> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://lab68dev.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Quickstart

## Prerequisites

* Node.js 18+
* pnpm 8+ (`corepack enable` recommended)
* A Gemini API key for AI chat features (optional but required for `/api/chat`)

## Step 1 — Clone the repository

```bash theme={null}
git clone https://github.com/lab68dev/lab68dev-platform.git
cd lab68dev-platform
```

If you fork the project, adjust the Git URL accordingly.

## Step 2 — Install dependencies

pnpm is the supported package manager.

```bash theme={null}
pnpm install
```

This command also sets up the TypeScript, ESLint, and Tailwind configurations used throughout the monorepo.

## Step 3 — Configure environment variables

Create `.env.local` in the project root:

```bash theme={null}
cp .env.example .env.local # if you have a template
```

Add the variables you need for local development:

```ini theme={null}
GEMINI_API_KEY="your-google-gemini-key"
```

<Tip>Wrap keys in quotes only if they contain special characters. The chat API already strips accidental quotes and whitespace.</Tip>

## Step 4 — Run the development server

```bash theme={null}
pnpm dev
```

Visit `http://localhost:3000` to explore the workspace. Hot reloading keeps the UI in sync as you edit files.

## Step 5 — Validate the setup

Run the recommended checks before opening a pull request:

```bash theme={null}
pnpm lint
pnpm build
```

The build step runs Next.js static analysis and ensures routes bundle correctly.

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Tour the platform" icon="map" href="/lab68dev-platform">
    Review each dashboard module and identify the areas you want to customize first.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Contribute" icon="laptop-code" href="/development">
    Learn the branching, commit, and translation workflows used by the Lab68 team.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Integrate AI" icon="comments" href="/api-reference/chat">
    Explore the Gemini-backed endpoint powering the AI tools surface.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Open issues" icon="github" href="https://github.com/lab68dev/lab68dev-platform/issues">
    Pick up community tasks or report bugs directly on GitHub.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>