Installation
Prerequisites, install options, and how to verify a working Qoc installation.
Qoc ships as a single self-contained CLI binary with an optional Docker image for server deployments; choose the path that fits your environment.
Prerequisites
The qoc CLI requires Node.js 20 or later on the host where you run it. Docker is optional — it is only needed if you want to run the desk service in a container rather than directly on your machine.
An AI coding agent must also be available in the same environment. Qoc is tested against Claude Code (the Anthropic CLI) and any agent that supports the Model Context Protocol (MCP). The agent connects to the desk's local MCP server, which qoc up starts on localhost:7070 by default.
Prerequisites summary
| Requirement | Version | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Node.js | 20 or later | Yes |
| npm | 10 or later (bundled with Node 20) | Yes |
| Claude Code or MCP agent | Any current release | Yes — to run agent tasks |
| Docker | 24 or later | Optional — container deployment only |
| Git | Any modern version | Optional — workspace history sync |
Check your Node version
Run node --version before installing. If you see v18 or earlier, upgrade via your system package manager or nvm before continuing. Qoc uses native fetch and structured clone, which require Node 20+.
Install options
There are three supported installation paths. The install script (macOS and Linux) is the fastest way to get a verified binary onto your machine. On Windows, use winget or the standalone installer. For container and server deployments, pull the Docker image and mount a local workspace directory.
All three paths install the same qoc binary and support the full CLI surface. There is no feature difference between installation methods.
Platform guides
Verify the installation
After any install path, run qoc status in a new terminal. A healthy output shows the CLI version, whether a workspace is initialised in the current directory, and whether the local service is running.
$ qoc status
qoc v0.73.0 BETA
workspace not initialised (run `qoc init` to create one)
service stopped (run `qoc up` to start)
agent not connectedNo workspace yet
The output above is correct right after a fresh install. A workspace is a directory you create with qoc init. Follow the Quick start guide to initialise one and connect your first venue.