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

# Local quickstart

> Start Stash locally and create an isolated demo workspace.

This path starts the reviewer console and its CockroachDB-backed demo environment. At the end, you will have an isolated workspace with seeded memory, evaluation scenarios, and audit history.

## Prerequisites

* Node.js 22.13 or newer
* npm
* Docker with Compose support
* An unused local port `3000`

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create local configuration">
    From the repository root, copy the safe configuration template.

    ```bash theme={"system"}
    cp .env.example .env.local
    ```

    Local development can override server settings. Never expose database URLs, bootstrap keys, session secrets, trusted-source key material, or AWS secrets through a `NEXT_PUBLIC_` variable.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Install application dependencies">
    ```bash theme={"system"}
    npm ci
    ```

    The lockfile defines the dependency graph used by CI.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start CockroachDB">
    ```bash theme={"system"}
    docker compose up -d
    ```

    The integration database listens on `localhost:26258` with TLS disabled for local use only.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Reset and seed the demo">
    ```bash theme={"system"}
    npm run demo:reset
    ```

    This applies migrations and creates a repeatable local workspace. It does not mutate the production cluster.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start the reviewer console">
    ```bash theme={"system"}
    npm run dev
    ```

    Open [http://localhost:3000/onboarding](http://localhost:3000/onboarding). The page should show the workspace checklist and links to the change queue, evaluations, memory explorer, and audit log.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Confirm the environment

Run the fast application checks in another terminal:

```bash theme={"system"}
npm test
npm run typecheck
```

When both commands pass, continue to [release your first governed memory](/tutorials/first-release).

<Warning>
  The local database configuration is deliberately permissive. Use the restricted runtime principal, TLS, AWS Secrets Manager, and the production migration workflow outside local development.
</Warning>