# Quickstart: build from Claude Code

> Install the APIANT skills and MCP server in Claude Code, sign in, then have Claude build, test and turn on a webhook automation that needs no app credentials.

One command from your APIANT account menu installs the APIANT skills into a project directory and registers the APIANT MCP server with Claude Code. After you sign in, Claude builds and tests automations on your account from that directory. This quickstart builds a webhook automation, so you do not need to connect any app.

## Prerequisites

- An APIANT.ai account. Create one at [app.apiant.ai/register](https://app.apiant.ai/register).
- Claude Code 2.1.157 or later, with the `claude` command on your `PATH`. Check with `claude --version`.
- A model with a context window of at least 1M tokens. The APIANT skills are only compatible with those models.
- `curl` and `unzip` on Mac or Linux. Windows needs no extra tools.
- A browser on the same machine, for the sign-in.

## Steps

### 1. Copy the install command

1. Sign in at [app.apiant.ai](https://app.apiant.ai).
2. Open the account menu (your initials and name, top right) and select **Connect to Claude Code**.
3. The dialog shows the command for your operating system. Select **Copy**.

The dialog shows one command and a note about restarting Claude Code and updating later.

### 2. Run it in your project directory

Open a terminal in the directory you want to work from and paste the command. On Mac and Linux it looks like this:

```bash
$ curl -fsSL 'https://app.apiant.ai/appPlugin/plugin.zip' -o /tmp/a.zip && unzip -oq /tmp/a.zip -d . && rm /tmp/a.zip && { claude mcp remove apiant-ai -s project 2>/dev/null; claude mcp add --transport http -s project apiant-ai https://mcp.apiant.ai/mcp; }
```

The command unzips the skills into `./.claude/skills/` and adds a server named `apiant-ai` to `./.mcp.json`. The Windows command is a single `powershell ... -EncodedCommand` line that does the same and runs in Command Prompt or PowerShell. [Connect Claude Code](/docs/mcp/claude-code) explains each part.

### 3. Start Claude Code and sign in

1. Run `claude` in the same directory.
2. Approve the `apiant-ai` server when Claude Code asks.
3. Run `/mcp`, select `apiant-ai`, and choose to authenticate. Your browser opens the APIANT sign-in page.
4. Sign in with your APIANT email and password, or with Google or GitHub.
5. On **Authorize access**, check the account shown under **Signed in as**, then select **Allow**.

Claude Code stores the token and refreshes it when it expires. Re-running the whole install command removes the server registration and signs you out, so to update the skills later, run only the download half (see [Connect Claude Code](/docs/mcp/claude-code)).

### 4. Ask Claude to build the automation

```text
Build an automation that runs when a webhook arrives and uppercases the name field. Put it in a folder called Quickstart.
```

Claude looks up what it needs, builds the automation, and saves it turned off. When it finishes, it gives you a link to the automation's diagram and the automation's webhook URL.

![The diagram of the Docs demo: Hello world automation, with a Webhook trigger followed by one action named Uppercase the message.](https://lptryjqgqoknvmzotyvz.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/images/docs-images/1789500936271-apiant-ai-docs-automation-diagram-hello-world.webp)

The diagram shows the webhook trigger followed by the text step.

### 5. Test it

Claude tests the automation after building it, with a sample payload shaped like the webhook body, and reports each step's result. If it needs to see a real payload first, it asks you to send one to the webhook URL. To run another test:

```text
Test it with the name "ada lovelace".
```

### 6. Turn it on and send a real webhook

1. Ask Claude to turn it on:

   ```text
   Turn the automation on.
   ```

2. Send a request to the webhook URL Claude gave you:

   ```bash
   $ curl -X POST '<webhook URL from Claude>' \
       -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
       -d '{"name": "grace hopper"}'
   ```

3. Ask Claude what happened, or open the automation's execution history from its dashboard row. The uppercase step's output holds `GRACE HOPPER`.

![Execution #1 of Docs demo: Hello world, with the webhook trigger marked success and the Uppercase the message step expanded to show the input hello from the docs and the output HELLO FROM THE DOCS.](https://lptryjqgqoknvmzotyvz.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/images/docs-images/1789500941851-apiant-ai-docs-execution-history-test-run.webp)

Execution history lists each run with the input and output of every step.

## Result

Claude Code is connected to your APIANT account in this directory, and you have a live webhook automation. Nothing you did here used assistant credits; the runs count as tasks on your plan.

## Troubleshooting

| Symptom | What to do |
|---|---|
| `claude: command not found` | The `claude` command is not on your `PATH`. Install or locate Claude Code, then run the command again. |
| No **Connect to Claude Code** in the account menu | The item is hidden while you are acting as another account. Return to your own account. |
| Claude does not find the APIANT tools | Start Claude Code from the directory where you ran the command. The install is per directory. |
| Sign-in says your account does not have the MCP Tools permission | Your account's role lacks that permission. Ask your account administrator to grant it. See [Authentication and permissions](/docs/mcp/authentication). |
| The webhook request returned 404 | The URL is incomplete or the automation was deleted. Ask Claude for the webhook URL again. |
| No run appears after the webhook | Check the automation is on. A webhook sent while it is off waits and runs when you turn it on. |

More fixes are in [Troubleshooting MCP](/docs/mcp/troubleshooting).

## Next steps

- [Working with Claude](/docs/mcp/working-with-claude)
- [Review a diagram and send comments to Claude](/docs/mcp/diagram-comments)
- [Webhook triggers](/docs/automations/triggers/webhooks)
- [Core concepts](/docs/concepts)