---
title: Installation
description: System requirements and installation options for CamelMind. Follow this guide to set up and customize your site.
---

Before you begin, ensure your local machine meets the following requirements:

| Requirement | Minimum version |
|---|---|
| Node.js | 20 or higher |
| Package manager | Any recent version of `npm`, `pnpm`, or `yarn` |

<Callout type="tip">
Use [nvm](https://github.com/nvm-sh/nvm) or [fnm](https://github.com/Schniz/fnm) to manage Node versions. Run `node --version` to check your current version.
</Callout>

---

## Scaffold a new site

Get started in seconds with the CamelMind `init` CLI. Open your terminal and run the following command, replacing `my-docs` with your project name.

```bash
npx camelmind@latest init my-docs
```

The CLI will:

1. Create a new project from the CamelMind starter template.
2. Install all project dependencies automatically.
3. Display the next steps to get started.

Next, start the development server:

```bash
cd my-docs
npm run dev
```

Then open **http://localhost:3000** in your browser to preview your documentation site.

---

## Manual installation

If you prefer to set up from scratch or integrate CamelMind into an existing Next.js monorepo, install the package directly:

```bash
npm install camelmind
```

<Callout type="warning">
Manual installation is intended for advanced use cases. For most projects, we recommend using the <code>init</code> CLI, which automatically creates your project with the correct directory structure, configuration, and compatible dependency versions.
</Callout>

---

## Update CamelMind

To update an existing CamelMind site, use one of the following update options:

| Option | Command |
|---|---|
| Update your site to the latest CamelMind platform files | `npx camelmind@latest update` |
| Preview the changes without modifying any files | `npx camelmind@latest update --dry-run` |
| Update files without running npm install | `npx camelmind@latest update --no-install` |
| Preserve a customized scaffold file during the update | `npx camelmind@latest update --ignore-file app/page.tsx`|

Before upgrading, review the changelog for any breaking changes or migration notes.

---

## Environment variables

CamelMind works out of the box with the default configuration. You only need to customize environment variables when enabling features such as authentication or deploying your site to a production domain.

To get started, copy the example file:

```bash
cp .env.example .env.local
```

Then update the values you need.

| Variable | Default | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `CAMELMIND_URL` | `http://localhost:3000` | The public URL of your documentation site. Update this before deploying (for example, `https://docs.example.com`). |
| `CAMELMIND_AUTH_ENABLED` | `false` | Enables built-in authentication. |
| `CAMELMIND_AUTH_REQUIRE_LOGIN` | `false` | Requires users to sign in before accessing any page. |
| `SESSION_SECRET` | — | A long, random secret used to encrypt user sessions. Required when authentication is enabled. |

---

## Deploying to production

Before making your site live, update `CAMELMIND_URL` to match your production domain. For example:

```env
CAMELMIND_URL=https://docs.example.com
```

Then configure the same environment variables in your hosting provider (such as Vercel, Netlify, or your own infrastructure) before deploying your site.

<Callout type="tip">
If your site is publicly accessible, you can leave authentication disabled. Enable it only if you want to protect your documentation behind a login.
</Callout>

See the [Environment Variables](/reference/env-vars) reference for the complete list of available options.