# How to Install PrimeIntellect-ai/prime-agent: Complete Setup Guide for macOS and Linux

> Easily install PrimeIntellect-ai/prime-agent on macOS and Linux with our complete setup guide. Get started quickly using the self-installing script or build from source.

- Repository: [Prime Intellect/prime-agent](https://github.com/PrimeIntellect-ai/prime-agent)
- Tags: getting-started
- Published: 2026-08-16

---

**Prime Agent installs in seconds via a self‑installing shell script that auto‑resolves the latest release, verifies its SHA‑256 checksum, and runs a global npm install, or you can build directly from source using Node.js 22.8.0+.**

Prime Agent is an open‑source coding agent distributed by PrimeIntellect‑ai. Whether you want the latest stable release, early beta builds, or a development checkout from GitHub, the repository provides automated tooling to get you running quickly. This guide covers every installation method based on the actual source implementation in [`install.sh`](https://github.com/PrimeIntellect-ai/prime-agent/blob/main/install.sh).

## One‑Line Install: Stable Release

The fastest way to install Prime Agent is via the hosted installer script. This method works on macOS and Linux without manual dependency management.

```bash
curl -fsSL https://app.primeintellect.ai/prime-agent/install.sh | sh

```

After installation completes, start Prime Agent in any project directory:

```bash
cd /path/to/your/project
prime-agent

```

The installer performs five automated steps defined in [`install.sh`](https://github.com/PrimeIntellect-ai/prime-agent/blob/main/install.sh):

- `run_preflight_checks` – validates Node.js ≥20.6.0 and npm availability
- `resolve_prime_agent_version` – fetches the latest stable release
- `download_prime_agent_package` – pulls the versioned tarball
- `verify_prime_agent_package_checksum` – validates against `SHA256SUMS`
- `install_prime_agent_package` – executes `npm install -g` with environment flags

## Install Beta Releases

To install pre‑release builds from the beta channel, pass `beta` as an argument to the installer:

```bash
curl -fsSL https://app.primeintellect.ai/prime-agent/install.sh | sh -s -- beta

```

The `resolve_prime_agent_version` function in [`install.sh`](https://github.com/PrimeIntellect-ai/prime-agent/blob/main/install.sh) uses the `PRIME_AGENT_RELEASE_CHANNEL` environment variable (defaulting to `stable`) or the command‑line argument to select the appropriate release stream.

## Build and Run From Source

For development or customization, clone the repository and build locally. This requires **Node.js 22.8.0 or newer**.

```bash
git clone https://github.com/PrimeIntellect-ai/prime-agent
cd prime-agent
npm ci
./prime-agent.sh

```

The `npm ci` command installs exact dependencies from [`package-lock.json`](https://github.com/PrimeIntellect-ai/prime-agent/blob/main/package-lock.json). Running [`./prime-agent.sh`](https://github.com/PrimeIntellect-ai/prime-agent/blob/main/./prime-agent.sh) launches the agent directly from the source tree without a global install.

## How the Installer Handles Dependencies

### Node.js Auto‑Installation

If `run_preflight_checks` detects a missing or outdated Node.js runtime, the installer can bootstrap one via:

- **Homebrew** on macOS
- **apt** or **apk** on Linux distributions
- Standalone binary download as fallback

### Standalone Node PATH Configuration

When a standalone Node binary is installed, `configure_standalone_node_path` in [`install.sh`](https://github.com/PrimeIntellect-ai/prime-agent/blob/main/install.sh) automatically detects your shell profile (`~/.zshrc`, `~/.bashrc`, etc.) and inserts an `export PATH` entry. If automatic detection fails, it prints manual instructions for updating your PATH.

### Optional Runtime Bootstrapping

Set `PRIME_AGENT_BOOTSTRAP_KERNEL_ON_INSTALL=1` before running the installer to additionally fetch the IPython runtime and supplementary tools during installation.

## Installation Verification

After any install method, verify the installation by checking the binary path and version:

```bash
which prime-agent
prime-agent --version

```

The global npm install ensures `prime-agent` is available in your shell PATH for all subsequent sessions.

## Summary

- **Stable install**: `curl ... | sh` – fastest production setup
- **Beta install**: append `beta` argument for pre‑release builds
- **Source build**: `git clone` + `npm ci` + [`./prime-agent.sh`](https://github.com/PrimeIntellect-ai/prime-agent/blob/main/./prime-agent.sh) for development
- **Auto‑dependency handling**: Node.js and npm resolved automatically if missing
- **Security**: every release verifies against published SHA‑256 checksums

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What are the minimum system requirements for Prime Agent?

Prime Agent requires **Node.js 20.6.0 or newer** and a working `npm` installation. The installer supports macOS and Linux. Windows users should use WSL2 or build from source with a compatible Node environment.

### Can I install multiple versions of Prime Agent side by side?

The standard installer performs a global npm install, which overwrites existing versions. For side‑by‑side versions, use source checkouts in separate directories and launch via [`./prime-agent.sh`](https://github.com/PrimeIntellect-ai/prime-agent/blob/main/./prime-agent.sh) without global installation.

### Is the installer script safe to pipe directly to sh?

The installer downloads versioned releases with SHA‑256 verification via `verify_prime_agent_package_checksum` before execution. For additional security, download [`install.sh`](https://github.com/PrimeIntellect-ai/prime-agent/blob/main/install.sh) separately, inspect its contents, and run it locally with `sh install.sh`.

### How do I uninstall Prime Agent?

Run `npm uninstall -g prime-agent` to remove the globally installed package. If the installer added standalone Node to your PATH, manually remove the corresponding `export PATH` line from your shell profile.