--- title: "Server Environment Setup" slug: "server-environment-setup" updated: 2026-10-07T16:04:42Z published: 2026-10-07T16:04:42Z canonical: "developer.rocket.chat/server-environment-setup" --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://developer.rocket.chat/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Server Environment Setup This guide walks you through configuring your local development environment required to build, test, and modify the Rocket.Chat core server from source code. > [!WARNING] > ⚠️ This is not a deployment guide. If you want to deploy a workspace for your team or organization, refer to [Deploy Rocket.Chat](https://docs.rocket.chat/docs/deploy-rocketchat). The recommended deployment methods are [Docker](https://docs.rocket.chat/docs/deploy-with-docker-docker-compose) and [Kubernetes](https://docs.rocket.chat/docs/deploy-with-kubernetes). > [!NOTE] > Deno is no longer required for Rocket.Chat 8.9.0 and later. Choose the tab corresponding to your operating system: **Linux** ## Prerequisites - 12 GB RAM (16+ GB highly recommended) - Use a standard user account (not root) for setup. Avoid using sudo to prevent potential file permission issues. - Fork the [Rocket.Chat repository](https://github.com/RocketChat/Rocket.Chat) on GitHub. > [!NOTE] > The following steps use Ubuntu as the reference distribution, but apply to most Debian-based distributions. ## Step 1: Clone the Rocket.Chat Repo 1. Update system packages and install core build utilities: ```bash sudo apt update && sudo apt dist-upgrade -y sudo apt install git curl unzip make build-essential python3 g++ ``` 2. Clone the forked repository: ```bash git clone https://github.com//Rocket.Chat.git ``` 3. Navigate to the Rocket.Chat root directory: ```bash cd Rocket.Chat ``` > [!NOTE] > Unless otherwise specified, run all subsequent commands in this guide from this Rocket.Chat root directory. ## Step 2: Setting up Node.js and Yarn 1. Install [Node Version Manager (nvm)](https://github.com/nvm-sh/nvm) to manage Node.js versions required for Rocket.Chat: ```bash curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.40.6/install.sh | bash source ~/.bashrc nvm --version ``` 2. Inspect package.json to identify the required [Node.js](https://nodejs.org/en) version: ```bash cat package.json | grep -A4 engines | grep node ``` 3. Install that Node.js version with [nvm](https://github.com/nvm-sh/nvm), replacing `x.x.x` with the version from the previous step: ```bash nvm install x.x.x ``` 4. Verify the installed Node.js version: ```bash node -v ``` 5. Install Yarn globally and verify: ```bash npm install -g yarn yarn --version ``` ## Step 3: Installing Meteor Rocket.Chat pins its Meteor version in the [.meteor/release](https://github.com/RocketChat/Rocket.Chat/blob/develop/apps/meteor/.meteor/release) file. 1. From the Rocket.Chat directory, confirm the [Meteor](https://www.meteor.com/) version required by your Rocket.Chat project: ```bash cat apps/meteor/.meteor/release ``` 2. Install Meteor, replacing `x.x.x` with the version from the previous step: ```bash curl https://install.meteor.com/\?release\=x.x.x | sh ``` 3. After installation, verify the version: ```bash meteor --version ``` ## Step 4: Run the Rocket.Chat project The commands in this step must be run from the Rocket.Chat root folder. Otherwise, MongoDB will not start. 1. Install all the dependencies: ```bash yarn ``` 2. When completed, build and run the server by executing this command: ```bash yarn dsv ``` > [!NOTE] > - The first build can take ten or more minutes. Subsequent dev builds will take lesser time. > - During the build, you may notice warnings about peer or transitive dependencies. These are typically safe to ignore unless you are developing the specific features or modules that require them 3. After the build completes, open: ```plaintext http://localhost:3000 ``` You should see your Rocket.Chat workspace running locally. ## Step 5: Edit Rocket.Chat files You can use any code editor, but [Visual Studio Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/download) is recommended for the best development experience. - Launch your IDE and open the cloned repository folder in your IDE. - When you make changes to Rocket.Chat the server will automatically rebuild. - If the server stops after a change, restart it with: ```bash yarn dsv ``` **MacOS** This guide is suitable for macOS systems running on **Apple silicon** or **Intel processors.** ## Prerequisites Install the following dependencies before you begin: - [**Homebrew**](https://brew.sh/)**:** Package manager for macOS used to install required system dependencies. - [**Yarn**](https://classic.yarnpkg.com/lang/en/docs/install/#mac-stable)**:** Package manager used to install project dependencies. Verify that each dependency is installed: ```bash brew --version yarn --version ``` ## Step 1: Clone the Rocket.Chat repository 1. Fork the official [Rocket.Chat repository](https://github.com/RocketChat/Rocket.Chat) . 2. Clone your fork and navigate to the repository: ```bash git clone https://github.com//Rocket.Chat.git cd Rocket.Chat ``` > [!NOTE] > Unless otherwise specified, run all subsequent commands in this guide from this Rocket.Chat root directory. 