Local development

Run the backend and frontend in separate terminals.

Requirements

• Node.js 20.19+ or 22.12+
• npm 10
• Git

Install dependencies

From the repository root:

npm run install:all
npm install

Configure the apps

cp backend/.env.example backend/.env
cp frontend/.env.example frontend/.env

Replace the generated path placeholders in backend/.env:

DATABASE_URL=file:./dev.db
BACKUP_DIR=./backups

Start the backend

cd backend
npm run dev

Start the frontend

In another terminal:

cd frontend
npm run dev

Open http://localhost:6767, then follow the first-run screens below. Select the arrows to move from authentication setup through creating an administrator and opening your first drawing.

Step 1 of 5

Enable authentication

When a fresh instance asks you to choose an authentication mode, select Enable Authentication to secure the workspace.

Get the one-time setup code

The administrator form opens. Read the BOOTSTRAP SETUP entry in your backend logs using the command below.

docker compose -f docker-compose.prod.yml logs --tail=200 backend

Enter the administrator details

Enter your name, email, password, and the one-time code from your own server. Select Create account. The screenshot shows a disposable example account.

Start with an empty workspace

After creating the administrator account, you are signed in. All Drawings is initially empty; no sample drawings are added automatically.

Create your first drawing

Select New Drawing in the empty workspace. The Excalidraw editor opens with an untitled, blank canvas.