How to Install ruvnet/ruflo: Complete CLI Setup Guide

Install ruvnet/ruflo by running the one-liner curl -fsSL https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/ruvnet/claude-flow@main/scripts/install.sh | bash with Node.js 20+, or use npx ruflo@latest init for a minimal local run without installation.

Ruflo is an enterprise-grade AI-agent orchestration platform distributed as a Node.js CLI. This guide covers how to install ruvnet/ruflo using the official one-line installer, global npm installation, or local npx execution, with optional MCP server configuration for Claude Code integration.

Prerequisites for Installing ruvnet/ruflo

Before running the installer, verify your environment meets the minimum requirements defined in package.json at line 84.

• Node.js 20.0.0 or higher: The engines field in package.json explicitly requires Node ≥ 20.0.0.
• Package manager: npm, pnpm, or bun must be available for dependency resolution.
• curl: Required to download the installation script from the CDN.

Verify your Node version:

node -v

Installation Methods for ruvnet/ruflo

The repository provides multiple installation paths depending on your workflow requirements.

Method 1: One-Line Installer (Recommended)

The default installation method downloads scripts/install.sh from the project's CDN and executes the setup automatically. This approach is documented in the README at lines 53-66.

Run the following command:

curl -fsSL https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/ruvnet/claude-flow@main/scripts/install.sh | bash

This command performs the following actions:

• Downloads the latest install.sh script
• Installs the ruflo binary via npm i -g or a local npx fallback
• Optionally configures the MCP server if --setup-mcp is passed
• Runs diagnostics when --doctor is specified

Method 2: Global Installation with Flags

For production environments or frequent use, install ruvnet/ruflo globally with specific configuration flags. The installer supports several options documented in the README at lines 45-55.

curl -fsSL https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/ruvnet/claude-flow@main/scripts/install.sh \
  | bash -s -- --global --full

Available flags include:

• --global or -g: Installs via npm i -g ruflo@latest for system-wide access
• --full or -f: Performs global installation plus MCP setup and diagnostics
• --minimal or -m: Skips optional dependencies for a ~15 second install
• --setup-mcp: Automatically configures the MCP server for Claude Code integration

Method 3: Minimal Local Execution (No Install)

For one-off usage or environments where you cannot install global packages, use npx to run ruflo without permanent installation:

npx ruflo@latest init

This command downloads and executes the latest version temporarily, referencing the entry point at bin/cli.js.

Configuring MCP Integration for Claude Code

After installation, enable the Model Context Protocol (MCP) server to allow Claude Code to invoke ruflo's 170+ tools. The MCP implementations reside in v3/mcp/.

Register the MCP server:

claude mcp add ruflo -- npx ruflo@latest mcp start

This configuration is documented in the README at lines 121-130. The --setup-mcp flag in the installer performs this step automatically during installation.

Verifying Your ruvnet/ruflo Installation

Confirm the CLI is properly installed and accessible:

ruflo --version
ruflo --help

If installed globally, the ruflo command should resolve to bin/cli.js. For local installations, use npx ruflo@latest --help.

Summary

• Install ruvnet/ruflo using the one-liner curl -fsSL https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/ruvnet/claude-flow@main/scripts/install.sh | bash for automated setup.
• Requires Node.js 20+ as specified in package.json at line 84.
• Choose your mode: --global for system-wide access, --minimal for fast setup, or --full for complete MCP configuration.
• Run without installing using npx ruflo@latest init for temporary access.
• Enable Claude Code integration via claude mcp add ruflo -- npx ruflo@latest mcp start or the --setup-mcp flag.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Node.js version is required to install ruvnet/ruflo?

Ruflo requires Node.js 20.0.0 or higher, as defined in the engines field of package.json at line 84. Verify your version with node -v before running the installer.

Can I install ruvnet/ruflo without using curl or bash?

Yes. If you cannot run shell scripts, use npx ruflo@latest init to execute the CLI without installation, or manually run npm i -g ruflo@latest if you have npm access but restricted curl permissions.

How do I enable MCP server integration after installing ruflo?

Run claude mcp add ruflo -- npx ruflo@latest mcp start to register the MCP server with Claude Code. Alternatively, reinstall using the one-liner with the --setup-mcp flag to automate this configuration during setup.

Where is the ruflo CLI entry point located in the source code?

The CLI entry point is bin/cli.js, which contains the shebang #!/usr/bin/env node and initializes the command-line interface. This file is executed when you run the ruflo command after global installation.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instagit": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "instagit@latest"]
    }
  }
}