Factory
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1. Set up your computer

You do this once, for each computer. It takes about 15 minutes.

You start with: a computer and a GitHub account.

You finish with: each tool installed and signed in, Herdr open, and new-project on your path.

#Before you start

  • Linux or an Apple silicon Mac. The factory has only run on Linux so far.
  • Node.js 24 or later.
  • A Claude plan that can run Claude Code.
  • A copy of the factory-kit folder. It is private for now, so ask its owner.

#The steps

  1. #Install the tools

    Install git, jq, the GitHub CLI gh, the AWS CLI aws, and Claude Code claude. Then sign in:

    gh auth login
aws sso login
claude

  2. #Check the tools

    Paste this prompt into Claude Code. It installs nothing until you say yes.

    Check this computer for the factory. For each tool, say if it is there and its version: git, node (24 or later), npm, jq, gh, aws, claude. Then check two logins, and do not print a token: `gh auth status` and `aws sts get-caller-identity`. Give me one table. For each tool that is missing, give the command to install it on this system, and ask me before you run it.

    You should see: a table with each tool present.

  3. #Install Herdr

    Herdr is a desktop app for terminals and agents. It shows the Factory panel.

    curl -fsSL https://releases.herdr.dev/app/install.sh | sh

    This installs the app, and hc, its command line tool, in ~/.local/bin. Check them, then open the app:

    herdr-app --version
hc --version
herdr-app

    You should see: two version numbers, then the Herdr window. These docs use herdr-app 0.1.13 and hc 0.1.18.

  4. #Put factory-kit on your path

    Keep the folder where it can stay, because each command runs from it. Add this line to your shell profile, with your own path:

    export PATH="$HOME/code/factory-kit/bin:$PATH"

    Open a new terminal, and run:

    new-project

    You should see: a line that starts with usage: new-project.

#You are done when

  • gh auth status says that you are signed in.
  • aws sts get-caller-identity prints your account.
  • The Herdr window opens.
  • new-project prints its usage.

#Next

2. Set up AWS and GitHub.