Vibe 101 Setup

What this is

Setup is the first gate in Vibe 101.

Do not start building until the device, internet, AI account, IDE, Node.js, Git, and terminal are ready.

Why it matters

Bad setup makes every later step feel harder than it is.

If the learner cannot run the project locally later, the class becomes guessing instead of building. This page prepares the tools; the localhost check happens after project files exist.

What to do

Tool basics

Node.js lets the project run JavaScript on the learner's computer. Git tracks code changes. The IDE is where the learner edits files, runs the terminal, and asks the AI assistant for help.

Cursor and Antigravity are AI coding editors. GitHub stores the finished code online, and Vercel turns that GitHub repo into a live website.

Before the session, confirm:

1. Laptop or desktop. Do not use a phone.
2. Stable internet for the full session.
3. ChatGPT or Perplexity account, already logged in.
4. Cursor or Antigravity.
5. Node.js LTS from nodejs.org.
6. Git from git-scm.com.
7. A terminal that can run node -v and git --version.

Windows setup

Install:

1. Node.js LTS from nodejs.org.
2. Git for Windows from git-scm.com/download/win.
3. Cursor from cursor.com/download or Antigravity from antigravity.google/download.

After installing, close and reopen the IDE and terminal.

Use PowerShell or the IDE terminal to check:

node -v
git --version

If PowerShell blocks a command, open the IDE terminal and try again there before changing system settings.

Mac setup

Install:

1. Node.js LTS from nodejs.org.
2. Cursor from cursor.com/download or Antigravity from antigravity.google/download.

Then open Terminal and run:

xcode-select --install

Optional AI coding tool:

npm i -g opencode-ai

Folder and terminal check

Before pasting the first IDE prompt, create a project folder and open that exact folder in Cursor or Antigravity.

If the class uses Antigravity or VS Code extensions, follow the tutor's exact extension search term. Keep the first session simple: one editor, one project folder, one terminal.

Open the integrated terminal. If the terminal is not inside the project folder, use cd to move there:

cd path/to/project-folder

Check that the folder is correct before continuing:

dir

On Mac, use:

ls

The file list should match the folder the learner wants to use. The package.json check comes later, after the project has been created or cloned.

Command basics

cd means change directory. Use it when the terminal is open in the wrong folder.

Project commands like npm install and npm run dev come later, after the project files exist.

Final setup check

node -v
git --version

Tool checkpoint:

Node.js and Git both return version numbers.

If either command does not work, the next task is not coding. The next task is fixing setup.

Common mistakes

• Joining with only a phone.
• Not logging in to AI tools before the session.
• Installing Node.js but not restarting the terminal.
• Installing Git but not restarting the IDE.
• Using the wrong terminal.
• Continuing when localhost is broken.