1.3: Visual Workspace

The Problem

Terminal is great for talking to Claude, but you can’t see your files. When Claude edits a document, you want to see the changes. When you’re exploring a project, you want to browse the file tree.

The Solution: Dual-Pane Workspace

The recommended setup:

Left pane: File explorer showing your project structure
Bottom pane: Claude Code terminal for interactions

This lets you:

See files as Claude creates or modifies them
Navigate your project visually
Open files to inspect changes

Recommended Editor: Cursor

Cursor is a free code editor that works perfectly with Claude Code. It’s based on VS Code but optimized for AI workflows.

Why Cursor?

Free to use
Built-in terminal
File explorer sidebar
Works on Mac, Windows, and Linux
You don’t need to write code to use it

Setting Up Your Workspace

Step 1: Download Cursor

Visit cursor.com and download the installer for your operating system.

Step 2: Open your project folder

Open Cursor
File → Open Folder
Select your course materials folder

Step 3: Open the terminal

Press `Ctrl+“ (backtick) to open the integrated terminal at the bottom.

Step 4: Start Claude Code

In the terminal, run:

claude

Your Workspace Layout

┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  FILE EXPLORER  │  FILE CONTENTS        │
│                 │                       │
│  📁 project     │  # Your File          │
│  ├── docs/      │                       │
│  ├── notes/     │  Content here...      │
│  └── README.md  │                       │
│                 │                       │
├─────────────────┴───────────────────────┤
│  TERMINAL (Claude Code)                 │
│  > claude                               │
│  Claude: How can I help?                │
│  > _                                    │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘

Working in the Visual Workspace

Exploring unfamiliar projects

Look at this project and summarize what it contains

Claude scans the files and explains the structure—useful when you inherit someone else’s work.

Watching changes in real-time

When Claude edits a file, Cursor automatically refreshes the view. You see changes as they happen.

Quick file access

Click any file in the explorer to view it. No need to ask Claude to show you—just look.

Alternative Editors

If you prefer not to use Cursor, these also work well:

Editor	Notes
VS Code	Similar to Cursor, free
Sublime Text	Lightweight, fast
Terminal + split panes	For minimalists

The key is having a file explorer visible alongside your terminal.

Tips

Keep the terminal large enough to see Claude’s full responses
Use keyboard shortcuts to toggle between panes
Auto-save is your friend—enable it so files save automatically

Ready to set up your workspace? Run start 1-3 in Claude Code for guided setup.