Installation instructions for Thonny and Claude Code

Installing Thonny and Claude Code

This page walks you through setting up the two programs we use in this course:

  • Thonny: the Python editor we write and run all our code in. It comes with Python built in, so you don’t need to install Python separately.
  • Claude Code: an AI coding assistant. We use it through the Claude desktop app, so you won’t need the terminal.

Do these in order: 1. Install Thonny · 2. Join the course’s Claude group · 3. Install the Claude app · 4. Test Claude Code · Troubleshooting

Part 1: Install Thonny

Thonny on Windows

Requires Windows 10 or 11.

  1. Check which kind of processor you have. Open Settings → System → About and look at System type.
    • If it says x64-based processor (most laptops), you need the Intel or AMD installer.
    • If it says ARM-based processor (for example, a Snapdragon laptop), you need the Arm installer.
  2. Go to thonny.org. In the download box at the top right, hover over Windows and click the matching installer. The file name will look like thonny-5.0.0-x64.exe (Intel/AMD) or thonny-5.0.0-arm64.exe (Arm). The version number may be newer than this; that’s fine.
  3. Open the downloaded file (it’s usually in your Downloads folder).
  4. If Windows shows a blue “Windows protected your PC” box, click More info, then Run anyway. This only appears on some computers.
  5. Click through the installer, accepting the default options, and click Install. You do not need administrator access.
  6. When it finishes, open Thonny from the Start menu. If it asks you to choose a language and initial settings, pick English and Standard, then continue.

Then skip down to Test your Thonny install.

Thonny on Mac

  1. Check which kind of chip your Mac has. Click the Apple menu (top-left corner) → About This Mac.
    • If you see Chip: Apple M1, M2, M3…, you need the Apple Silicon installer. (Most Macs from late 2020 onward.)
    • If you see Processor: … Intel …, you need the Intel installer.
  2. Go to thonny.org. In the download box at the top right, hover over Mac and click the matching installer. The file name will look like thonny-5.0.0-arm64.pkg (Apple Silicon) or thonny-5.0.0-x64.pkg (Intel). The version number may be newer than this; that’s fine.
  3. Open the downloaded .pkg file from your Downloads folder.
  4. Click Continue through the installer screens, agree to the license, and click Install. Enter your Mac login password if asked.
  5. When it finishes, open Thonny from your Applications folder (or press Cmd + Space, type Thonny, and press Return). If it asks you to choose a language and initial settings, pick English and Standard, then continue.

Test your Thonny install (Windows and Mac)

  1. In the large editor area at the top of the Thonny window, type: print("Hello, world!")
  2. Click the green Run button (▶) in the toolbar, or press F5.
  3. Thonny will ask you to save the file first. Save it somewhere you can find again (for example, a folder called COMP in your Documents) with a name like hello.py.
  4. Look at the Shell panel at the bottom. You should see Hello, world! printed there.

If you see Hello, world!, Thonny is installed and working.

Part 2: Join the course’s Claude group (KenyonComputing)

The course gives you access to Claude, including Claude Code, through a shared Claude group. You don’t need to pay for anything. Joining takes a couple of minutes, and you only do it once.

  1. Click the course invite link, which should be in your email. Let us know if not.
  2. Sign up or log in using your Kenyon email address (the one ending in @kenyon.edu).
    • No Claude account yet? Choose to sign up and use your Kenyon email. Claude will email you a sign-in code or link; open it to finish.
    • Already have a Claude account under your Kenyon email? Just log in with it.
    • Already logged in to Claude with a personal email (like Gmail)? Log out first, then open the invite link again and use your Kenyon email. The group only accepts Kenyon addresses.
  3. Once you’re signed in, you’re added to the group automatically and taken to the Claude chat page.
  4. If Claude asks what to do with your existing personal account, choose Keep both accounts. (The other choice closes your personal account.)
  5. Make sure you’re using the group account. Click your initials or name in the lower-left corner of the Claude page. You should see the course group listed. Click it if it isn’t already selected. A blue checkmark shows which account is active.
  6. You’ll just have temporary access to claude code for this course section.

Remember: whenever you use Claude for this course, check that the course group (not a personal account) has the blue checkmark. Your personal free account can’t use Claude Code.

Part 3: Install the Claude desktop app

Claude Code is built into the Claude desktop app, so this one download is all you need.

Claude app on Windows

Requires Windows 10 or 11.

  1. Go to claude.com/download and download the Windows version. (If your laptop has an ARM-based processor, the type you checked when installing Thonny, choose the ARM64 version if it’s offered.)
  2. Open the downloaded installer from your Downloads folder and follow the prompts. The app opens when it’s done.
  3. Click Log in and sign in with the same Kenyon email you used in Part 2.

Then skip down to Part 4: Test Claude Code.

Claude app on Mac

  1. Go to claude.com/download and download the Mac version. One version works on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs.
  2. Open the downloaded .dmg file from your Downloads folder. In the window that appears, drag the Claude icon into the Applications folder.
  3. Open Claude from your Applications folder. If your Mac warns that it was downloaded from the internet, click Open.
  4. Click Log in and sign in with the same Kenyon email you used in Part 2.

Part 4: Test Claude Code (Windows and Mac)

  1. Check you’re in the course group. Click your initials in the lower-left corner of the app and make sure the course group has the blue checkmark.
  2. Make a practice folder. In File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac), create a new, empty folder called claude-test inside your Documents folder.
  3. Open the Code tab. Click Code at the top of the app’s left sidebar. (If the sidebar shows only icons, hover over them to find the one named Code.)
  4. Choose where Claude works. In the row of controls under the message box:
    • Click the first control (the environment) and choose the top option under Local. This means Claude works on files on your own computer.
    • Click the folder control next to it, choose Open folder…, and select your claude-test folder.
  5. Have Claude ask before changing anything. In the same row, find the permission mode and choose Manual. Claude will then show you each change and wait for you to approve it, which is how we’ll use it in class.
  6. Give it a task. Type this into the message box and press Enter: Create a file called hello.py that prints "Hello from Claude!"
  7. Claude shows you the file it wants to create. Read it, then click to approve the change.
  8. Open hello.py from your claude-test folder in Thonny and click Run. If you see Hello from Claude! in the Shell, everything is working.

Troubleshooting

Thonny

  • “Windows protected your PC” (Windows): click More info, then Run anyway.
  • The installer won’t run or says it’s for the wrong system: you probably downloaded the installer for the other processor type. Recheck step 1 for your computer and download the other file.
  • Nothing appears in the Shell after clicking Run: make sure you saved the file and that your code is in the top editor area, not typed into the Shell.

Joining the group

  • An error about your email domain after clicking the invite link: you’re signed in with a non-Kenyon email. Log out of Claude, open the invite link again, and sign in with your @kenyon.edu address.
  • The course group doesn’t appear in the lower-left account menu: open the invite link again while signed in with your Kenyon email. If it still doesn’t appear, let your instructor know.

Claude app and Claude Code

  • Clicking Code asks you to upgrade or subscribe: you’re using your personal account. Click your initials in the lower-left corner and switch to the course group. Don’t pay for anything.
  • The app asks you to sign in online: finish signing in in your browser, then quit and reopen the Claude app.
  • A 403 or authentication error in the Code tab: make sure the course group is the active account, then quit and reopen the app. If that doesn’t fix it, log out of the app and log back in with your Kenyon email.
  • No “Local” option, or it’s grayed out: let your instructor know.

Still stuck? Take a screenshot of the whole window, including any error message, and bring it to class or office hours.

Official instructions: thonny.org · Claude Code desktop app guide

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