Install Claude Code, Codex, and Gemini CLI for Beginner Vibe Coding

If you want to start vibe coding but have no idea how to set up the tools first, this walkthrough is for you. Marcelo uses a fresh Ubuntu desktop install to show how to get Claude Code, Codex CLI, and Gemini CLI running system-wide so you can start building in minutes.

Who This Setup Is For

This video is aimed at beginners, not people who are already deep into Claude, Codex, or Gemini inside their favorite editor. Marcelo keeps the focus on the basics: install the tools, sign in, trust your folder, and get to your first project fast.

He also makes the platform scope clear up front. The demo uses Ubuntu, but the same commands should work on Mac and other Linux distributions. Windows is intentionally left out here, and he asks viewers to comment if they want a dedicated Windows version next.

Step 1: Install Claude Code and Finish the Onboarding

The first part is straightforward. Copy the install command for Mac, Linux, or WSL, paste it into the terminal, and let it finish. Marcelo notes that some machines also show an extra command afterward, often starting with echo. If your install shows that extra step, run it before moving on.

Once Claude launches, the rest is mostly onboarding. Pick your theme, choose the subscription sign-in path, authorize the browser prompt, then return to the terminal and trust the current folder. After that, Claude is ready to work.

Step 2: Install Codex CLI and Sign In

Next comes Codex. Marcelo copies the NPM install command, mentions Homebrew as a valid alternative for Mac users, and then runs the install in the terminal. On his machine he needs sudo, so he reruns the command with elevated permissions and the install completes cleanly.

From there the flow looks familiar. Codex offers sign-in with a subscription, device code, or API key. He uses the subscription route, completes the browser auth, confirms the folder is trusted, and is ready to start coding in the same working directory.

Step 3: Install Gemini CLI with the Same Pattern

Gemini is the third install, and the point of the video becomes obvious here: these tools are easier than most beginners expect. Marcelo grabs the NPM command, mentions that you can also verify it from the official GitHub repo, installs it, signs in with Google, and restarts the session when prompted.

The useful takeaway is not just that Gemini works. It is that all three tools follow a similar pattern: install, authenticate in the browser, trust the environment, then start prompting. If you can do one, you can do all three.

How to Start Your First Project from the Terminal

After the installs, Marcelo shifts to the part beginners usually miss: where to actually work once the CLI is ready. He shows the basic flow directly in the terminal.

ls
cd Desktop
mkdir demo
cd demo

He also shows an easier option if you prefer using the desktop file manager. Create a folder visually, type cd followed by a space in the terminal, then drag the folder in to paste the full path automatically. Once you are inside the right directory, you can open Claude and prompt it to build something simple like a hello world web app with local preview.

Why System-Wide CLI Setup Gives You More Flexibility

The end of the video is less about installation and more about workflow. Marcelo shows that once these tools are installed system-wide, you are not locked into a single editor. You can work from the terminal, Visual Studio Code, Cursor, or whatever environment you prefer, and still call Claude, Codex, or Gemini from the same machine.

He also demonstrates switching models from inside the CLIs, which matters once you start testing different tradeoffs for speed, cost, or quality. That makes this tutorial more useful than a one-time install guide. It is a quick primer on how to get your environment ready so you can actually start building.