Build internal apps using AI.
Securely connect your database, build an app, and deploy in seconds.
🚀 Jump to Quick Start - Get up and running in minutes!
- Securely connect your database (or use a Sample database)
- Build internal apps that can communicate with your database
- AI builds the whole full-stack app and auto-fixes any issues
- Preview your built app live and make edits
- Download the built app code or connect directly to GitHub
- Deploy your built app
Prerequisites
Node.js (Only required for configuration, not for running the app)
Node.js is a program that helps your computer run certain types of applications. You'll need it to set up this project, but don't worry - it's free and easy to install!
📱 macOS (Mac computers)
Option 1: Simple download (Recommended for beginners)
- Open your web browser and go to nodejs.org
- You'll see two download buttons - click the one that says "LTS" (it's the safer, more stable version)
- The file will download automatically
- Double-click the downloaded file (it will end in .pkg)
- Follow the installation wizard - just click "Continue" and "Install" when prompted
- Enter your computer password when asked
Option 2: Using Homebrew
- Open Terminal
- Copy and paste this command:
brew install node - Press Enter and wait for it to finish
🪟 Windows
Option 1: Simple download (Recommended for beginners)
- Open your web browser and go to nodejs.org
- You'll see two download buttons - click the one that says "LTS" (it's the safer, more stable version)
- The file will download automatically
- Find the downloaded file (usually in your Downloads folder) and double-click it
- Follow the installation wizard - just click "Next" and "Install" when prompted
- Click "Finish" when done
🐧 Linux
Ubuntu/Debian (most common Linux versions)
- Open Terminal (press Ctrl + Alt + T)
- Copy and paste this command:
sudo apt update && sudo apt install nodejs npm - Press Enter and type your password when asked
- Type "Y" and press Enter to confirm
Other Linux versions
- Open Terminal
- Copy and paste this command:
sudo snap install node --classic - Press Enter and type your password when asked
✅ How to check if it worked
After installation, you can verify it worked:
- Open Terminal (Mac/Linux) or Command Prompt (Windows)
- Type:
node --versionand press Enter - You should see something like "v22.0.0" or higher
- Type:
npm --versionand press Enter - You should see a version number like "9.6.7"
❓ Need help?
- Windows users: If you get an error about "node is not recognized", restart your computer after installation or refer to the official Windows guide
- Mac users: If you get a security warning, go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy and click "Allow"
- Linux users: If you get a permission error, make sure to type
sudobefore the commands
pnpm (Package manager, faster than npm)
# Install pnpm globally
npm install -g pnpm
# Verify installation
pnpm --versionDocker (Required for containerized setup)
Install Docker Desktop from docker.com/get-started
Verify the Installation
docker --version
docker-compose --versionAnthropic API Key (Required for AI model access)
Step 1: Create an Anthropic Account
- Go to console.anthropic.com/signup
- Create an account
- Verify your email
Step 2: Generate an API Key 4. Go to console.anthropic.com/settings/keys 5. Click "Create Key" 6. Give it a name (e.g., "liblab-ai") 7. Copy the API key (starts with sk-ant-)
Step 3: Save your API Key
Add this to your .env file during setup, but keep it handy:
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-your-api-key-hereNetlify Key (Optional to run the builder. Required to deploy completed apps)
Step 1: Create a Netlify account
- Go to netlify.com
- Sign up for a free account
Step 2: Generate an auth token 3. Go to User Settings > Applications > New access token 4. Generate and copy your token
Step 3: Add the token to your .env file
NETLIFY_AUTH_TOKEN=your-token-hereOnce configured, you can deploy any app you generate through liblab.ai to Netlify using the deploy option in the UI.
liblab.ai runs best on Chrome or Chromium browsers when using a desktop. Mobile browsers don't have full support right now.
Some browser add-ons like ad blockers or VPNs might cause problems. If things aren't working right, try disabling them and reload the page.
Clone the repo
git clone https://github.com/liblaber/ai.git
cd aiRun the quickstart
Make sure your Docker Desktop is running.
Run the following command to set up and start the app:
pnpm run quickstartThat's it! 🎉 The app will be available at http://localhost:3000
The pnpm run quickstart command now always pulls the latest code and Docker images to ensure you're running the most up-to-date version. Here's what happens:
- ✅ Always rebuilds Docker images with latest code
- ✅ Preserves your database by default (keeps existing data)
- ✅ Interactive prompts if you have existing data
- ✅ Migration support for database schema changes
Additional quickstart options:
# Standard quickstart (preserves database)
pnpm run quickstart
# Fresh start (removes all existing data)
pnpm run quickstart:fresh
# Explicitly preserve database
pnpm run quickstart:preserveDatabase Migration
If you encounter database issues after updating, use the migration tool:
pnpm run docker:migrateThis provides options to:
- Auto-migrate database schema
- Create backups before migrating
- Reset database (
⚠️ loses all data)
Your data is PRESERVED when:
- You run
pnpm run quickstart:preserve - You run the standard
pnpm run quickstartand choose to preserve data when prompted (this is the default)
Your data is REMOVED (fresh start) when:
- You run
pnpm run quickstart:fresh - You run the standard
pnpm run quickstartand choose to reset the database when prompted - No existing data is found (e.g., on first-time setup)
Important Notes:
- 🔄 Code is always updated - Docker images are rebuilt with latest code
- 💾 Database behavior is configurable - You control whether to keep or reset data
⚠️ Schema changes may require migration - Usepnpm run docker:migrateif needed
For developers who prefer full control over their environment or need to run without Docker.
