Clone the Brain Template

This is where you get your copy of the brain. You'll give Claude a command, and it handles everything - cloning the repository, installing dependencies, and getting you set up.

Where to Find the Clone Command

The exact command you need is in the 8020brain space in Circle:

mikerhodes.circle.so/c/8020brain/

Look for the pinned post at the top of that space. It contains the clone command with a private access token that gives you permission to download the template.

If you can't find the pinned post, send Mike a message in Circle.

Keep this command private - it contains an access token that acts like a password to the template repository.

How to Clone

Copy the command from the pinned Circle post
Open Claude Code in your editor's terminal (type claude if it's not already running)
Paste the command into Claude Code

Claude will:

Clone the brain template to your computer
Run npm install to install all dependencies
Read the documentation files
Help you understand what's been set up

You don't need to run any commands yourself. Claude handles all of it.

After Cloning

Once Claude finishes cloning and installing, your brain is ready. You should:

Open the brain folder in your editor - File > Open Folder and select the brain folder Claude just created
Open the terminal - press Cmd + J (Mac) or Ctrl + J (Windows)
Start Claude Code - type claude in the terminal
Run the setup wizard - type /8020brain to start the guided setup

The /8020brain command walks you through configuring your brain's business context. It asks you questions conversationally and fills in the files for you.

Troubleshooting

"Permission denied" or "Authentication failed" - The access token may have expired. Check the 8020brain space in Circle for the latest command.

Windows: Password prompt appears - You may not be using the Windows-specific clone command. Check the Circle post for Windows-specific instructions.

Clone is slow - The brain template includes research libraries with hundreds of articles. The initial clone may take a few minutes on slower connections.

"npm install" errors - If Claude reports errors during npm install, ask it: "Can you try running npm install again and show me the errors?" Most issues resolve with a retry.

Next step: Your First Steps