Get SveltyCMS running locally in under 5 minutes. This tutorial walks you through installation, booting the dev server, completing the initial setup, and creating your first content collection.

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Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure your local environment meets these requirements:

• Runtime: Bun (v1.2+) or Node.js (v24+)
• OS: macOS, Linux, or Windows (WSL / PowerShell)
• Browser: Any modern browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)

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Step 1: Clone and Install

Clone the repository and install dependencies with a single command:

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/SveltyCMS/SveltyCMS.git
cd SveltyCMS

# Install dependencies
bun install

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Step 2: Start the Development Server

Launch the Vite development server:

bun run dev

The terminal will output the local development URL:

  VITE v7.3.1  ready in 420 ms

  ➜  Local:   http://localhost:5173/
  ➜  Network: use --host to expose

Open http://localhost:5173/ in your browser.

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Step 3: Complete the Initial Setup

When you first open SveltyCMS, the system detects that no database or admin user exists and automatically opens the Setup Wizard:

1. Database Selection: Choose SQLite (In-Process) for instant zero-configuration local setup.
2. Admin Credentials: Enter your Administrator Email and Password (minimum 8 characters).
3. Site Configuration: Enter your Site Name and default language (e.g., English / en).
4. Complete Setup: Click Initialize CMS.

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Step 4: Access Your Dashboard & First Collection

1. Log in at http://localhost:5173/login using your admin credentials.
2. Navigate to Config $\rightarrow$ Collection Builder in the sidebar.
3. Click Create Collection and add your fields (e.g., title, slug, content).
4. Save and publish — your collection is immediately available via REST API (/api/collections/posts), GraphQL (/api/graphql), and the Admin UI.

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Next Steps

• Follow the Setup Wizard Guide for multi-database configurations (PostgreSQL, MariaDB, MongoDB).
• Explore Persona Paths to tailor workflows for your team.
• Read about our Local SDK Architecture for zero-network CMS data access.