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

# Installation Overview

> All the ways to install and run Bolly

Bolly supports multiple installation methods depending on your use case. All methods are self-hosted — your data stays on your machine.

## Installation Methods

| Method                                          | Best For                              | Platforms                     | Computer Use  |
| ----------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------- | ----------------------------- | ------------- |
| [One-Line Install](/docs/installation/quick-install) | Fastest setup, personal use           | Linux, macOS                  | No            |
| [Docker](/docs/installation/docker)                  | Production, servers, easy updates     | Any (Docker required)         | No            |
| [Desktop App](/docs/installation/desktop-app)        | Full experience with computer control | macOS, Windows, Linux         | Yes           |
| [From Source](/docs/installation/from-source)        | Contributing, customization           | Any (Rust + Node.js required) | Yes (desktop) |

## System Requirements

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Minimum Hardware">
    * 2 CPU cores
    * 2 GB RAM
    * 500 MB disk space (plus storage for memory/drops)
    * Internet connection (for LLM API calls)
  </Card>

  <Card title="Supported Platforms">
    * **Linux**: x86\_64, aarch64 (Ubuntu 20.04+, Debian 11+, Fedora 36+, Arch)
    * **macOS**: Apple Silicon (M1+, macOS 12+)
    * **Windows**: x86\_64 (Windows 10+, desktop app only)
    * **Docker**: Any platform with Docker Engine 20+
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Required API Keys

Bolly uses a **BYOK** (Bring Your Own Key) model. You need at minimum:

| Key        | Provider                                               | Required | Purpose                                    |
| ---------- | ------------------------------------------------------ | -------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| Anthropic  | [console.anthropic.com](https://console.anthropic.com) | **Yes**  | Chat, reasoning, all tool use              |
| Google AI  | [aistudio.google.com](https://aistudio.google.com)     | No       | Vector memory search, video/audio analysis |
| ElevenLabs | [elevenlabs.io](https://elevenlabs.io)                 | No       | Text-to-speech voice output                |

<Info>See the [API Keys guide](/docs/installation/api-keys) for detailed setup instructions for each provider.</Info>

## Data Directory

All Bolly data lives in `~/.bolly/` by default (configurable via `BOLLY_HOME` environment variable):

```
~/.bolly/
├── config.toml              # Main configuration file
└── instances/
    └── {instance-slug}/
        ├── soul.md          # Personality definition
        ├── heartbeat.md     # Heartbeat behavior rules
        ├── mood.json        # Current emotional state
        ├── memory/          # Persistent memory library
        ├── drops/           # Autonomous creative artifacts
        ├── uploads/         # User-uploaded files
        ├── skills/          # Installed skill plugins
        └── chats/
            └── {chat_id}/
                └── rig_history.json
```

## What's Next

Pick your installation method and follow the guide:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="One-Line Install" icon="bolt" href="/docs/installation/quick-install">
    The fastest path — a single curl command.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Docker" icon="docker" href="/docs/installation/docker">
    Containerized deployment with persistent volumes.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Desktop App" icon="desktop" href="/docs/installation/desktop-app">
    Native app with computer use support.
  </Card>

  <Card title="From Source" icon="code-branch" href="/docs/installation/from-source">
    Build everything from the repository.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>