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Node.js Setup for Contributors

Node.js is not required for the normal image-based quick-start or production Compose deployment. Those paths run the official frontend and backend containers.

Install Node.js when developing Multiforum or building images from source. Frontend development uses Node.js 26. Node.js 24.13 or newer remains supported for environments that currently deploy the frontend on Node 24.

Install Node.js 26​

Using nvm:

nvm install 26
nvm use 26

Using Homebrew on macOS:

brew install node@26

Verify the runtime:

node --version
npm --version

Source-build Compose override​

To exercise local bootstrap while building the frontend and backend from source:

docker compose \
  --env-file .env.quickstart.example \
  -f docker-compose.yml \
  -f docker-compose.source.yml \
  up --build

For day-to-day application work, follow the Contributing Guide.