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Linux quickstart

Two paths: npm install (fastest) or from source (for contributors).

1. Install​

curl -fsSL https://get.carinaai.uk | bash
# or: npm install -g carina-agent

2. Setup​

carina setup

Follow the wizard to add your provider keys.

3. Start​

carina dev

The agent starts with SQLite. No Docker, Postgres, or Redis required.

4. First chat​

carina "Reply with OK if the gateway is healthy."

Path B: From source​

For contributors or anyone who wants to run directly from the repo:

1. Clone and install​

git clone https://github.com/carina-ai/carina.git
cd carina/core.carinaai.uk
pnpm install
cp .env.example .env

2. Add your keys​

Edit .env and add at least one provider API key.

3. Start​

pnpm dev

The agent starts on http://localhost:3000 with SQLite by default. No Docker needed; single-user self-hosted Carina is one command away. See self-hosting for production persistence and the optional Docker multi-service stack.

Verify​

carina doctor
# or from source:
pnpm test

Production notes​

  • For persistence, add a Postgres DATABASE_URL and Redis REDIS_URL to .env
  • Docker Compose optional; only needed for Cloud/Scout multi-service orchestration
  • See self-hosting for full production setup

Next​