---
title: "Getting Started"
description: "Start with recommended Cetas JS or choose optional Cetas Native, then reach your first message."
---

> Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://colmugx.github.io/cetas/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Getting Started

Start with Cetas JS from npm (recommended), or choose the Native terminal via Homebrew/Scoop if you prefer no Node.js. Both use the same agent core but have different host-specific features. The guide takes you to your first message.

## New to coding agents?

You do not need any programming experience from here. Cetas is an assistant
that runs on your own machine: you state what you want, it reads and edits
files and runs commands, showing you every step. You need four things:

1. A macOS, Linux, or Windows computer;
2. A [terminal](/cetas/en/getting-started/glossary/#terminal) — the typing window
   where Cetas lives;
3. [Node.js](/cetas/en/getting-started/glossary/#nodejs) 24+ for the recommended JS version; **not needed** for Native;
4. An account with a model [provider](/cetas/en/getting-started/glossary/#provider)
   (say DeepSeek or OpenAI); first-time users create an
   [API key](/cetas/en/getting-started/glossary/#api-key) on their site.

If you are still deciding, read [Is Cetas for me?](/cetas/en/faq/is-cetas-for-me/).
Ready? Head straight to
[Installation & First Run](/cetas/en/getting-started/installation/) — it starts from
zero and every term links to an explanation.

## Already familiar with these?

- **Installation & First Run** — JS via npm, Native via Homebrew/Scoop or direct download, then your first message.
- **Glossary** — Terminal, npm, provider, API key — one short paragraph per term.

Deploying inside a company with private infrastructure? Read
[Custom and self-hosted models](/cetas/en/configuration/custom-models/) first and
skip a detour. For how Cetas compares with other coding agents, see
[this page](/cetas/en/faq/how-different/).

Source: https://colmugx.github.io/cetas/en/getting-started/index.mdx