installed Claude Code without requiring additional configuration.

Model Configuration

In Wishmere’s project settings, you can configure different models for various tasks:

Runtime Model Switching

During conversation, you can quickly switch models through Wishmere’s command panel without restarting the session: image

image

FAQ

1. Permission Error During Installation

If you encounter permission issues during global installation, use one of these methods:

# Method 1: Use sudo
sudo npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

# Method 2: Use nvm to manage Node.js (recommended)
nvm install 20
nvm use 20
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

2. Invalid API Key

Confirm your API Key format is correct (starts with sk-ant-), and that your account has sufficient quota. You can view API Key status and usage in the Anthropic Console.

3. Context Window Insufficient

If working on large projects, Claude Code may report insufficient context window. Solutions:

Next Steps

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