Module 01 · 9 min
Set Up Your Workspace
You don't need an expensive computer or a ton of software. You just need a solid, minimal setup. This is the setup I start every project with — and the one I used to build my 13 products. Less is more: every program you install 'just in case' is one more thing that can break.
The essentials (and free)
- An AI code editor: Cursor or VS Code (both free). This is where you'll write and edit code.
- Node.js installed (the engine to run modern web projects). We'll cover it in depth in Module 3.
- An account with a good AI chat: Claude or ChatGPT. Your thinking copilot.
- A GitHub account (to store and back up your code; we'll cover this in Module 3).
The order I recommend
Don't install twenty things 'just in case.' Install what today's project needs, when it needs it. The AI will guide you through each installation if you ask for the exact steps for your system — just tell it whether you're on Windows, Mac, or Linux, since the commands are different.
💡 Builder trick
Whenever something fails to install or gives an error, copy the FULL error message and paste it into the AI with: 'I'm on Windows, how do I fix this step by step?'. 95% of installation roadblocks are solved this way on the very first try.
Calibrate your copilot before building
Before writing your project's first line of code, do a calibration test: ask the AI to explain a sample file, or to describe how it would approach your idea. You're not looking for the final result just yet — you're getting a feel for HOW to talk to it, how much context it needs, and what response tone works for you. That warm-up back-and-forth is worth gold.
💡 🚀 Apply it to your project
This is the 'Prepare your copilot' step for your project. Get your editor (Cursor or VS Code) and your assistant (Claude or Codex) ready. Then write a BASE PROMPT describing Momentum: what it does, who it's for, what tech stack it uses, and what the AI should output. Save it — you'll reuse it across all upcoming modules. Deliverable: your environment set up and that base prompt saved.
Key takeaways
- With an editor + Node + an AI chat + GitHub, you have EVERYTHING to start. And it's all free.
- Install based on need, not 'just in case': fewer moving parts means fewer things breaking.
- The AI will guide you through every install if you tell it your operating system.
- Calibrate how you talk to your copilot with a quick test run before building for real.
In the next module, we'll look at how software works under the hood (frontend, backend, database, hosting) so none of it sounds like gibberish anymore. And in Module 3, we'll create your first project from scratch using the terminal and commands. Let's go.
A simple, well-mastered setup takes you further than one loaded with tools you don't use.
Think through and scope your project with AI (before touching code)
Next →Free vs. Paid Tools
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