> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.getbindu.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Install

> Get Bindu into your environment in 30 seconds. uv is the short path; pip works too.

The install step should be boring. Two commands, no surprises.

## The short path: `uv`

```bash theme={null}
uv add bindu
```

That's it. If you don't have `uv` yet:

```bash theme={null}
curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh
```

Restart your shell, then `uv add bindu`. You need Python 3.12 or newer.

## The pip path

If you'd rather use a standard venv:

```bash theme={null}
python3 -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activate          # Windows: .venv\Scripts\activate
pip install -U bindu
```

If `pip install` fails, the usual culprit is an old pip. Run `python -m pip install --upgrade pip` and retry.

## API keys

To run anything interesting you'll need a key for at least one LLM provider:

```bash theme={null}
# Pick one — agents in the examples folder use these
OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-...
OPENROUTER_API_KEY=sk-or-...
MINIMAX_API_KEY=...
```

Put them in a `.env` file at the project root. The examples all use `python-dotenv` to load it.

## Verify it worked

```bash theme={null}
uv run python -c "import bindu; print(bindu.__version__)"
```

You should see a version string (PyPI releases are `0.3.x`; source checkouts use CalVer like `2026.21.x.devN+g<sha>`). Either way, if it prints, Bindu imported cleanly — head to [Your first agent](/bindu/get-started/your-first-agent).

## Hacking on Bindu itself

Different goal — you want to contribute to the framework, not just use it:

```bash theme={null}
git clone https://github.com/getbindu/Bindu.git
cd Bindu
uv sync --dev
pre-commit run --all-files
```

The full contributor guide lives at [`.github/contributing.md`](https://github.com/getbindu/Bindu/blob/main/.github/contributing.md). Most of the day-to-day chat happens on [Discord](https://discord.gg/3w5zuYUuwt) — come say hi.