Building a Chat Interface
Install tools, configure Claude API, and build your first hello-world AI app from scratch. This session takes you from zero to a working development environment.
LOCATION
WeWork Dumbo, Brooklyn
TIME
Wednesday 6:00 PM EST
DURATION
3 hours
INSTRUCTOR
Zahid Lilani
Venue & Directions
Venue preview
WeWork Dumbo
WeWork Dumbo
81 Prospect St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
4th Floor, Room 4B
GETTING THERE
Subway
F train to York St (3 min walk) or A/C to High St (8 min walk)
Bus
B25, B67 along Prospect St. Stop at York/Prospect.
Parking
Limited street parking. Dumbo Parking Garage at 155 Water St (5 min walk).
Access Details
• Check in at the front desk with photo ID
• Take the elevator to the 4th floor — Room 4B
• Arrive 10 minutes early for setup
• Bring your laptop with charger — outlets available at each seat
Lesson Plan
Environment Setup & Tooling
Install Node.js, VS Code, and configure your terminal for AI development.
Claude API Configuration
Get your API key, understand rate limits, and make your first API call.
Hello World AI App
Build and deploy a minimal Next.js app that talks to Claude.
Q&A + Troubleshooting
Open floor for debugging issues and reviewing what we built.
Objectives
Set up a complete AI development environment with Node.js, VS Code, and essential extensions
Configure and authenticate with the Claude API using best practices
Build and deploy your first AI-powered Next.js application from scratch
Understand the fundamentals of prompt-response architecture