Chapter 2 · Before You Set Off: Install the 6 Tools

Where you are, and what this chapter solves

In Chapter 1 you picked your game. Before building anything, get the tools ready — like setting the pots and bowls on the counter before you start cooking. What you install in this chapter is a one-time install that every later chapter uses; skip it, and the first command of the next chapter will stop you cold.

What you’ll have when this chapter is done

All 6 tools in place, each verified to work
An AI assistant you can name and will use every day from now on

Tool 1: the terminal (the window where you type commands)

The terminal is the window where you give your computer orders by typing.

Mac: press Command + Space, type “Terminal”, press Enter to open it.
Windows: open the Start menu, type “PowerShell”, press Enter to open it.

Confirm it worked: the window shows a blinking cursor next to your computer’s name and a ~ or > symbol. This is the terminal. Whenever the book says “in the terminal, type”, this is where you type and press Enter.

Tool 2: a GitHub account (the warehouse that holds your site’s files)

GitHub is where your website files live — your storefront warehouse, so to speak.

Open github.com, click Sign up at the top right, and register a free account with your email. Pick a sensible username — it appears in your website address.

Confirm it worked: you can log in, and your avatar shows at the top right.

Tool 3: Node (the foundation the site engine sits on)

Node is the base software this website template runs on; you need version 22.13 or newer.

Open nodejs.org, download the LTS (long-term support) version on the left, double-click to install, keep clicking Next.
After installing, open a new terminal (close the old one and reopen it), type node -v, press Enter.

You’ll see: a line like v22.14.0. Confirm it worked: the number starts with 22 or higher. If you see command not found, either the terminal wasn’t reopened or the install didn’t finish — do it again.

Tool 4: pnpm (the mover — one command installs every site part)

In the terminal, type (pnpm’s official site has more background; here we just install it):

npm install -g pnpm

You’ll see: a few lines of progress, with no red error at the end. Confirm it worked: type pnpm -v, press Enter, and a version number appears.

Tool 5: Git (the delivery truck that carries files into the warehouse)

Mac: type brew install git in the terminal (no brew? Install it first with the command on brew.sh’s homepage). Or simpler: after installing Node, many Macs already ship Git — try git -v first; if a version number shows, skip this.
Windows: download from git-scm.com, install, keep clicking Next.

Confirm it worked: type git -v in the terminal and a version number appears.

Tool 6: an AI coding assistant (your content-writing partner — every later chapter uses it)

Install any one of ZCode / Claude Code / Codex / Cursor (all have free tiers). You won’t need it this chapter; in Chapter 4 it becomes the star.

Confirm it worked: the app opens, and you know how to start a new chat.

If you get stuck

“Typing pnpm says command not found”: pnpm didn’t install, or you didn’t reopen the terminal after installing. Close the terminal, reopen it, try again.
“The Node website won’t open / downloads slowly”: switch networks and retry, or download the installer over a phone hotspot and transfer it to the computer.
“Typing brew install git on Mac errors out”: first check whether git -v already works (many Macs ship Git); if you truly need brew, copy the command on the brew.sh homepage word for word.

✅ Acceptance criteria (all must hold)

☐ The terminal opens, and you know where to type
☐ node -v shows 22 or higher, and pnpm -v and git -v both show version numbers
☐ GitHub lets you log in
☐ The AI assistant is installed and can start a new chat

Next step

The tools are all in place — the next chapter copies the template down and gets a site that belongs to your game running in your browser in 30 minutes. Go to Chapter 3 · Copy the Template, Get Your Site Running