> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.bosonnetwork.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.bosonnetwork.io/getting-started/install.md).

# Try Boson Locally

What you install depends on what you want to do.

| I want to...                           | Install                                            | Guide                                          |
| -------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| Build an application with the Java SDK | **Nothing.** The SDK is published to Maven Central | [Java SDK](/build-applications/java-sdk.md)    |
| Try a super node on my own computer    | The ZIP archive                                    | This page                                      |
| Run a node on a server                 | A DEB package or the public setup tool             | [Installation](/deploy-a-node/installation.md) |

This page covers the ZIP archive: a complete super node you can run from your home directory, without installing a system service. It is meant for trying Boson out and for developing against a local node. For a node other people or devices depend on, use the [server installation](/deploy-a-node/installation.md) instead.

***

## Download

Get the archive for your platform from [Boson.Releases](https://github.com/bosonnetwork/Boson.Releases/releases):

| Platform             | Archive                              |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------ |
| macOS, Apple Silicon | `boson-<version>-macos-aarch64.zip`  |
| macOS, Intel         | `boson-<version>-macos-x86_64.zip`   |
| Linux, x86\_64       | `boson-<version>-linux-x86_64.zip`   |
| Linux, aarch64       | `boson-<version>-linux-aarch64.zip`  |
| Windows, x86\_64     | `boson-<version>-windows-x86_64.zip` |

Each archive includes its own Java runtime.

***

## Unpack and start

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="macOS" %}

```bash
unzip boson-<version>-macos-aarch64.zip
cd boson-<version>
xattr -rd com.apple.quarantine .    # allow the bundled runtime and tools to run
./bin/boson.sh
```

{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Linux" %}

```bash
sudo apt-get install libsodium23    # Debian/Ubuntu; use your distribution's libsodium package elsewhere
unzip boson-<version>-linux-x86_64.zip
cd boson-<version>
./bin/boson.sh
```

{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Windows" %}
The launchers are shell scripts, so run them from Git Bash or WSL:

```bash
unzip boson-<version>-windows-x86_64.zip
cd boson-<version>
./bin/boson.sh
```

{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

The first time you start it, `boson.sh` finds no configuration and runs the [setup wizard](/deploy-a-node/installation/setup-wizard.md) interactively. It asks for a node name and a few optional details, generates the node's identity, and writes the configuration to `~/.config/boson`. When it finishes, start the node:

```bash
./bin/boson.sh
```

The node runs in the foreground; press `Ctrl-C` to stop it. It logs to `~/.local/state/boson/logs/boson.log`, or the log directory you chose in the wizard.

***

## Check that it works

Ask the node for its status. It uses a self-signed certificate, so tell `curl` not to verify it:

```bash
curl -k https://localhost:9000/api/v1/client/node
```

Then open the web consoles in a browser, accepting the certificate warning:

| URL                              | What it is           |
| -------------------------------- | -------------------- |
| `https://localhost:9000/`        | The node's home page |
| `https://localhost:9000/admin/`  | Admin dashboard      |
| `https://localhost:9000/portal/` | User portal          |

A node on a laptop behind a home router joins the DHT and works fine for development, but other people's devices cannot reach its services. That is what the [server installation](/deploy-a-node/installation.md) is for.

***

## What is in the archive

```
boson-<version>/
  bin/
    boson.sh              Start the super node (runs the setup wizard on first start)
    bootstrap.sh          Start a DHT-only bootstrap node
    dht-shell.sh          Interactive DHT shell
    boson-director-cli    Admin command-line tool
    boson-cli             Key and encoding utilities
  lib/                    Java libraries
  jre/                    Bundled Java runtime
  web/                    Admin dashboard, user portal and home page
```

***

## Next steps

* [Run Your First Node](/getting-started/first-node.md): look around the node you just started
* [Explore with the DHT Shell](/getting-started/dht-shell.md)
* [Hello Boson](/getting-started/hello-boson.md): your first application


---

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