---
title: Quick start
description: Clone Dagr, start the stack, and sign in from the web UI or desktop app.
---

# Quick start

This is the shortest path to a working Dagr on your machine.

## What you need

- [Docker](https://docs.docker.com/get-docker/) and Docker Compose
- [Node.js](https://nodejs.org/) 20 or newer and [pnpm](https://pnpm.io/) (only if you run the Electron app from source)
- A [shadcnblocks](https://www.shadcnblocks.com) Pro API key (only if you change the client UI)

Go 1.25 or newer is only required if you run the API outside Docker.

## 1. Clone the repository

```bash
git clone https://github.com/kilobyteno/dagr.git
cd dagr
```

## 2. Start the server

```bash
make compose-up
```

This starts Postgres, Redis, MinIO, runs migrations, starts the API on `http://localhost:8080`, and serves the web UI on `http://localhost:4173`.

Check that the API is up:

```bash
curl -s http://localhost:8080/api/v1/health
```

You should see `{"status":"ok"}`.

## 3. Open the app

Open `http://localhost:4173` in a browser. On the login screen choose **Self-hosted** and use `http://localhost:8080`. Create an account, then create a workspace. That seeds a `#general` channel.

To run the Electron app from source instead:

```bash
# add SHADCNBLOCKS_API_KEY to client/.env (see client/.env.example)
make client-install
make client-dev
```

A second Electron window against the same server (useful for invites and DMs):

```bash
make client-dev-2
```

`make client-dev-web` starts the Vite UI in the browser without Electron.

## 4. Stop

```bash
make compose-down
```

Data stays in Docker volumes until you remove them. See [Self-hosting](/hosting/self-hosting).

## Next

- [Self-hosting](/hosting/self-hosting) for environment variables, the worker, and running Compose as a longer-lived server
- [Web app](/hosting/web-app) to host the same UI in the browser
- [Coolify](/hosting/coolify) if you already have a Coolify server
- [Northflank](/hosting/northflank) if you want the API on the internet without managing VMs
- [Email](/hosting/email) when invites and verification should reach real inboxes
- [Worker](/hosting/worker) for scheduled messages, link previews, and outbound email
- [Desktop app](/desktop) for sign in, workspaces, and chat