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clawdbot/docs/install/installer.md
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---
summary: "How the installer scripts work (install.sh + install-cli.sh), flags, and automation"
read_when:
- You want to understand `clawd.bot/install.sh`
- You want to automate installs (CI / headless)
- You want to install from a GitHub checkout
---
# Installer internals
Clawdbot ships two installer scripts (served from `clawd.bot`):
- `https://clawd.bot/install.sh` — “recommended” installer (global npm install by default; can also install from a GitHub checkout)
- `https://clawd.bot/install-cli.sh` — non-root-friendly CLI installer (installs into a prefix with its own Node)
- `https://clawd.bot/install.ps1` — Windows PowerShell installer (npm by default; optional git install)
To see the current flags/behavior, run:
```bash
curl -fsSL https://clawd.bot/install.sh | bash -s -- --help
```
Windows (PowerShell) help:
```powershell
& ([scriptblock]::Create((iwr -useb https://clawd.bot/install.ps1))) -?
```
If the installer completes but `clawdbot` is not found in a new terminal, its usually a Node/npm PATH issue. See: [Install](/install#nodejs--npm-path-sanity).
## install.sh (recommended)
What it does (high level):
- Detect OS (macOS / Linux / WSL).
- Ensure Node.js **22+** (macOS via Homebrew; Linux via NodeSource).
- Choose install method:
- `npm` (default): `npm install -g clawdbot@latest`
- `git`: clone/build a source checkout and install a wrapper script
- On Linux: avoid global npm permission errors by switching npms prefix to `~/.npm-global` when needed.
- If upgrading an existing install: runs `clawdbot doctor --non-interactive` (best effort).
- For git installs: runs `clawdbot doctor --non-interactive` after install/update (best effort).
- Mitigates `sharp` native install gotchas by defaulting `SHARP_IGNORE_GLOBAL_LIBVIPS=1` (avoids building against system libvips).
If you *want* `sharp` to link against a globally-installed libvips (or youre debugging), set:
```bash
SHARP_IGNORE_GLOBAL_LIBVIPS=0 curl -fsSL https://clawd.bot/install.sh | bash
```
### Discoverability / “git install” prompt
If you run the installer while **already inside a Clawdbot source checkout** (detected via `package.json` + `pnpm-workspace.yaml`), it prompts:
- update and use this checkout (`git`)
- or migrate to the global npm install (`npm`)
In non-interactive contexts (no TTY / `--no-prompt`), you must pass `--install-method git|npm` (or set `CLAWDBOT_INSTALL_METHOD`), otherwise the script exits with code `2`.
### Why Git is needed
Git is required for the `--install-method git` path (clone / pull).
For `npm` installs, Git is *usually* not required, but some environments still end up needing it (e.g. when a package or dependency is fetched via a git URL). The installer currently ensures Git is present to avoid `spawn git ENOENT` surprises on fresh distros.
### Why npm hits `EACCES` on fresh Linux
On some Linux setups (especially after installing Node via the system package manager or NodeSource), npms global prefix points at a root-owned location. Then `npm install -g ...` fails with `EACCES` / `mkdir` permission errors.
`install.sh` mitigates this by switching the prefix to:
- `~/.npm-global` (and adding it to `PATH` in `~/.bashrc` / `~/.zshrc` when present)
## install-cli.sh (non-root CLI installer)
This script installs `clawdbot` into a prefix (default: `~/.clawdbot`) and also installs a dedicated Node runtime under that prefix, so it can work on machines where you dont want to touch the system Node/npm.
Help:
```bash
curl -fsSL https://clawd.bot/install-cli.sh | bash -s -- --help
```
## install.ps1 (Windows PowerShell)
What it does (high level):
- Ensure Node.js **22+** (winget/Chocolatey/Scoop or manual).
- Choose install method:
- `npm` (default): `npm install -g clawdbot@latest`
- `git`: clone/build a source checkout and install a wrapper script
- Runs `clawdbot doctor --non-interactive` on upgrades and git installs (best effort).
Examples:
```powershell
iwr -useb https://clawd.bot/install.ps1 | iex
```
```powershell
iwr -useb https://clawd.bot/install.ps1 | iex -InstallMethod git
```
```powershell
iwr -useb https://clawd.bot/install.ps1 | iex -InstallMethod git -GitDir "C:\\clawdbot"
```
Environment variables:
- `CLAWDBOT_INSTALL_METHOD=git|npm`
- `CLAWDBOT_GIT_DIR=...`
Git requirement:
If you choose `-InstallMethod git` and Git is missing, the installer will print the
Git for Windows link (`https://git-scm.com/download/win`) and exit.
Common Windows issues:
- **npm error spawn git / ENOENT**: install Git for Windows and reopen PowerShell, then rerun the installer.
- **"clawdbot" is not recognized**: your npm global bin folder is not on PATH. Most systems use
`%AppData%\\npm`. You can also run `npm config get prefix` and add `\\bin` to PATH, then reopen PowerShell.