# Installation
This guide covers the various ways to install and run the Docs MCP Server.
## 🚀 Quick Start (Recommended)
The easiest way to get started is using the standalone server, which includes both the MCP endpoints and the web interface in a single process.
### Option 1: Node.js (npx)
If you have Node.js 20.x or later installed, you can run the server directly with a single command:
```bash
npx @arabold/docs-mcp-server@latest
```
This runs the server on port 6280 by default. Open **[http://localhost:6280](http://localhost:6280)** to access the web interface.
**Optional:** Prefix with `OPENAI_API_KEY="your-openai-api-key"` to enable vector search for improved results.
### Option 2: Docker
Running via Docker ensures you have all dependencies without polluting your host system.
```bash
docker run --rm \
-v docs-mcp-data:/data \
-v docs-mcp-config:/config \
-p 6280:6280 \
ghcr.io/arabold/docs-mcp-server:latest \
--protocol http --host 0.0.0.0 --port 6280
```
**Configuration:** The server writes its configuration to `/config/docs-mcp-server/config.yaml`. Mounting the `/config` volume ensures your settings persist across restarts.
**Optional:** Add `-e OPENAI_API_KEY="your-openai-api-key"` to enable vector search for improved results.
---
## 🔌 Embedded Server
You can run the MCP server directly embedded in your AI assistant without a separate process or web interface. This provides MCP integration only.
Add this to your MCP settings (VS Code, Claude Desktop, etc.):
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"docs-mcp-server": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["@arabold/docs-mcp-server@latest"],
"disabled": false,
"autoApprove": []
}
}
}
```
**With Vector Search (API Key):**
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"docs-mcp-server": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["@arabold/docs-mcp-server@latest"],
"env": {
"OPENAI_API_KEY": "sk-proj-..."
},
"disabled": false,
"autoApprove": []
}
}
}
```
**Note:** When running in embedded mode, you lose access to the Web Interface unless you launch it separately (see [Basic Usage](../guides/basic-usage.md)).
---
## 🐳 Advanced: Docker Compose (Scaling)
For production deployments or when you need to scale processing, use Docker Compose to run separate services. The system selects either a local in-process worker or a remote worker client based on the configuration.
1. **Clone the repository:**
```bash
git clone https://github.com/arabold/docs-mcp-server.git
cd docs-mcp-server
```
2. **Set your environment variables:**
```bash
export OPENAI_API_KEY="your-key-here"
```
3. **Start all services:**
```bash
docker compose up -d
```
### Service Architecture
- **Worker** (port 8080): Handles documentation processing jobs.
- **MCP Server** (port 6280): Provides `/sse` endpoint for AI tools.
- **Web Interface** (port 6281): Browser-based management interface.
See [Deployment Modes](../infrastructure/deployment-modes.md) for more architectural details.
