Prerequisites
System requirements and setup
Prerequisites
Before installing AIWG, ensure you have the following requirements.
Required
Node.js ≥20.0.0
node --version # Should show v20.x.x or higher
npm --versionAIWG's package runtime supports Node 20 or newer. For new installs, prefer the current LTS line, Node 24.
Contributor and release workflows have stricter npm requirements:
| Use case | Requirement | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Install and run AIWG | Node 20+ | Matches the package `engines.node` floor |
| Change dependencies or regenerate lockfiles | npm 11.5+ | Required for the committed `min-release-age=7` gate |
| Publish AIWG releases | Node 24 in the release workflow | Current npm 11.x plus npm trusted-publishing support |
Installation options:
| Platform | Command | |
|---|---|---|
| macOS (recommended) | `nvm install 24 && nvm use 24` | |
| macOS (Homebrew) | `brew install node@24` | |
| Ubuntu/Debian | `curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_24.x \ | sudo -E bash - && sudo apt-get install -y nodejs` |
| Fedora/RHEL | `curl -fsSL https://rpm.nodesource.com/setup_24.x \ | sudo bash - && sudo dnf install -y nodejs` |
| NVM (All platforms) | `nvm install 24 && nvm use 24` | |
| Windows | Use WSL2, then follow Ubuntu instructions |
macOS users should start with the macOS Install Guide. npm's own documentation recommends a Node version manager on macOS to avoid global-package permission errors such as `EACCES` under `/usr/local/lib/node_modules`.
AI Platform (Choose One or More)
| Platform | Best For | Install |
|---|---|---|
| Claude Code | Multi-agent orchestration, artifact generation | claude.ai/code |
| Warp Terminal | Terminal-native AI, command-line workflows | warp.dev |
| Factory AI | Custom droid workflows | factory.ai |
| Cursor | IDE-native rules | cursor.sh |
| GitHub Copilot | GitHub integration | VS Code extension |
Use multiple platforms for best results:
aiwg use sdlc # Claude Code (default)
aiwg use sdlc --provider warp # Warp Terminal
aiwg use sdlc --provider factory # Factory AI
aiwg use sdlc --provider cursor # Cursor IDEPlatform Support Status
| Platform | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Claude Code | ✅ Tested & Validated | Multi-agent orchestration, native plugins |
| GitHub Copilot | ✅ Tested & Validated | copilot-instructions.md |
| Warp Terminal | ✅ Tested & Validated | Terminal-native workflows |
| Factory AI | ✅ Tested & Validated | Native droid format, AGENTS.md |
| OpenCode | ✅ Tested & Validated | AGENTS.md |
| Cursor | ✅ Tested & Validated | Native rules format, AGENTS.md |
| OpenAI/Codex | ✅ Tested & Validated | Native prompts format, AGENTS.md |
| Windsurf | 🟡 Experimental | Should work, not validated |
Operating Systems
| OS | Status |
|---|---|
| macOS (Intel + Apple Silicon) | ✅ Supported |
| Linux (Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Arch, RHEL) | ✅ Supported |
| WSL2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux) | ✅ Supported |
| Native Windows (PowerShell/CMD) | ❌ Not supported — Use WSL2 |
Optional (Recommended)
Git
Required for `aiwg -new` project scaffolding and version control.
git --version
# Install if needed:
# macOS: brew install git
# Ubuntu: sudo apt-get install git
# Fedora: sudo dnf install gitQuick Compatibility Check
# Check Node.js and npm
node --version && echo "Node.js present" || echo "Node.js missing"
npm --version && echo "npm present" || echo "npm missing"
# Check Claude Code (if using)
claude --version 2>/dev/null && echo "✅ Claude Code" || echo "ℹ️ Claude Code not installed"
# Check Factory AI (if using)
factory --version 2>/dev/null && echo "✅ Factory AI" || echo "ℹ️ Factory AI not installed"
# Check Git (optional)
git --version && echo "✅ Git" || echo "ℹ️ Git optional"All checks passed? Continue to Quick Start