# Installation Prerequisites

> Software you need before running the kit locally.

*Canonical: https://makerkit.dev/docs/tanstack-drizzle/installation/prerequisites*

---

Minimum tools:

- Node.js `>=20.10.0`
- pnpm
- Git
- PostgreSQL access, either through Docker or a hosted/local database

Docker is the easiest local setup because the repo already ships a compose file for PostgreSQL and Mailpit.

## Recommended Local Setup

```bash
pnpm compose:dev:up
```

This starts:

- PostgreSQL 17 on `localhost:54333`
- Mailpit on `localhost:8025` and `localhost:1025`

## Alternative: Existing Database

If you already have PostgreSQL elsewhere, point `DATABASE_URL` at it instead of using Docker.

## Drizzle Studio

Open Drizzle Studio with:

```bash
pnpm --filter "@kit/database" drizzle:studio
```

The exact URL is determined by `drizzle-kit studio` at runtime.

## Common Pitfalls

- Docker not running before `pnpm compose:dev:up`
- forgetting that PostgreSQL is only required if you are not using the bundled Docker setup
- blocked local ports `54333`, `8025`, or `1025`

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**Next:** [Clone Repository →](./clone-repository)