Requirements
tools and accounts.
What to install on your computer, what to have on the server, and which accounts you need for each feature.
01On your computer
These are the programs you install once on the computer you work on. Every command in these docs is typed into a terminal, the app where you type commands, opened in the unzipped folder.
| Tool | Version | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Node.js Required | 22.12 or newer (engines in package.json); checked with 22. | Runs the build, the tests and the server. |
| pnpm Required | checked with 10.33 and 12.18 | The package manager the lockfile (pnpm-lock.yaml) is made for. |
| OpenSSL Optional | any | Makes the admin secret (openssl rand -hex 32). |
| A terminal Required | macOS, Linux or Windows | The commands are written for macOS and Linux shells (bash, zsh). On Windows use WSL (Ubuntu) or Git Bash; a few commands (cp, openssl, set -a) do not work as written in PowerShell. |
| A code editor | any | For rebranding and code changes. |
better-sqlite3 is an optional package that stores the admin in a local file. It needs a prebuilt binary or a C++ toolchain. If it cannot install on your machine, use Postgres with DATABASE_URL instead (Configuration).
02Hosting
| Option | You need |
|---|---|
| Vercel | A Vercel account; a Postgres 14+ database (for example Neon) for the admin; optionally a Vercel Blob store for the aggregate counters. |
| Your own server | Node 22.12+, one long-running process, a folder for data (SQLite) or a Postgres database, and HTTPS in front (a reverse proxy such as Caddy or nginx). |
03Accounts, by feature
| Feature | Account | Needed? |
|---|---|---|
| AI chart reading | Anthropic API key (console.anthropic.com). You pay Anthropic per request. | Optional |
| Builder fee | A Hyperliquid account (an EVM address) holding at least 100 USDC of perps account value — the admin checks this. | Optional |
| Pro plan | A Hyperliquid address that receives USDC payments. | Optional |
| Referral link | Your own Hyperliquid referral code. | Optional |
Hosting, the database, the optional Anthropic API and Vercel Blob are paid by you, the operator, to each provider. Hyperliquid trading fees, funding and slippage are paid by each user on their own account. A builder fee needs at least 100 USDC of your own funds on the builder address. The full list: Costs and services.
04What your users need
- A modern desktop or mobile browser. Paper mode needs nothing else.
- For testnet or mainnet runs: a browser wallet that injects
window.ethereum(for example a browser extension wallet) and a Hyperliquid account with funds on that network. - Hyperliquid's terms restrict access from some countries, including the United States. The desk asks every user to confirm this before a live run, and the admin can switch live modes off by country.