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

# Installation

> Install VectorLint globally or run it with npx. Covers Node.js requirements and verifying your installation.

## Before you begin

VectorLint requires Node.js 18 or later. Node.js 22 LTS is recommended. If you need to install or update Node.js, use [nvm](https://github.com/nvm-sh/nvm) (recommended) or download directly from [nodejs.org](https://nodejs.org).

<Warning>
  Installing VectorLint makes the CLI available, but the tool requires a configured LLM provider to review content. If you run `vectorlint` against a file before completing provider configuration, you get no output and no error. After installing, complete [Configuring LLM providers](/llm-providers) before running your first review.
</Warning>

***

## Option 1: Global install

Install VectorLint globally from npm:

```bash theme={null}
npm install -g vectorlint
```

Verify the installation:

```bash theme={null}
vectorlint --help
```

A global install makes the `vectorlint` command available from any directory on your machine. Use this option if you plan to run VectorLint regularly across multiple projects.

For a full reference of commands and flags, see [CLI reference](/cli-reference).

***

## Option 2: Run with npx

Run VectorLint without installing it:

```bash theme={null}
npx vectorlint path/to/doc.md
```

With this option, you don't need to install or manage versions, since `npx` downloads and runs the latest version of VectorLint on demand. Use this option for one-off checks or to try VectorLint before committing to a global install.

If you use npx regularly, pin a specific version to avoid unexpected behavior when VectorLint releases updates:

```bash theme={null}
npx vectorlint@2.5.0 path/to/doc.md
```

***

## Next steps

* [Quickstart](/quickstart): configure your LLM provider and run your first review end to end
* [Configuring LLM providers](/llm-providers): set up your API key for a supported provider
* [Using VECTORLINT.md](/initial-style-check): start reviewing content without writing any rule pack files