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Prerequisites

Before you install and run Manasvi, you need a few things set up on your computer. This page explains each one in plain language.

What you'll need​

1. Node.js (version 20 or newer)​

What it is: Node.js is the software that runs JavaScript on your computer. Manasvi is built with TypeScript, which runs on Node.js.

How to check if you have it:

node --version

If you see something like v20.11.0 or higher, you're good. If you see an error or a version below 20, you need to install it.

How to get it: Visit nodejs.org and download the LTS version. Run the installer. Done.

2. pnpm (package manager)​

What it is: pnpm is a tool that installs the libraries Manasvi depends on. It's similar to npm or yarn, but designed for large monorepos like Manasvi.

How to check:

pnpm --version

How to get it:

corepack enable
corepack prepare pnpm@latest --activate

What is corepack? Corepack comes with Node.js 16.9+. It manages package manager versions automatically. Running corepack enable is enough.

3. Git​

What it is: Git is used to download the Manasvi source code from GitHub.

How to check:

git --version

How to get it: Visit git-scm.com and follow the instructions for your operating system.

Optional: An AI model provider​

Manasvi needs access to a language model to generate responses. You have three options:

Option A: OpenAI (or any OpenAI-compatible API)

You'll need an API key from platform.openai.com. If you have one, Manasvi will use it automatically.

Option B: Ollama (local model, no API key needed)

Ollama lets you run AI models locally on your computer. It's free and private — the model runs on your machine.

To install Ollama and pull a model:

# Install Ollama from https://ollama.com
ollama pull llama3.2

Option C: Anthropic Claude

You'll need an API key from console.anthropic.com.

If you're just experimenting, Manasvi includes a mock adapter that works without any model. It returns predictable test responses so you can explore the system without connecting to a real AI provider.

Optional: A Telegram or Slack account​

If you want Manasvi to respond to messages from Telegram or Slack, you'll need:

  • Telegram: A Telegram account and a bot token (explained in Connect Telegram)
  • Slack: A Slack workspace and a Slack app (explained later in the setup guides)

You can also test Manasvi through the API directly without setting up a channel first.

System requirements​

RequirementMinimum
Node.js20.0 or newer
RAM2 GB (4 GB recommended; 8 GB for local models)
Disk1 GB free (plus model size if using Ollama)
OSmacOS, Linux, or Windows with WSL2

You're ready​

Once you have Node.js, pnpm, and Git, you're ready to install Manasvi. Continue to Install.