# Getting Started

**Not sure where to start? Pick your situation:**

- Zero technical setup, just want it working → [Managed Hosting](./managed-hosting)
- Free always-on cloud server, okay with a one-time setup → [Oracle Cloud Free Tier](./oracle-cloud)
- Own hardware (Raspberry Pi, NUC, old laptop) → [Home Server](./home-server)
- Just my computer, local only, no server → [Desktop Install](./desktop-install)
- Developer, prefer Docker → [Docker](./docker)
- Already have Crow, adding a second instance → [Google Cloud](./google-cloud) + [multi-device guide](./multi-device)

## Choose Your Path

### Oracle Cloud Free Tier (Recommended Free) :star:

A permanent cloud server that never sleeps, never expires, and costs nothing. Uses local SQLite — no external database needed.

> [Oracle Cloud Setup Guide](./oracle-cloud)

### Google Cloud Free Tier

A permanent free VM (1GB RAM, 30GB disk) in the US. Great as a secondary instance for multi-cloud chaining with Oracle Cloud.

> [Google Cloud Setup Guide](./google-cloud)

### Home Server (Pi / Always-On Machine)

Run Crow on a Raspberry Pi, old laptop, NUC, or any always-on Linux box. One-command install.

> [Home Server Guide](./home-server)

### Desktop Install (Personal Machine)

Run Crow locally, connected directly to Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, and other tools. No cloud needed.

> [Desktop Install Guide](./desktop-install)

### Managed Hosting (Easiest)

Pre-configured Crow instance — no setup, no maintenance. Your own subdomain at `username.crow.maestro.press` with Crow's Nest, blog, AI integrations, daily backups, and SSL included.

> [Managed Hosting Guide](./managed-hosting)

### Other Options

- **[Docker](./docker)** — Self-host the gateway with Docker Compose. Best for developers who want full control.
- **[Cloud Deploy (Legacy)](./cloud-deploy)** — Archived Render deployment guide. Oracle Cloud is recommended for new deployments.

::: info Multi-Instance Chaining
Run Crow on **multiple free-tier clouds** and chain them together. Your memories sync automatically, and you can call tools on any instance from any other. Set up [Oracle Cloud](./oracle-cloud) + [Google Cloud](./google-cloud), then [chain them](./multi-device).
:::

## What You'll Get

Crow is modular — start with memory and the dashboard, then add features as you need them:

**Core (always included):**
- **Persistent memory** — remembers across conversations and platforms
- **Project management** — organize research, data connectors, sources, and multi-format citations (APA, MLA, Chicago)
- **Full-text search** — find anything stored in memory or projects
- **Crow's Nest** — visual web interface for managing your Crow instance

**Optional layers (add when ready):**
- **20+ integrations** — Gmail, GitHub, Slack, Notion, Trello, and more
- **Encrypted P2P sharing** — share memories and projects with other Crow users
- **File storage** — upload and manage files with S3-compatible storage (requires MinIO)
- **Blog platform** — publish posts with Markdown, RSS feeds, and themes
- **Self-hosting add-ons** — install Ollama, Nextcloud, Immich, Obsidian, and Home Assistant from the Extensions panel
- **Auto-updates** — opt-in automatic updates from GitHub

**What's public?** Your blog is the only thing visible to the outside world, and only posts you explicitly publish with `public` visibility appear there. Your Crow's Nest, data, and MCP endpoints are private by default. See the [Security Guide](https://github.com/kh0pper/crow/blob/main/SECURITY.md#whats-public-by-default) for the full breakdown.

::: tip Running many integrations?
See the [Context & Performance guide](/guide/context-performance) for ways to optimize tool loading and reduce context window usage.
:::

## Requirements

- Node.js 18+ (for all self-hosted options)
- A free [Oracle Cloud](https://cloud.oracle.com) account (for cloud deploy)
- Raspberry Pi 4+ with 4 GB RAM (for Crow OS)
- An account on at least one AI platform (Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, etc.)
