Install Claude Code

Claude Code is the engine Hyo runs on. If it’s not on your computer yet, this page gets it there.

Watch the install guide

If you’d rather follow along than read, here’s the full setup, start to finish. It’s the same video that’s built into Hyo’s welcome screen.

Prefer to read it through? Here’s the same thing in steps.

When you first open Hyo and Claude Code isn’t installed, Hyo shows you a setup screen. You have two ways through it. Most people should use the first one.

The easy way: let Claude install it for you

You don’t have to understand any of the technical steps. You can hand the whole thing to Claude and have it walk you through, asking you questions as it goes.

Open Claude Desktop (the Claude app on your computer) and paste in the prompt below. Claude will check whether Claude Code is already installed, install it if it isn’t, ask how you want to use Hyo, and confirm everything’s working.

I need you to help me finish setting up an Obsidian plugin called Hyo. I've already installed the plugin. Now I need to make sure Claude Code CLI is installed on my machine. Walk me through this step by step — ask me questions as we go rather than assuming anything.

1. CHECK IF CLAUDE CODE IS INSTALLED
   Run `which claude` (Mac/Linux) or `where claude` (Windows) to see if Claude Code CLI is already on my machine.
   - If it's found, great — move on to step 2.
   - If not, install it by running: curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
     Then check it worked by running `which claude` again.
     If we're on Windows, use: irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex

2. ASK HOW I WANT TO USE THE PLUGIN
   There are two ways to use Hyo. Ask me which one fits:

   Option A: I already use Obsidian with a vault.
   I have a vault with notes in it. I want Hyo to work from that vault so Claude can see my files. That's the default — nothing extra needed.

   Option B: I have a project folder I work from (like a folder with a CLAUDE.md).
   I want to point Hyo at that folder instead of my Obsidian vault. Tell me to go to Settings → Hyo Claude Code Agent → Advanced → Working directory and enter the path to that folder. Claude will work from there, but I'll still use Obsidian as the interface.

3. CONFIRM EVERYTHING IS WORKING
   Tell me to:
   - Restart Obsidian (or just close and reopen the Hyo panel)
   - Press Cmd+Shift+H (Mac) or Ctrl+Shift+H (Windows) to open the Hyo chat panel
   - Type a message and check that Claude responds

Be friendly and clear. I might not be technical, so explain things simply if I get stuck.

That’s it. Claude handles the rest.

The manual way

If you’d rather do it yourself, the setup screen inside Hyo lists the same steps. In short, you run one install command in your terminal:

Mac or Linux: curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
Windows: irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex

Then close and reopen the Hyo panel. Once Claude Code is installed, Hyo finds it and shows you the chat.

When it’s done

Restart Obsidian or reopen the Hyo panel, press Cmd+Shift+H (Ctrl+Shift+H on Windows), and you should land in the chat. Send a message to check Claude replies.

Next, the thing that makes Hyo actually useful: setting up your workspace. Or if you just want to see it work, jump into your first conversation.