# How to Install the No-Code Architects Toolkit Locally

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg1dcNJvJqQ
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/Lg1dcNJvJqQ
Generated: 2025-12-02T18:12:24.221+00:00

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## Quick Overview

The tutorial walks through installing the No-Code Architects Toolkit locally using Docker and Docker Compose by cloning the GitHub repository, setting up the environment configuration file, and running the necessary Docker command to launch the services, including N8N, NCATK, and MinIO for local S3 simulation.

**Key Points:**
- The installation process requires Docker and Docker Compose to be installed locally on the user's machine (Mac or Windows).
- The first step involves cloning the "no-code-architects-toolkit" repository from GitHub using the command: `git clone https://github.com/stephenpope/no-code-architects-toolkit`.
- Users must copy the example environment file (`.env.local.minio.n8n.example`) to `.env.local.minio.n8n` and customize the settings.
- The development environment is started using Docker Compose with the command: `docker-compose -f docker-compose.local.minio.n8n.yaml up -d`.
- The setup deploys three main services locally: N8N, NCATK, and MinIO (simulating S3 storage).
- Once running, services are accessible via local URLs, such as the N8N Workflow Interface at `http://localhost:5678` and the MinIO Console at `http://localhost:9000`.

![Screenshot at 00:09: The presenter highlights the Docker website's call-to-action button to download Docker Desktop, which is a prerequisite for running the local development environment.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Lg1dcNJvJqQ/00-00-09.png)

**Context:** This video provides a step-by-step technical tutorial on how to set up the No-Code Architects Toolkit for local development. This setup utilizes containerization via Docker and Docker Compose to integrate several components—N8N (workflow automation), NCATK (the toolkit itself), and MinIO (to emulate AWS S3 storage)—allowing developers to test the application environment without needing live cloud credentials.

## Detailed Analysis

The tutorial begins by instructing the viewer to download and install Docker Desktop from docker.com, as it is essential for running the toolkit locally on Mac or Windows. Next, the user navigates to the no-code-architects-toolkit GitHub repository and clones it to their local machine using the `git clone` command. After cloning, the user opens the repository directory in Visual Studio Code. The critical configuration step involves locating the example environment file, `.env.local.minio.n8n.example`, copying it to remove the `.example` suffix, and editing the new file to input specific local preferences. The final step to start the development environment is executing the Docker Compose command: `docker-compose -f docker-compose.local.minio.n8n.yaml up -d`. The presenter notes an initial error because they were not in the correct directory, but rerunning the command after navigating into the cloned toolkit directory successfully initiates the build process, where Docker pulls necessary images for N8N, NCATK, and MinIO. Upon successful completion, the documentation indicates that the three services are running and accessible via specified local URLs, simulating an environment where generated files are stored in the local MinIO S3 bucket.

### Prerequisites & Cloning

- Install Docker Desktop from docker.com
- Clone the GitHub repository using `git clone ...`
- Ensure Git is installed locally on Mac or PC.

### Environment Configuration

- Locate and copy `.env.local.minio.n8n.example` to `.env.local.minio.n8n`
- Customize settings in the copied file (no specific value changes are demonstrated).

### Starting the Environment

- Navigate into the cloned directory (`cd no-code-architects-toolkit`)
- Run the startup command: `docker-compose -f docker-compose.local.minio.n8n.yaml up -d`.

### Deployment Outcome

- Docker pulls images for N8N, NCATK, and MinIO
- The services run together to simulate local S3 storage for generated artifacts.

### Accessing Applications

- Once running, access the N8N Workflow Interface at `http://localhost:5678` and the MinIO Console at `http://localhost:9000`.

![Screenshot at 00:00: Viewing the GitHub repository structure for the 'no-code-architects-toolkit' on the top screen.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Lg1dcNJvJqQ/00-00-00.png)
![Screenshot at 00:09: The presenter highlights the 'Download/Get started' button on the Docker Desktop download page.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Lg1dcNJvJqQ/00-00-09.png)
![Screenshot at 00:31: The presenter clicks the HTTPS option in the GitHub code dropdown menu to copy the repository URL.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Lg1dcNJvJqQ/00-00-31.png)
![Screenshot at 00:55: The file structure within Visual Studio Code shows the recently cloned repository contents, with an arrow pointing to the .env.local.minio.n8n.example file.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Lg1dcNJvJqQ/00-00-55.png)
![Screenshot at 01:03: The contents of the .env.local.minio.n8n.example file displayed in VS Code, showing environment variables for API, S3, and Gunicorn configuration.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Lg1dcNJvJqQ/00-01-03.png)