💡 Note: We recommend using Docker (Option 1) for the best experience, as it handles all dependencies and provides a consistent environment.
Prerequisites
Before starting, ensure you have all the following installed and configured:
Node.js (22 or higher) (Required for running the application)
Node.js is a program that helps your computer run certain types of applications. You'll need it to run this project on your computer.
📱 macOS (Mac computers)
Option 1: Simple download (Recommended for beginners)
- Open your web browser and go to nodejs.org
- You'll see two download buttons - click the one that says "LTS" (it's the safer, more stable version)
- The file will download automatically
- Double-click the downloaded file (it will end in .pkg)
- Follow the installation wizard - just click "Continue" and "Install" when prompted
- Enter your computer password when asked
Option 2: Using Homebrew (if you're comfortable with Terminal)
- Open Terminal (press Cmd + Space, type "Terminal", press Enter)
- Copy and paste this command:
brew install node - Press Enter and wait for it to finish
🪟 Windows
Option 1: Simple download (Recommended for beginners)
- Open your web browser and go to nodejs.org
- You'll see two download buttons - click the one that says "LTS" (it's the safer, more stable version)
- The file will download automatically
- Find the downloaded file (usually in your Downloads folder) and double-click it
- Follow the installation wizard - just click "Next" and "Install" when prompted
- Click "Finish" when done
Option 2: Using Windows Store (Windows 10/11)
- Open the Microsoft Store app
- Search for "Node.js"
- Click "Install" on the official Node.js app
- Wait for it to finish installing
🐧 Linux
Ubuntu/Debian (most common Linux versions)
- Open Terminal (press Ctrl + Alt + T)
- Copy and paste this command:
sudo apt update && sudo apt install nodejs npm - Press Enter and type your password when asked
- Type "Y" and press Enter to confirm
Other Linux versions
- Open Terminal
- Copy and paste this command:
sudo snap install node --classic - Press Enter and type your password when asked
✅ How to check if it worked
After installation, you can verify it worked:
- Open Terminal (Mac/Linux) or Command Prompt (Windows)
- Type:
node --versionand press Enter - You should see something like "v22.0.0" or higher
- Type:
npm --versionand press Enter - You should see a version number like "9.6.7"
❓ Need help?
- Windows users: If you get an error about "node is not recognized", restart your computer after installation or refer to the official Windows guide.
- Mac users: If you get a security warning, go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy and click "Allow"
- Linux users: If you get a permission error, make sure to type
sudobefore the commands
pnpm (Package manager, faster than npm)
# Install pnpm globally
npm install -g pnpm
# Verify installation
pnpm --versionAnthropic API Key (Required for AI model access)
Step 1: Create an Anthropic Account
- Go to console.anthropic.com/signup
- Create an account
- Verify your email
Step 2: Generate an API Key 4. Go to console.anthropic.com/settings/keys 5. Click "Create Key" 6. Give it a name (e.g., "liblab-ai") 7. Copy the API key (starts with sk-ant-)
Step 3: Save your API Key
Add this to your .env file during setup, but keep it handy:
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-your-api-key-hereNetlify Key (Optional to run the builder. Required to deploy completed apps)
Step 1: Create a Netlify account
- Go to netlify.com
- Sign up for a free account
Step 2: Generate an auth token 3. Go to User Settings > Applications > New access token 4. Generate and copy your token
Step 3: Add the token to your .env file
NETLIFY_AUTH_TOKEN=your-token-hereliblab.ai runs best on Chrome or Chromium browsers when using a desktop. Mobile browsers don't have full support right now.
Some browser add-ons like ad blockers or VPNs might cause problems. If things aren't working right, try disabling them and reload the page.
Setup
Clone the repo
git clone https://github.com/liblaber/ai.git
cd aiRun the setup
pnpm run setupStart the app
Start the development server with:
pnpm run devThat's it! 🎉
- Contributing Guidelines - How to contribute to the project
- Security & Privacy
- Configuration
- Deploy on EC2 with HTTPS & Auto-Restart
- Getting Started
- Features
- Environments
- Team Roles and Permissions
- Tips
- Governance
- License
We welcome contributions! Here's how to get started:
- 📖 Read our Contributing Guidelines - Complete setup and development guide
- 🐛 Browse Issues - Find something to work on
- 🏛️ Check our Governance Model - Understand how we work
New to the project? Look for good first issue labels.
- 🐛 GitHub Issues - Report bugs, request features, or discuss project-related topics
- 📧 General Inquiries - Contact us directly for questions or concerns
This project is currently licensed under the MIT License. Please note that future versions may transition to a different license to support the introduction of Pro features. We remain committed to keeping the core open source, but certain advanced capabilities may be subject to commercial terms.
MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.
Copyright (c) 2025 Liblab, Inc. and liblab.ai contributors
Ready to contribute? Check out our Contributing Guidelines and join our community! 🚀