diff --git a/chapters/basics.md b/chapters/basics.md
index 3a2036a..5250098 100644
--- a/chapters/basics.md
+++ b/chapters/basics.md
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
+If you want to follow along by writing code, start by downloading a code editor. I recommend
+[Visual Studio Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/) or [Sublime Text](https://www.sublimetext.com/).
+Next, create a new file in your editor called `basics.php` and save it anywhere on your computer like a folder
+in your documents called `phpapprentice`. Now, we can write some PHP.
 
-In the tradition of our ancestors, let's start with a hello world program.
 All PHP files must start with a `<?php` tag unless it is for a html template.
 (We will learn about html templates later.)
-
 ```php
 <?php
 
@@ -16,12 +18,10 @@ First, the echo keyword tells PHP to output some text.
 echo "I am some text\n";
 ```
 
-Second, PHP stores text in strings.
-
-To write a string, you surround letters with single or double quotes.
+Second, PHP stores text in strings. To write a string, you surround letters with single or double quotes.
 Double quoted strings can hold special characters like `\n` which tells PHP to start a new line.
 ```php
-"\nI am a string on a new line";
+echo "I am a string on a new line\n";
 ```
 
 Third, all lines of code in PHP must end in a semi-colon.
@@ -31,5 +31,21 @@ echo "No semi-colon is a no-no\n";
 
 Using semi-colons means we can write multiple statements on one line.
 ```php
-echo "Hello"; echo " World\n";
+echo "PHP"; echo " Apprentice\n";
 ```
+
+To execute the code you have written, make sure you have [PHP installed](/installing-php.html).
+Then, open a terminal app, either Terminal on MacOS or Powershell on Windows. In the terminal,
+open the folder where you created the `basics.php` file using `cd`. For example, on Windows run `cd C:\%userprofile%\Documents\phpapprentice` and on Mac run `cd ~/Documents/phpapprentice`. Finally, you can execute the file by running `php basics.php`.
+
+In your terminal, you should see:
+```bash
+Hello World!
+I am some text
+I am a string on a new line.
+No semi-colon is a no-no
+PHP Apprentice
+```
+
+With any code that we explore in future chapters, I recommend writing a PHP file for it.
+It is a great way to get some practice with the language.