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

# Quick start

> Get InsightHub running locally with or without an external database.

InsightHub is a Next.js application. The fastest way to run it locally is **Lite mode**, which uses a built-in SQLite database and local credentials — no external services required beyond an Alquimia Runtime instance.

## Prerequisites

* **Node.js 20+**
* A running **Alquimia Runtime** instance (its URL becomes `ASSISTANT_BASEURL`)

## Lite mode (no database setup)

Lite mode replaces PostgreSQL with SQLite and Keycloak with local-credentials login. It is designed for development and demos — zero infrastructure besides Node.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Install dependencies">
    ```bash theme={null}
    npm install
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure your environment">
    ```bash theme={null}
    cp .env.example .env.local
    ```

    Open `.env.local` and set at minimum:

    ```bash theme={null}
    # Lite database — no PostgreSQL needed
    DB_STRATEGY=lite
    DATABASE_URL=file:.data/lite.db

    # Lite auth — local credentials
    AUTH_STRATEGY=lite
    AUTH_LITE_USERS='[{"id":"1","name":"Admin","email":"admin@example.com","password":"changeme","role":"admin"}]'

    # Alquimia Runtime
    ASSISTANT_BASEURL=http://localhost:8080
    ALQUIMIA_ASSISTANT_API_KEY=your-api-key

    # NextAuth
    NEXTAUTH_SECRET=a-random-secret-string
    NEXTAUTH_URL=http://localhost:3000
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start the dev server">
    ```bash theme={null}
    npm run dev
    ```

    Open [http://localhost:3000](http://localhost:3000).
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  The SQLite database and tables are created automatically on first startup. You do not need to run migrations in Lite mode.
</Tip>

## Production setup (PostgreSQL + Keycloak)

For production deployments with a real database and enterprise SSO:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Install dependencies">
    ```bash theme={null}
    npm install
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure your environment">
    Copy `.env.example` to `.env.local`. Set `DB_STRATEGY=postgres` with a valid `DATABASE_URL`, and `AUTH_STRATEGY=keycloak` with your Keycloak credentials.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Run database migrations">
    ```bash theme={null}
    npm run db:deploy
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start the server">
    ```bash theme={null}
    npm run build && npm run start
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Key environment variables

| Variable                     | Description                                                      |
| ---------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `DB_STRATEGY`                | `postgres` (default) or `lite` (SQLite)                          |
| `DATABASE_URL`               | PostgreSQL connection string, or `file:.data/lite.db` for SQLite |
| `AUTH_STRATEGY`              | `keycloak` or `lite`                                             |
| `NEXTAUTH_SECRET`            | NextAuth signing secret                                          |
| `NEXTAUTH_URL`               | App base URL (e.g. `http://localhost:3000`)                      |
| `ASSISTANT_BASEURL`          | Alquimia Runtime base URL                                        |
| `ALQUIMIA_ASSISTANT_API_KEY` | Alquimia API key                                                 |
| `AUTH_LITE_USERS`            | JSON array of users *(lite only)*                                |
| `AUTH_KEYCLOAK_ID`           | Keycloak client ID *(keycloak only)*                             |
| `AUTH_KEYCLOAK_SECRET`       | Keycloak client secret *(keycloak only)*                         |
| `AUTH_KEYCLOAK_ISSUER`       | Keycloak issuer URL *(keycloak only)*                            |

See `.env.example` for the full list, including optional observability variables.

## Docker

If you prefer Docker:

```bash theme={null}
docker build -t insight-hub .
docker run -p 3000:3000 --env-file .env.local insight-hub
```

## Next steps

<Card title="First steps" icon="footprints" href="/products/insight-hub/getting-started/first-steps">
  Log in and create your first topic.
</Card>