> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.dotbot.ch/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Install dotbot on Windows, macOS, and Linux

> dotbot is a pure PowerShell tool with no runtime dependencies beyond PowerShell and Git. Pick the install method that fits your workflow and platform.

dotbot is a pure PowerShell tool with no runtime dependencies beyond PowerShell itself and Git. There is no npm, pip, or Docker involved. The same installation approach works on Windows, macOS, and Linux — pick the method that fits your workflow.

## Prerequisites

Before installing dotbot, make sure you have the following:

| Requirement           | Minimum version | Download                                                                                                                                                 |
| --------------------- | --------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| PowerShell            | 7.0+            | [aka.ms/powershell](https://aka.ms/powershell)                                                                                                           |
| Git                   | Any             | [git-scm.com/downloads](https://git-scm.com/downloads)                                                                                                   |
| AI CLI (at least one) | Latest          | [Claude CLI](https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/claude-cli), [Codex CLI](https://github.com/openai/codex), or [Antigravity](https://antigravity.google/) |

You can verify your PowerShell version by running `$PSVersionTable.PSVersion` in a terminal.

## Package install vs source checkout

dotbot installs in one of two ways, and they resolve the framework differently:

* **Package install** (Homebrew or Scoop) — Installs a self-contained copy and puts `dotbot` on your PATH. The command resolves the framework from its own install location, so you do not need to set `DOTBOT_HOME`.
* **Source checkout** — Clones the repository and installs a lightweight PATH shim. The shim contains no framework code; it routes to a dotbot checkout via `DOTBOT_HOME`, or to a project-local runtime vendored under `.bot/runtime`.

The shim that `bootstrap.ps1` installs lives in `~/.local/bin` on Linux and macOS, and in `%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\WindowsApps` on Windows.

## Install dotbot

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Homebrew (macOS/Linux)">
    Install dotbot with [Homebrew](https://brew.sh):

    ```bash theme={null}
    brew install andresharpe/dotbot/dotbot
    ```

    This installs a self-contained copy and puts `dotbot` on your PATH. No `DOTBOT_HOME` is required.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Scoop (Windows)">
    Add the dotbot bucket with [Scoop](https://scoop.sh), then install:

    ```powershell theme={null}
    scoop bucket add dotbot https://github.com/andresharpe/scoop-dotbot
    scoop install dotbot
    ```

    This installs a self-contained copy and puts `dotbot` on your PATH. No `DOTBOT_HOME` is required.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Source checkout">
    Clone the repository and run the bootstrap script:

    ```powershell theme={null}
    git clone https://github.com/andresharpe/dotbot ~/dotbot
    pwsh ~/dotbot/bootstrap.ps1
    ```

    `bootstrap.ps1` installs the PATH shim (in `~/.local/bin` on Linux/macOS, or `%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\WindowsApps` on Windows). The shim needs `DOTBOT_HOME` to know which checkout to route to:

    <CodeGroup>
      ```powershell PowerShell theme={null}
      $env:DOTBOT_HOME = "$HOME/dotbot"
      ```

      ```bash bash / zsh theme={null}
      export DOTBOT_HOME="$HOME/dotbot"
      ```
    </CodeGroup>

    Persist it in your shell profile (`~/.zshrc`, `~/.bashrc`, `~/.profile`), or with `setx DOTBOT_HOME <path>` on Windows. If you keep several checkouts on one machine, point `DOTBOT_HOME` at whichever tree you want active.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## After installing

<Steps>
  <Step title="Restart your terminal">
    Restart your terminal so the `dotbot` command is available on your PATH.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Verify the installation">
    Confirm dotbot installed correctly:

    ```powershell theme={null}
    dotbot status
    ```

    This shows the resolved `DOTBOT_HOME`, the framework branch, SHA, and dirty state, and the active workflow and provider for the current project.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Update dotbot">
    For a source checkout, run `git pull` inside the checkout. For package installs, use `brew upgrade dotbot` or `scoop update dotbot`. A vendored project runtime is refreshed explicitly with `dotbot install runtime`.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Windows execution policy

<Warning>
  If you downloaded dotbot as a ZIP file on Windows, PowerShell may block the scripts due to the execution policy. Run the following command before installing:

  ```powershell theme={null}
  Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser
  ```

  This allows locally created scripts and signed remote scripts to run, without changing the system-wide policy.
</Warning>

## Recommended MCP servers

Once dotbot is installed, consider adding these MCP servers to your AI tool for a better development experience.

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Playwright MCP">
    Adds browser automation tools to your AI sessions. Useful for UI testing, screenshot capture, and verifying rendered output.

    * Repository: [github.com/anthropics/anthropic-quickstarts/tree/main/mcp-playwright](https://github.com/anthropics/anthropic-quickstarts/tree/main/mcp-playwright)
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Context7 MCP">
    Provides up-to-date library documentation lookup during AI sessions. Reduces hallucination on API usage and keeps the AI grounded in current docs.

    * Repository: [github.com/upstash/context7](https://github.com/upstash/context7)
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

Both servers can be added to any MCP-compatible AI client using the same `mcpServers` config block you use for dotbot. See [Configure the dotbot MCP server for Claude and Warp](/mcp/configuration) for configuration details.