Install Worktable from the CLI

Use the command-line install for Linux, Intel Macs, servers, or when you prefer to run Worktable as a local service. On an Apple Silicon Mac, the native Desktop app is the simplest starting point. If you do not want to operate a machine or server, use Worktable Cloud.

curl -fsSL https://worktable.dev/install | sh

The installer supports macOS and Linux on arm64 and x64. It sets up the worktable command (with a wtb shorthand), then starts interactive setup. When setup finishes, open the address it prints. The default is:

http://localhost:7480

See it before you run it

Piping a script to sh deserves skepticism. The installer is short, needs no sudo, and edits no shell profiles. See exactly what it would download and touch:

curl -fsSL https://worktable.dev/install | sh -s -- --dry-run

Every flag and default path is listed in the installer reference.

Choose the workspace folder

Your workspace is a plain folder at ~/Worktable by default. Docs, HTML docs, records, annotations, threads, and history remain separate from app settings and credentials.

Pick another folder during setup, or steer it explicitly:

worktable setup --workspace ~/work/notebook

WORKTABLE_WORKSPACE=~/work/notebook worktable

Worktable can adopt an existing valid workspace. It refuses to initialize a non-empty unrelated folder or overwrite an unfamiliar workspace identity.

Choose how it runs

Interactive setup offers a managed background service or a foreground process. The background service is convenient for agents that should reach Worktable after the terminal closes. Foreground mode keeps lifecycle control in the current terminal.

To make a server reachable from another machine, finish the local setup first, then follow Reach Worktable from another machine.

Verify the install

worktable doctor

doctor checks the installation and reports the active workspace, service, and agent setup.

Non-interactive installs

# Accept defaults without prompts
curl -fsSL https://worktable.dev/install | sh -s -- --yes

# Install only; run setup yourself later
curl -fsSL https://worktable.dev/install | sh -s -- --no-setup

You can also supply --workspace, --port, --background or --foreground, and --mcp <client-ids> in the same pass. See the installer reference for every flag and path.

Next

Connect an agent or create your first space.