# Installation

Cortex is a `pnpm` workspace monorepo with three packages: the **frontend** app, the
**MCP** server, and the core/Sui **backend**. One install wires them all.

## Requirements

| Tool | Version | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Node.js](https://nodejs.org) | `20+` | LTS recommended |
| [pnpm](https://pnpm.io) | `9+` | The repo pins `pnpm@9.12.0` |
| [Sui CLI](https://docs.sui.io) | latest | Only for the live path / Move contracts |

:::note
You do **not** need Sui, Walrus, Seal, or MemWal credentials to start. Cortex runs the
full pipeline in [mock mode](/getting-started/configuration#modes) out of the box.
:::

## Install

::::steps

##### Clone the repository

```bash
git clone https://github.com/goodylili/Cortex.git
cd Cortex
```

##### Install dependencies

```bash
pnpm install
```

This installs every workspace package in one pass.

##### Verify the toolchain

```bash
pnpm typecheck
```

A clean type check across the workspace confirms the install is healthy.

::::

## Workspace layout

```text
cortex/
  frontend/          Next.js app, API routes, and the Cortex UI
    src/lib/cortex/  browser-side memory flows, Walrus/Seal integration
    src/lib/llm/     model registry and completion helpers
    config/          config.example.yaml for the core/MCP runtime
  backend/
    core/            the Cortex facade, config, CLI, watcher
    sui/contract/    Move contracts (access, agents, sharing, workspace)
    mcp/server.ts    MCP server over the shared memory plane
  docs/              this Vocs documentation site
```

## Run the docs locally

These docs are a Vocs site in `docs/`. To preview them while you work:

```bash
pnpm dev:docs
```

## Next steps

Now that the workspace is installed, exercise the pipeline in the
[Quickstart](/getting-started/quickstart), then wire live infrastructure in
[Configuration](/getting-started/configuration).