# Prerequisites for Running Understand Anything: Node.js and pnpm Setup Guide

> Install Node.js 22+ and pnpm 10+ to run Understand Anything. Get your development environment ready with this quick setup guide.

- Repository: [Yuxiang Lin/Understand-Anything](https://github.com/Lum1104/Understand-Anything)
- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-06-05

---

**To run Understand Anything, you must install Node.js version 22 or higher and pnpm version 10 or higher.**

Understand Anything is a monorepo project that relies on modern JavaScript tooling to manage its workspace dependencies and build pipeline. Before cloning the repository or installing dependencies, you need to configure your local environment with specific versions of Node.js and pnpm as specified in the project's configuration files.

## Core System Requirements

The foundation of the Understand Anything workflow rests on two essential tools that work in lock-step to provide the JavaScript runtime and package management capabilities.

### Node.js Version 22 or Higher

**Node.js** provides the JavaScript runtime environment required to execute the application code. According to the [`CLAUDE.md`](https://github.com/Lum1104/Understand-Anything/blob/main/CLAUDE.md) documentation in the repository root, the project requires Node.js **version 22 or higher**, though development actively targets version 24.

### pnpm Version 10 or Higher

**pnpm** serves as the mandatory package manager for this monorepo workspace. The root [`package.json`](https://github.com/Lum1104/Understand-Anything/blob/main/package.json) explicitly pins the required version through the `packageManager` field, specifying `pnpm@>=10`. This ensures consistent dependency resolution across all workspace packages.

## Verifying Your Installation

Before proceeding with repository setup, confirm your tooling meets the minimum requirements by running the following commands in your terminal.

### Check Node.js Version

```bash

# Should print a version ≥ 22

node --version

```

### Check pnpm Version

```bash

# Should print a version ≥ 10

pnpm --version

```

## Installation Methods

If either prerequisite is missing or outdated, use one of the following approaches to install the required tools.

### Automated Installation (macOS/Linux)

For Unix-based systems, the repository provides a convenience script that checks for and installs the required dependencies:

```bash
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Lum1104/Understand-Anything/main/install.sh | bash

```

The script automatically detects missing versions of Node.js or pnpm and prompts you to install them before continuing.

### Manual pnpm Upgrade

If you need to upgrade pnpm to meet the version 10 requirement, install the latest version globally:

```bash
npm i -g pnpm@latest

```

## Key Configuration Files

Several files in the repository root enforce and document these prerequisites.

- **[`package.json`](https://github.com/Lum1104/Understand-Anything/blob/main/package.json)**: Declares the required `packageManager` (`pnpm@>=10`) and lists core dependencies for the workspace.
- **[`pnpm-workspace.yaml`](https://github.com/Lum1104/Understand-Anything/blob/main/pnpm-workspace.yaml)**: Defines the monorepo layout that pnpm reads to resolve packages across the workspace.
- **[`CLAUDE.md`](https://github.com/Lum1104/Understand-Anything/blob/main/CLAUDE.md)**: Contains the official "Prerequisites" section documenting the Node.js ≥ 22 and pnpm ≥ 10 requirements.

## Summary

- Understand Anything requires **Node.js ≥ 22** and **pnpm ≥ 10** to function correctly.
- The `packageManager` field in [`package.json`](https://github.com/Lum1104/Understand-Anything/blob/main/package.json) enforces the pnpm version requirement.
- Run `node --version` and `pnpm --version` to verify your environment before cloning.
- Use the provided [`install.sh`](https://github.com/Lum1104/Understand-Anything/blob/main/install.sh) script on macOS/Linux for automated setup.
- Configuration files in the repository root document and enforce these requirements.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Can I use npm or yarn instead of pnpm?

No. The Understand Anything monorepo requires pnpm specifically. The root [`package.json`](https://github.com/Lum1104/Understand-Anything/blob/main/package.json) contains a `packageManager` field that pins pnpm version 10 or higher, and the [`pnpm-workspace.yaml`](https://github.com/Lum1104/Understand-Anything/blob/main/pnpm-workspace.yaml) file defines the workspace structure that only pnpm can interpret correctly.

### What happens if I try to run the project with Node.js 20?

You may encounter compatibility issues or runtime errors. The project is developed on Node.js version 24 and requires features available only in Node.js 22 and higher. Always verify your version with `node --version` before installation.

### Does the automated installation script work on Windows?

The [`install.sh`](https://github.com/Lum1104/Understand-Anything/blob/main/install.sh) script provided in the repository root works specifically on macOS and Linux systems. Windows users should install Node.js and pnpm manually or use Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) to run the shell script.

### Where are the prerequisites officially documented?

The prerequisites are officially documented in the [`CLAUDE.md`](https://github.com/Lum1104/Understand-Anything/blob/main/CLAUDE.md) file located in the repository root. This file specifies Node.js ≥ 22 and pnpm ≥ 10 as the minimum versions required to run the project.