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Installation

Prerequisites​

  • Node.js 20+ (download) for npm install (Homebrew and Docker handle this automatically)
  • Python 3.9+ for voyage-4-nano local inference
  • MongoDB Atlas cluster (free tier at mongodb.com/atlas) for storage and search commands
  • Voyage AI API key (free tier available at dash.voyageai.com) for API-backed embedding, reranking, and query workflows

Fastest Local Start in v1.31.0​

vai v1.31.0 adds voyage-4-nano local inference, so you can embed locally before configuring a Voyage AI API key.

npm install -g voyageai-cli
vai nano setup
vai embed "What is vector search?" --local

vai nano setup creates the isolated Python environment, installs the required dependencies, downloads the model, and verifies the lightweight Python bridge that powers local inference.

Install via Homebrew (macOS / Linux)​

The simplest way to install on macOS or Linux:

brew tap mrlynn/vai
brew install vai

Verify the installation:

vai --version

To upgrade later:

brew update && brew upgrade vai

Install via npm​

Install globally to get the vai command:

npm install -g voyageai-cli

Verify the installation:

vai --version

Run Without Installing​

Use npx to run vai without a global install:

npx voyageai-cli@latest quickstart
npx voyageai-cli@latest embed "Hello, world"

Install via Docker​

Run vai in a container with no Node.js install required:

git clone https://github.com/mrlynn/voyageai-cli.git
cd voyageai-cli
docker build -t vai .

Run any vai command:

docker run --rm -e VOYAGE_API_KEY="your-key" vai embed "hello world"

Start the web playground:

docker run --rm -p 3333:3333 -e VOYAGE_API_KEY="your-key" vai playground --no-open

For Docker Compose, the wrapper script, and production deployment, see the Docker guide.

Set Up Optional Credentials​

Local voyage-4-nano embedding does not require a Voyage API key. You only need credentials when you move into API-backed embedding, reranking, chat, or MongoDB-backed storage and search.

For API-backed and database workflows, set:

# Option 1: Environment variables
export VOYAGE_API_KEY="your-voyage-ai-key"
export MONGODB_URI="mongodb+srv://user:pass@cluster.mongodb.net/"

# Option 2: .env file (add to .gitignore)
echo 'VOYAGE_API_KEY=your-key' >> .env
echo 'MONGODB_URI=mongodb+srv://...' >> .env

# Option 3: Built-in config store (persisted in ~/.vai/config.json)
echo "your-key" | vai config set api-key --stdin
vai config set mongodb-uri "mongodb+srv://..."

Credentials resolve in order: environment variables, then .env file, then ~/.vai/config.json.

Verify Your Setup​

Verify local inference:

vai nano status
vai nano test

Verify API and MongoDB connectivity when those credentials are configured:

vai ping

vai ping checks the Voyage AI API and MongoDB Atlas connection. vai nano test verifies that the local model, Python bridge, and embedding path are ready.

Desktop App​

For a GUI experience, download the desktop app from GitHub Releases:

PlatformFormat
macOS (Apple Silicon).dmg
macOS (Intel).dmg
Windows.exe installer
Linux.AppImage / .deb

Troubleshooting​

Run the diagnostic tool if something isn't working:

vai doctor

This checks Node.js version, API key validity, MongoDB connectivity, and common configuration issues.

Next Steps​