Getting Started

Get Evergreen running on your machine and build your first prototype. This takes about 10 minutes.

Prerequisites

Make sure you have these installed before starting:

• Node.js 18+ — download from nodejs.org if you don't have it. Run node --version to check.
• Git — most systems have this pre-installed. Run git --version to check.
• A Claude account — either a Claude Pro or Max subscription, or an API key from the Anthropic console.

Step 1: Install Claude Code

Claude Code is a terminal-based AI assistant. Install it globally with npm:

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

Verify it installed correctly:

claude --version

Step 2: Clone and install

Clone the Evergreen repo and install dependencies:

git clone https://github.com/bobbydotdesign/evergreen.git my-project
cd my-project
npm install

Replace my-project with whatever you want to name your project.

Step 3: Start the dev server

This launches a local preview of your project:

npm run dev

Open http://localhost:3000 in your browser. You should see the Evergreen landing page.

Step 4: Open Claude Code

Open a new terminal tab (keep the dev server running in the first one), navigate to your project folder, and start Claude Code:

cd my-project
claude

You're now talking to Claude inside your project. It can see all your files, understands the design system, and knows about the built-in skills.

Step 5: Build something

Try your first skill. Type this in Claude Code:

/prd

Claude will ask you to describe what you want to build. Tell it your idea in plain language — even a single sentence works. Claude generates a full product requirements document and saves it to docs/prd.md.

Next, try generating your first prototype:

/wireframe

Claude will read your PRD and create interactive wireframe screens. Refresh your browser to see them.

What's next

Now that you're set up, learn how all the skills connect together: