Skip to content

What you need

Before you create a course, gather these tools. You do not need to be an application developer — only to edit text files and run a few lxpack commands in Terminal.

1. A computer

LXPack runs on macOS, Windows, or Linux. You need administrator rights (or IT approval) to install Node.js.

2. Node.js (version 18 or newer)

Node.js is a free runtime that powers the lxpack command. LXPack supports Node.js 18 and 20; either is fine. Node 20 LTS is recommended when your organization allows it.

  1. Open https://nodejs.org and download the LTS installer.
  2. Run the installer and accept the defaults.
  3. Open Terminal (search “Terminal” in Spotlight).
  4. Type node --version and press Enter. You should see v18 or v20 (for example v20.19.0).
  1. Open https://nodejs.org and download the LTS installer.
  2. Run the installer. Leave “Add to PATH” enabled.
  3. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell (search in the Start menu).
  4. Type node --version and press Enter. You should see v18 or v20 (for example v20.19.0).

Corporate machines

If IT manages software installs, ask them to install Node.js 18 LTS or 20 LTS. You only need Node and npm (included with Node) — not a full development stack.

3. The LXPack command-line tool

After Node is installed, install LXPack globally:

npm install -g @lxpack/cli
npm install -g @lxpack/cli

Verify:

lxpack --version
lxpack --version

Success looks like: a version number (for example 0.6.4), not “command not found.”

Details: Install the CLI.

4. A text editor

You will edit Markdown lessons, a settings file (course.yaml), and sometimes HTML for activities.

Editor Good for
Visual Studio Code Free, widely used, optional extensions
TextEdit (Mac) / Notepad (Windows) Fine for small edits if you save as plain text
Cursor IDE with file tree and integrated Terminal — with Claude or without Claude

Save as plain text

Word processors (Microsoft Word, Google Docs exported oddly) can break YAML and Markdown. Use .md, .yaml, and .html files in a normal code or text editor.

5. Claude (Design or chat)

LXPack is built for AI-assisted authoring:

  • Claude Design — storyboarding, lesson drafts, quiz wording, HTML activity ideas.
  • Claude in the browser — same, if you do not use Design.
  • Claude Code in Cursor — optional; see the developer workflow.

You paste learning objectives and file contents into Claude; Claude returns text you save into your course folder.

6. Terminal comfort (a little)

You will run commands like lxpack preview and lxpack validate. You copy them from this documentation, paste into Terminal, and press Enter.

You do not need to learn programming. See Your first course for a guided walkthrough.

Optional (later)

Tool When you might want it
Git Version history and team collaboration — developer workflow
pnpm Only if you hack on LXPack itself from source

Next step

Install the CLI → Your first course