NemoClaw Prerequisites¶
This page covers what you need before running the NemoClaw installer on Ubuntu.
NemoClaw is currently alpha software, so it is normal for the docs and runtime behavior to change quickly.
1. Install curl¶
Verify¶
Expected: a version number and supported protocols. For example:
2. Install Docker Engine¶
Do these steps in order. OpenShell expects Docker to work for your normal user account, not only with sudo.
Install Docker with Docker's Linux install script from get.docker.com:
sudo is required so the script can install packages. (You can read the script on GitHub before you run it.)
Confirm the service is running:
You want Active: active (running).
Add your user to the docker group:
Start a new login session so your user picks up the docker group. The session where you ran usermod cannot use Docker without sudo until you do this.
- Physical PC or VM with a desktop: log out completely, then log back in. Or reboot:
sudo reboot. - SSH only: disconnect all SSH sessions, then connect again. If it still fails, reboot:
sudo reboot. - VM (VMware, etc.): rebooting the guest is often the simplest approach.
Opening a new terminal tab in the same session is not enough on many systems.
In the new session, confirm the group:
The output should include docker. If it does not, you are still in an old session -- log out and log back in again.
Verify¶
Expected: docker version shows both Client and Server, and hello-world prints Hello from Docker!
Client: Docker Engine - Community
Version: ...
Server: Docker Engine - Community
Version: ...
Hello from Docker!
3. Install OpenShell¶
Install OpenShell only after Docker works for your normal user account (step 2).
Verify¶
Expected: a version number. For example:
4. Install Node.js and npm¶
The easiest approach is nvm:
Reload the shell so nvm is available:
Install Node.js (npm is included):
Verify¶
Expected:
5. Install Git¶
Verify¶
Expected: a version number. For example:
6. Optional: Homebrew¶
Many skill dependencies are shipped via Homebrew, but it is not required for the initial install.
After install, follow the on-screen instructions to add Homebrew to your PATH.
Verify¶
Expected: a version number. For example:
7. Optional: Ollama¶
Install Ollama only if you want local models instead of a hosted provider.
Pull a lightweight model for local heartbeats:
Verify¶
Expected: a version number. For example:
Final check¶
Before continuing, run all of the following commands. Every one should succeed:
curl --version
docker version
docker run hello-world
openshell --version
node -v
npm -v
git --version
Expected results:
| Command | Expected |
|---|---|
curl --version |
Version number and protocols |
docker version |
Shows both Client and Server |
docker run hello-world |
Prints Hello from Docker! |
openshell --version |
Version number |
node -v |
v24.14.0 or later |
npm -v |
11.9.0 or later |
git --version |
Version number |
If any command fails, go back to the corresponding step above.
Troubleshooting¶
nemoclaw: command not found after installation¶
If you manage Node.js with nvm or fnm, the installer may not update the current shell's PATH immediately. Reload your shell:
Docker permission denied¶
If Docker fails with permission denied ... /var/run/docker.sock, your user is not yet active in the docker group. Check with groups and repeat step 2 (usermod + new login session).
Stale Docker credentials¶
If Docker fails with a missing credential helper (e.g. docker-credential-desktop), inspect ~/.docker/config.json and remove the credsStore line, then retry docker run hello-world.
nvm: command not found¶
If nvm is not found after installing it, reload your shell:
git: command not found¶
On Ubuntu, install with sudo apt install git. Then verify with git --version.
Next step¶
Continue to Install NemoClaw.