3. Add the official Rocket.Chat repository as an upstream remote if you want to keep your fork synchronized: ```bash git remote add upstream https://github.com/RocketChat/Rocket.Chat ``` ## Step 2: Install Node.js 1. Install [Node Version Manager (nvm)](https://github.com/nvm-sh/nvm) to manage Node.js versions required for Rocket.Chat: ```bash brew install nvm ``` 2. Confirm nvm is version 0.39.2 or higher: ```bash nvm --version ``` 3. Check the Node.js version the project requires: ```bash cat package.json | grep -A4 engines | grep node ``` 4. Install the required Node.js version (replace `x.x.x` with the version shown above): ```bash nvm install x.x.x ``` 5. Check the node version installed by running: ```bash node -v ``` Ensure the output matches the required version. ## Step 3: Install Meteor Rocket.Chat pins its Meteor version in the [.meteor/release](https://github.com/RocketChat/Rocket.Chat/blob/develop/apps/meteor/.meteor/release) file. 1. From the Rocket.Chat root directory, confirm the [Meteor](https://www.meteor.com/) version required by your project: ```bash cat apps/meteor/.meteor/release ``` 2. Install Meteor, replacing `x.x.x` with the version from the previous step: ```bash curl https://install.meteor.com/\?release\=x.x.x | sh ``` 3. After installation, verify the version: ```bash meteor --version ``` ## Step 4: Run the Rocket.Chat project The commands in this step must be run from the Rocket.Chat root folder. Otherwise, MongoDB will not start. 1. Install all the dependencies: ```bash yarn ``` 2. Start your development server: ```bash yarn dsv ``` > [!NOTE] > - The first build can take ten or more minutes. Subsequent builds will take lesser time. > - During the build, you may notice warnings about peer or transitive dependencies. These are typically safe to ignore unless you are developing the specific features or modules that require them 3. After the build completes, open: ```plaintext http://localhost:3000 ``` You should see your Rocket.Chat workspace running locally. ## Step : Edit Rocket.Chat files You can use any code editor, but [Visual Studio Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/download) is recommended for the best development experience. - Launch your IDE and open the cloned repository folder in your IDE. - When you make changes to Rocket.Chat the server will automatically rebuild. - If the server stops after a change, restart it with: ```bash yarn dsv ``` **Windows** ## Prerequisites - [WSL 2](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install) (Ubuntu distribution) - 12 GB RAM (16+ GB highly recommended) - Four or more cores on CPU (at least 3 GHz boosted, 4.2 GHz or higher recommended) - 80 GB of available fast SSD storage (PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD recommended) - Fork the [Rocket.Chat repository](https://github.com/RocketChat/Rocket.Chat) on GitHub. > [!NOTE] > All the setup steps below for the Windows development environment must be performed within the Ubuntu WSL 2 shell. ## Step 1: Clone the Rocket.Chat Repo 1. Update system packages and install core build utilities: ```bash sudo apt update && sudo apt dist-upgrade -y sudo apt install git curl unzip make build-essential python3 g++ ``` 2. Clone the forked repository: ```bash git clone https://github.com//Rocket.Chat.git ``` 3. Navigate to the Rocket.Chat root directory: ```bash cd Rocket.Chat ``` > [!NOTE] > Unless otherwise specified, run all subsequent commands in this guide from this Rocket.Chat root directory. ## Step 2: Setting up Node.js and Yarn 1. Install [Node Version Manager (nvm)](https://github.com/nvm-sh/nvm) to manage Node.js versions required for Rocket.Chat: ```bash curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.40.6/install.sh | bash source ~/.bashrc nvm --version ``` 2. Inspect package.json to identify the required [Node.js](https://nodejs.org/en) version: ```bash cat package.json | grep -A4 engines | grep node ``` 3. Install that Node.js version with [nvm](https://github.com/nvm-sh/nvm), replacing `x.x.x` with the version from the previous step: ```bash nvm install x.x.x ``` 4. Verify the installed Node.js version: ```bash node -v ``` 5. Install Yarn globally and verify: ```bash npm install -g yarn yarn --version ``` ## Step 3: Installing Meteor Rocket.Chat pins its Meteor version in the [.meteor/release](https://github.com/RocketChat/Rocket.Chat/blob/develop/apps/meteor/.meteor/release) file. 1. From the Rocket.Chat directory, confirm the [Meteor](https://www.meteor.com/) version required by your Rocket.Chat project: ```bash cat apps/meteor/.meteor/release ``` 2. Install Meteor, replacing `x.x.x` with the version from the previous step: ```bash curl https://install.meteor.com/\?release\=x.x.x | sh ``` 3. After installation, verify the version: ```bash meteor --version ``` ## Step 4: Run the Rocket.Chat project The commands in this step must be run from the Rocket.Chat root folder. Otherwise, MongoDB will not start. 1. Install all the dependencies: ```bash yarn ``` 2. When completed, build and run the server by executing this command: ```bash yarn dsv ``` > [!NOTE] > - The first build can take ten or more minutes. Subsequent dev builds will take lesser time. > - During the build, you may notice warnings about peer or transitive dependencies. These are typically safe to ignore unless you are developing the specific features or modules that require them 3. After the build completes, open: ```plaintext http://localhost:3000 ``` You should see your Rocket.Chat workspace running locally. ## Step 5: Edit Rocket.Chat files You can use any code editor, but [Visual Studio Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/download) is recommended for the best development experience. - Launch your IDE and open the cloned repository folder in your IDE. - When you make changes to Rocket.Chat the server will automatically rebuild. - If the server stops after a change, restart it with: ```bash yarn dsv ``` ## **References** If you encounter any issues during the setup, refer to the [development](/docs/troubleshooting) [environment troubleshooting](/docs/troubleshooting) guide for assistance. Now that your development server is running, you can contribute to the Rocket.Chat server! See [participate in Rocket.Chat development](/v1/docs/participate-in-rocketchat-development) to learn more about Rocket.Chat contributions.