Ask questions of the data
Upload a CSV from the data catalog to a Claude chat and ask: What are the ten most common tree species, and do any break the 10-20-30 rule?
At a glance
| Where | Install | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civic Spark | None: a browser tab | First-timers. Everything is preloaded and disposable. | Enter your key before starting a session. Download your project zip before you leave. No GitHub needed (Track A). |
| claude.ai/code | None: a browser tab | Working on your team's GitHub repository without installing anything (Track B). | Needs a paid Claude plan or Console account, plus a GitHub connection. |
| Claude desktop app | One download | People who want windows and buttons, not a terminal. | Mac, Windows, or Linux. Sign in with the same Claude account. |
Terminal (claude) | One command | Full control on your own files, and the best way for a team to share one repository (Track B). | You type commands. The cheat sheet helps. |
| VS Code, Cursor | Extension from the marketplace | Seeing Claude's edits as side-by-side diffs in an editor you know. | Install Claude Code first, then the Claude Code extension. |
| JetBrains (PyCharm, IntelliJ…) | Plugin from the marketplace | People already living in a JetBrains IDE. | It runs Claude Code in the IDE's terminal. |
opencode in the workspace | None in Civic Spark | Trying an open-source agent with the event GLM model. | Different commands from Claude Code. Type /help inside it. |
Not writing code today?
Most starter projects have plenty of work that needs no keyboard at all. An AI assistant helps with these too.
Write the civic story
Every project needs a clear question, a plain-language explanation, and a list of who would use it. Draft them with Claude, then edit them in your own voice.
Test what the coders built
Be the first real user. Click everything. Try it on your phone. Write down what confused you. That is the most useful QA a team gets all day.
Terminal in 60 seconds
If you picked the terminal, these are the only commands you need before Claude takes over. Type the command and press Enter.
| Type this | What it does |
|---|---|
pwd | Show which folder you are in. |
ls | List the files here. (dir in CMD; ls also works in PowerShell.) |
cd folder-name | Move into a folder. cd .. goes back up one. |
claude | Start Claude Code in the current folder. It can see this folder and everything inside it. |
Ctrl+C | Stop whatever is running. Press it twice to leave Claude Code. |
Still not sure? Answer two questions
| If you… | Use |
|---|---|
| have never opened a terminal, or have no GitHub account | Civic Spark (Track A) |
| have a Claude subscription and a GitHub account | claude.ai/code or the desktop app |
| already code in VS Code or a JetBrains IDE | The terminal install plus your editor's extension |
| want to keep building after today | The terminal install, on your own laptop |