Setup tutorial by Sriram

OpenAlice Setup Guide

The simple path: install the basic tools, run OpenAlice from source, open the local UI, then connect the agent or LLM provider you already use.

  • Practical setup
  • Beginner-readable
  • Business workflow focus
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Simple setup

Run OpenAlice locally first, then connect the model.

OpenAlice is an AI trading workbench that runs on your own machine. At the moment, the easiest setup is to clone the repository, install the Node packages, and start the local dev app.

Important: OpenAlice is experimental trading software. Do not use it for live trading with real funds until you understand the risks and have tested the workflow carefully.

What you need

Node.js 22+Runs the OpenAlice backend and development tools.
pnpm 10+Installs the monorepo packages.
GitDownloads the OpenAlice source code.
Agent CLIUse the CLI you prefer, such as Claude Code, Codex, opencode, Pi, or shell. OpenAlice uses the CLI inside workspaces.
LLM accessUse your existing CLI login, or add your preferred API-key provider in the OpenAlice AI Provider vault.

macOS install

  1. Install Homebrew if you do not already have it.
  2. Install Node.js and Git.
brew install node git
npm install -g pnpm
  1. Check the versions. Node should be version 22 or newer, and pnpm should be version 10 or newer.
node --version
pnpm --version
git --version
  1. Install and log in to the agent CLI you want OpenAlice to use. For example, run claude once for Claude Code, or run codex login for Codex.

Windows install

  1. Install Node.js 22 or newer.
  2. Install Git for Windows. During setup, keep the option that makes Git usable from the Windows command line.
  3. Open Git Bash. This matters because OpenAlice workspaces need bash and POSIX tools.
  4. Install pnpm.
npm install -g pnpm
  1. Check the versions.
node --version
pnpm --version
git --version
bash --version

If you prefer WSL2, run the same source setup inside WSL2. Plain PowerShell or cmd.exe alone is not enough for OpenAlice workspaces because they do not provide the needed bash tools.

Download and start OpenAlice

Use the same commands on macOS Terminal, Git Bash, or WSL2.

git clone https://github.com/TraderAlice/OpenAlice.git
cd OpenAlice
pnpm install
pnpm dev

Wait until the terminal shows that the engine has started and the web plugin is listening. Then open the UI URL printed by the terminal. It is usually http://localhost:5173, but if that port is busy OpenAlice may print another local URL.

Connect the LLM

Keep this simple. OpenAlice does not need you to build a model server first. It runs the model loop through the agent CLI inside a workspace.

Easiest pathInstall and log in to your preferred agent CLI, then choose that CLI when you create or use a workspace.
API-key pathOpen the OpenAlice Web UI, go to the AI Provider vault, add your preferred LLM provider, choose the supported wire shape, and save the credential there.
Do not do thisDo not paste API keys into prompts, README files, screenshots, or project notes.

If you are not sure which route to use, start with the CLI login route. Once OpenAlice is running, add the API-key provider only if your workflow needs it.

First test

  1. Open the local UI URL printed by pnpm dev.
  2. Open Chat or Workspaces.
  3. Create a small workspace using your chosen agent CLI.
  4. Ask a harmless test question, such as: Summarize what this workspace can do.
  5. If the workspace asks you to log in, open a terminal, log in to the CLI again, then restart pnpm dev.

Final checklist

  • Node.js is version 22 or newer.
  • pnpm is version 10 or newer.
  • Git works from your terminal.
  • On Windows, bash works from Git Bash or WSL2.
  • pnpm install completed inside the OpenAlice folder.
  • pnpm dev printed the local UI URL.
  • Your agent CLI or LLM provider is connected.
  • No API key is saved inside the project files.

Source links

Sriram Varadarajan Sriram VaradarajanReplies personally

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