---
title: "Local install"
description: "Run the daemon, CLI, and native tools on a developer machine."
source: https://carina.nebutra.com/deployment/local/
---

# Local install

> Run the daemon, CLI, and native tools on a developer machine.

Carina is designed to run primarily on the developer machine or an internal runner you control. Local-first is the base case.

## Install

```bash title="install-local.sh"
# shell installer (when published)
curl -fsSL https://carina.nebutra.com/install.sh | sh

# from source
git clone https://github.com/nebutra/carina.git
cd carina
make install
```

## Start the runtime

```bash title="start-daemon.sh"
# Prefer CLI-owned daemon lifecycle (discovers kernel + native tools next to the binary)
carina daemon start
carina daemon status
# Advanced: carina-daemon &  (legacy / packaging layouts)

carina version
carina doctor
```

Use `-tools` / `-kernel` only to point at alternate build outputs.

## Typical data layout

| Path | Contents |
| --- | --- |
| Config | Profiles, MCP servers, provider credentials (BYOK) |
| State | Sessions, audit segments, patches, memory |
| Socket | `~/.carina/daemon.sock` (default) |
| Logs | Daemon diagnostics |

Exact paths are printed by `carina doctor` and release notes.

## Reasoner

- Auto-selects `model-router` only when an enabled runtime provider is available
- Set `CARINA_REASONER_MODEL` to pin a model-router / BYOK model
- Select external compatibility backends explicitly with
  `CARINA_REASONER_BACKEND=claude-cli` or `CARINA_REASONER_BACKEND=codex-cli`

## Gateway (optional)

Optional listeners are **off by default**. Enable WebSocket/HTTP Gateway only with a signing key and explicit bind — see [Runtime API](/api/overview/).

## Updates

```bash frame="none"
carina version
carina doctor
```

  Package names and install URLs track the open-source release channel. Prefer `carina doctor` after any upgrade.

## Source of truth

- Daemon lifecycle: `carina daemon start|status|stop|logs` · `carina doctor`
- Packaging: `docs/release.md`
- Related: [Installation](/getting-started/installation/) · [CLI reference](/reference/cli/) · [API overview](/api/overview/)

## Next

- [Quickstart](/getting-started/quickstart/) — first governed session
- [Workers](/deployment/workers/) — when one machine is not enough
- [FAQ](/deployment/faq/) — product boundaries

---
Source: https://carina.nebutra.com/deployment/local/
Markdown: https://carina.nebutra.com/deployment/local/index.md