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Slik Dev is distributed as an npm package and run via npx, which means there is nothing to globally install before you can scaffold your first project. This page covers the system requirements, how npx works, the optional global install approach, and how to verify your environment is ready.

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System requirements

Slik Dev has minimal requirements. You need:
  • Node.js v18 or later (LTS release recommended)
  • npm v7 or later (bundled with Node.js v15+), or an equivalent package manager such as yarn or pnpm
  • A terminal with internet access to fetch the package on first run
npm v7+ is required because Slik Dev uses workspaces and peer dependency resolution features introduced in that version. Running npm --version after installing Node.js will confirm you have a compatible release.

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Supported operating systems

Slik Dev runs on all major operating systems:

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How npx works

npx is a package runner that ships with npm. When you run npx create-slik@latest, it:
  1. Checks whether create-slik is already cached locally
  2. Downloads the latest published version from the npm registry if it is not cached
  3. Executes the package immediately without permanently installing it to your system
This means you always run the latest version of the CLI without managing upgrades manually, and your global node_modules stays clean.

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Run Slik without installing

The recommended approach is to use npx directly every time:
Replace my-app with the name you want for your project directory. The CLI will take it from there.

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Optional: install globally

If you prefer to have the create-slik command available without npx, you can install it globally:
1

Install the package globally

2

Run the global command

Once installed, you can scaffold new projects without npx:
3

Keep it up to date

Because the global install pins a specific version, you will need to update it manually when new releases ship:
Using npx create-slik@latest avoids this maintenance entirely — it always pulls the newest published version automatically.

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Verify your environment

Before scaffolding, confirm your versions are compatible:
1

Check Node.js

You should see v18.0.0 or higher. If the command is not found, download Node.js and install the LTS release for your operating system.
2

Check npm

You should see 7.0.0 or higher. npm is installed automatically alongside Node.js, so upgrading Node.js is usually sufficient.
3

Confirm npx is available

Any output here confirms npx is ready. It ships with npm and does not require a separate install.
If you are on an older Node.js release (v16 or below), some dependencies in the generated project — particularly Next.js and Prisma — may not work correctly. Upgrade to Node.js v18 LTS before proceeding.

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Installing Node.js

If Node.js is not yet on your machine, the fastest way to install it depends on your operating system:
  • macOS: Use Homebrew — brew install node — or download the installer from nodejs.org
  • Linux: Use your distribution’s package manager, or use nvm to manage multiple Node versions
  • Windows: Download the installer from nodejs.org, or use nvm-windows
nvm (Node Version Manager) is especially useful if you work across multiple projects that require different Node.js versions. It lets you switch versions per project without affecting your system installation.

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Next steps

Once your environment is verified, head to the Quickstart to scaffold your first Slik project.

Quickstart

Run npx create-slik@latest and have a full-stack SaaS app running in under 60 seconds.

Introduction

Learn what Slik Engine generates and how it compares to traditional boilerplates.