You do not need to be a developer to use Riggr. Your AI writes the app. You still need a few one-time tools on your computer so that app can run in a browser at localhost.
This page is the checklist to bookmark. Come back any time your AI says “run npm install” or “open Terminal.”
Prefer a chat coach? Copy the prompt below into Claude.ai, ChatGPT, or Claude Desktop and ask it to walk you through each step. (Building the Shopify app itself still needs Claude Code, Cursor, or Codex with Riggr MCP.)
Click copy on the box, paste into your chat AI, then answer its questions (Mac or Windows, what you already installed). Stay on environment setup; do not ask it to write your Riggr app.
I'm a Shopify merchant using Riggr. I'm not a developer. Help me set up my computer so a Riggr app can run locally at localhost. Walk me one step at a time, wait for my reply before the next step, and explain every command in plain language.
My OS: (reply with Mac or Windows)
Follow this Riggr checklist exactly. Do not invent alternate stacks. Do not write app code, React, or Next.js for me. If I get stuck, ask me to paste the exact error.
1) Open Terminal (Mac: Command+Space, type Terminal) or Windows Terminal / PowerShell.
2) Install Node.js 18 or newer:
- Mac recommended: install Homebrew from https://brew.sh if needed, then run: brew install node
- Mac alternative or Windows: install the LTS installer from https://nodejs.org (reopen Terminal after install). Windows optional: winget install OpenJS.NodeJS.LTS
3) Verify in Terminal:
node -v
npm -v
(Node must show v18 or higher.)
4) After Riggr Autopilot has scaffolded my app (I already pasted Talk to your AI into Claude Code / Cursor / Codex, or I will do that next):
- cd into the app folder my coding AI created
- npm install
- npm run dev
- open the localhost URL it prints in my browser
5) To stop the server later: Control+C. To start again later: cd into the same folder and run npm run dev again.
Official Riggr Help page for this: https://www.hiriggr.com/help/local-environment
If something is about Shopify connect, MCP subscribe, or API keys, tell me to use Riggr Help / in-app support instead of guessing.| Word | Plain meaning |
|------|----------------|
| Terminal | A text window where you type short commands. On Mac it's Terminal (or iTerm). On Windows it's Terminal or PowerShell. |
| Command | A short instruction you type, then press Return / Enter. |
| Homebrew | A free helper on Mac that installs developer tools with one command (brew). Optional but easiest. |
| Node.js | The engine that runs modern web apps on your computer. Riggr apps need version 18 or newer. |
| npm | Comes with Node. It installs app packages (npm install) and starts the app (npm run dev). |
| localhost | Your computer talking to itself in the browser, e.g. http://localhost:3004. Not the public internet. |
| Folder / directory | A place on disk where the app files live. Your AI usually creates this (e.g. ~/Code/returns-triage). |
I can open Terminal (or PowerShell) on my computer
Acknowledge below so we know this landed.
Press Command (⌘) + Space.
Press Return. A window with a blinking cursor appears. That is Terminal.
Drag Terminal to your Dock if you like. You will use it for Node install and later for npm run dev.
You only paste short commands we give you. You do not need to memorize anything.
You install Node once for the whole computer. After that, every Riggr app can use it.
Homebrew makes install and updates easier. If you already have Node 18+, skip to Verify.
In Terminal, paste this whole line, then press Return:
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"Follow the on-screen prompts. It may ask for your Mac login password (characters will not show as you type; that is normal). At the end, if it prints two echo / eval lines for your shell, paste and run those too so brew works in new Terminal windows.
Paste:
brew install nodeWait until it finishes. Then continue to Verify below.
Open nodejs.org and download the LTS Windows installer (.msi).
Accept defaults (including “Automatically install necessary tools” if offered). Finish, then close and reopen Terminal / PowerShell so it sees Node.
If you use winget, this also works:
winget install OpenJS.NodeJS.LTSThen close and reopen Terminal.
In Terminal / PowerShell, run these one at a time:
node -v
npm -vYou want something like:
node -v and npm -v both print version numbers (Node 18+)
Acknowledge below so we know this landed.
Your AI builds the app into a folder on your computer. Then you (or the AI, if you ask it) run two commands inside that folder.
Complete the Setup guide, download your project API key .env, connect a coding AI, and paste Talk to your AI from the project page. Wait until the AI says the app is scaffolded.
Your AI will tell you the path. Example:
cd ~/Code/returns-triageOn Windows PowerShell, paths look like cd C:\Users\You\Code\returns-triage. Ask your AI for the exact path if you are unsure.
Paste:
npm installThis downloads libraries into a node_modules folder. First run can take a few minutes. Leave the window open until it finishes.
Paste:
npm run devWhen it is ready, the Terminal usually shows a local URL such as http://localhost:3004 (port depends on the Spark).
Hold Command (Mac) or Control (Windows) and click the localhost link in Terminal, or copy the URL into Chrome / Safari / Edge. You should see your app.
Click into the Terminal window and press Control + C. That stops npm run dev. To start again later: open Terminal, cd into the same folder, run npm run dev again (you usually skip npm install unless the AI changed dependencies).
In Claude Code, Cursor, or Codex you can say: “Open the project folder, run npm install, then npm run dev, and tell me the localhost URL.” Many merchants never type these by hand after the first time.
I know the loop: cd into the app → npm install → npm run dev → open localhost
Acknowledge below so we know this landed.
You do not need to learn Git, React, TypeScript, or deploy to the internet to get value from Riggr. Your AI handles the code. Your jobs are: keep Node installed, paste Talk to your AI, run (or ask the AI to run) npm install / npm run dev, and use the app in the browser.
.env, and connection issues