2 min read
Step 1: Starting the Project
Create the project and get the basic structure in place.
Create the Project Folder
In Terminal:
mkdir ~/Desktop/ColorDrop
cd ~/Desktop/ColorDropYou now have an empty folder for your project.
Start Claude
claudeClaude Code is now running and ready for your first prompt.
Your First Prompt
Copy and paste this:
I want to build a macOS menu bar app called ColorDrop.
What it does:
- Lives in the menu bar with a small icon
- When clicked, shows a popover with the color currently under the cursor
- Displays the color as hex, RGB, and HSL
- Has buttons to copy each format to clipboard
Platform: macOS (SwiftUI)
Target: macOS 14+
Let's start with just the basic project structure and menu bar presence.
Keep it simple.Press Enter and let Claude work.
What to Expect
Claude will:
- Create the project structure (Package.swift, source files, etc.)
- Set up the basic macOS app
- Add menu bar presence (you’ll see an icon in the menu bar)
Watch what Claude creates.
Verify It Works
After Claude finishes, it should offer to build and run the app. Say yes, or:
Build and run the app so I can see the menu bar icon.If successful, you should see a new icon in your menu bar.
That’s your app. It doesn’t do much yet, but it’s real.
Create CLAUDE.md
Before we continue, let’s create a context file:
Create a CLAUDE.md file for this project with our current state and goals.This helps Claude remember the project context in future sessions.
Checkpoint
By now you should have:
- Project folder created
- Basic macOS app structure
- Menu bar icon appearing
- CLAUDE.md file
If anything isn’t working, describe the problem to Claude.
What You Learned
- How to start a new project with Claude
- The “describe what you want” approach
- Projects are just folders with files
- Claude can build and run apps for you