Installation

Learn how to install and set up Quack on your machine.

Before You Start

Quack is built on top of Claude Code, Anthropic's AI coding agent. Before installing Quack, you need to set up three things: Node.js, an Anthropic account with an active subscription, and the Claude Code CLI.

1. Install Node.js

Quack requires Node.js 22 or later. The easiest way to install it is from the official website.

Go to nodejs.org and download the LTS (Long Term Support) version.

macOS:

1. Download the macOS installer (.pkg file) from nodejs.org
2. Open the downloaded file and follow the installation wizard
3. Verify the installation by opening a terminal and running:

   bash
   node --version
   npm --version
   

Windows:

1. Download the Windows installer (.msi file) from nodejs.org
2. Run the installer and follow the setup steps (leave all default options checked)
3. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell and verify:

   bash
   node --version
   npm --version
   

Both commands should print a version number. If they do, Node.js is ready.

2. Get an Anthropic Subscription

Quack uses Claude Code under the hood, which requires a Claude Pro or Team plan from Anthropic.

:::callout[info] A free Anthropic account is not sufficient to run Claude Code. You need an active Pro or Team subscription. :::

1. Go to console.anthropic.com
2. Create an account or sign in
3. Subscribe to the Pro or Team plan
4. Once subscribed, you are ready to authenticate Claude Code in the next step

3. Install and Authenticate Claude Code CLI

Claude Code is the CLI that Quack uses to run AI agents. Install it globally with npm:

bash
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

After installation, authenticate with your Anthropic account:

bash
claude login

This opens a browser window where you log in with the same account you subscribed with. Once authenticated, Claude Code is ready.

:::callout[info] For full Claude Code documentation, visit docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/claude-code. :::

System Requirements

Before installing Quack, ensure your system meets these requirements:

Operating System

• macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or later (currently the only supported platform)

Software Requirements

• Node.js 18.17.0 or higher
• npm (comes with Node.js)
• Rust 1.77.2 or higher (for building from source)

Download Quack

Option 1: Pre-built Binaries (Recommended)

Download the latest release for your platform:

macOS:

1. Download the DMG file from GitHub Releases
2. Open the downloaded DMG file
3. Drag Quack into your Applications folder
4. Launch Quack from Applications

Note: quack-app repository is currently private. Contact the team for access to the DMG file.

First Launch

After launching Quack for the first time:

1. Grant permissions when prompted (terminal access, file system)
2. Create your first agent (see below)

Setting up Your First Agent

Quack is a multi-agentic IDE, so you need to create at least one agent to start working:

Step 1: Create an Agent

1. Click the "+" button in the Agents panel
2. Configure your agent:
   • Name: Give your agent a meaningful name (e.g., "Frontend Dev", "Code Reviewer")
   • Personality: Define the agent's role and behavior
   • API Key: Enter your Anthropic API key from console.anthropic.com
   • Skills: Select which skills the agent should have access to
   • Droids: Choose which droids (subagents) the agent can use
3. Click "Create Agent"

Step 2: Login to Claude

1. Open a terminal in your project directory
2. Run the Claude login command:

   bash
   claude /login
   

3. Follow the authentication flow

Step 3: Test Your Setup

1. Navigate to the Chat panel
2. Send a message to your agent
3. Try asking: "Can you help me understand this project?"

Verify Installation

To verify Quack is working correctly:

1. Open a new terminal tab (Cmd/Ctrl + T)
2. Run a simple command: echo "Hello Quack!"
3. Ask Claude a question in the chat panel
4. Check that file explorer shows your project files

If everything works, you're ready to start using Quack!

Troubleshooting

Terminal Not Working

If terminals aren't launching:

• macOS: Grant Terminal access in System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Developer Tools
• Check shell configuration in ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc
• Restart Quack after granting permissions

Claude Authentication Issues

If claude /login fails:

• Verify your API key is correct in the agent configuration
• Check you have credits in your Anthropic account
• Ensure you're connected to the internet
• Try creating a new agent with a fresh API key

File Explorer Not Showing Files

If file explorer is empty:

• Navigate to a project directory using the path input
• Check file permissions
• Try refreshing (Cmd/Ctrl + R)

Next: First Steps → Previous: ← Introduction