Kaneo README for Developers: Complete Guide to Setup, Deployment, and Contribution

Yes, the Kaneo repository includes a comprehensive top‑level README.md that provides all essential information developers need to understand, build, and contribute to the project, from quick‑start deployment to detailed development setup.

The Kaneo codebase is an open‑source project management platform built as a monorepo with a Hono backend and React frontend. Whether you want to deploy a production instance or hack on the source, the README and its companion documents form a complete developer onboarding path according to the usekaneo/kaneo source code.

What the Kaneo README.md Contains

The README.md file at the repository root serves as the primary entry point. It organizes information into five key areas that address the full developer lifecycle.

Project Overview and Philosophy

The README opens with a concise description of Kaneo's purpose: a lightweight, self‑hosted project management tool emphasizing speed, privacy, and developer ergonomics. This section establishes the core values that guide architectural decisions and contribution standards.

Quick‑Start Deployment Options

Kaneo offers three deployment paths, each documented with copy‑paste ready commands:

• drim CLI – One‑click automated setup that provisions TLS, database, and services
• Docker Compose – Standard containerized stack with PostgreSQL
• Helm chart – Kubernetes deployment via the charts/kaneo/ directory

These options let developers evaluate Kaneo in minutes before diving into source modifications.

Development Setup in the Kaneo README

The README provides explicit step‑by‑step instructions for local development that align with the monorepo structure defined in CLAUDE.md.

Clone and Install Dependencies

# Clone the repository

git clone https://github.com/usekaneo/kaneo.git
cd kaneo

# Install all monorepo dependencies

pnpm install

The project uses pnpm workspaces to manage the apps/api/ and apps/web/ packages.

Configure Environment Variables

# Copy the sample environment file and edit required values

cp .env.sample .env

The README directs developers to set critical secrets including AUTH_SECRET and POSTGRES_PASSWORD, with a pointer to ENVIRONMENT_SETUP.md for exhaustive variable documentation.

Launch Development Servers

# Start both API and web servers in watch mode

pnpm dev

This command concurrently runs the Hono backend and React frontend with hot‑reload enabled.

Docker‑Compose Deployment from the README

For containerized local development or production deployment, the README includes a complete compose.yml specification (lines 74‑104 of README.md):

services:
  postgres:
    image: postgres:16-alpine
    env_file: [.env]
    ports: ["5432:5432"]
    volumes: [postgres_data:/var/lib/postgresql/data]

  kaneo:
    image: ghcr.io/usekaneo/kaneo:latest
    ports: ["5173:5173"]
    env_file: [.env]
    depends_on:
      postgres:
        condition: service_healthy

volumes:
  postgres_data:

Deploy with:

docker compose up -d

Companion Documentation Beyond the README

The README strategically delegates detailed topics to specialized files, creating a documentation hierarchy that scales with developer needs.

CONTRIBUTING.md

Located at the repository root, this document specifies:

• Pull request workflow and branch naming conventions
• Code style requirements (enforced via the monorepo's linting setup)
• Testing procedures and CI expectations

ENVIRONMENT_SETUP.md

This file contains the exhaustive reference for all environment variables:

• Required variables for core functionality
• Optional variables for feature toggles
• Troubleshooting guidance for common configuration errors

CLAUDE.md

An internal conventions document that defines:

• Monorepo package structure (apps/, packages/, charts/)
• Build commands and tooling versions
• Linting and formatting standards

Kubernetes Helm Chart Documentation

For Kubernetes deployments, charts/kaneo/README.md provides values reference and installation instructions.

Automated Deployment with drim CLI

The README documents the fastest path to production:

curl -fsSL https://assets.kaneo.app/install.sh | sh
drim setup

The drim tool automates TLS certificate provisioning, database initialization, and service orchestration—ideal for developers who want to run Kaneo without manual infrastructure configuration.

Key File Reference for Kaneo Developers

File	Path	Purpose
Primary developer guide	README.md	Overview, deployment, dev setup
Contribution workflow	CONTRIBUTING.md	PR guidelines, testing, style
Environment reference	ENVIRONMENT_SETUP.md	Variable specifications
Internal conventions	CLAUDE.md	Monorepo structure, tooling
Backend source	apps/api/	Hono + PostgreSQL implementation
Frontend source	apps/web/	React + TanStack implementation
Helm documentation	charts/kaneo/README.md	Kubernetes deployment guide

Summary

• The Kaneo README.md provides comprehensive developer onboarding with project overview, three deployment methods, and step‑by‑step local development instructions.
• Quick deployment options include the drim CLI for automated setup, Docker Compose for containerized stacks, and Helm charts for Kubernetes.
• Local development requires pnpm install, .env configuration with secrets like AUTH_SECRET, and pnpm dev to start both servers.
• Companion documents extend the README: CONTRIBUTING.md for contribution standards, ENVIRONMENT_SETUP.md for environment variables, and CLAUDE.md for internal conventions.
• Source code organization follows a clear monorepo structure with apps/api/ for the backend and apps/web/ for the frontend.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Kaneo README include production deployment instructions?

Yes, the README documents production‑ready deployment via the drim CLI for automated infrastructure, Docker Compose for standard container orchestration, and a Helm chart in charts/kaneo/ for Kubernetes environments. Each method includes copy‑paste configuration and verification steps.

What environment variables are required to run Kaneo locally?

The README requires AUTH_SECRET for session encryption and POSTGRES_PASSWORD for database access at minimum. For the complete variable specification—including optional features and troubleshooting—developers should consult ENVIRONMENT_SETUP.md as linked from the README.

How do I contribute code to the Kaneo project?

Follow the workflow in CONTRIBUTING.md, which the README references for pull request procedures, branch naming, code style enforcement, and testing requirements. The monorepo uses pnpm workspaces, so all commands run from the repository root.

Is there documentation for the Kubernetes Helm chart?

Yes, the charts/kaneo/README.md file provides dedicated documentation for Kubernetes deployments, including values reference, configuration examples, and upgrade procedures. The main README links to this resource for operators deploying to clusters.

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