Dictionary Installation

System Requirements

🖥️

OS

macOS 12+, Ubuntu 20.04+, Windows 10+

⚡

Runtime

Node.js 18+ or Python 3.9+

💾

Memory

Minimum 512MB RAM recommended

🌐

Network

Internet access for initial setup

1. Run the Installer

The fastest way to get Dictionary running is using our official installer script. It automatically detects your environment and sets up dependencies.

bash

$ curl -fsSL https://install.dictionary.dev | sh

2. Verify Installation

Confirm Dictionary is properly installed by checking the version and running a quick health check.

bash

$ dictionary --version
Dictionary CLI v3.2.1

$ dictionary health
✓ All systems operational

Install via Package Manager

Use your OS package manager for system-wide installation with automatic updates.

npm

$ npm install -g @dictionary/cli

pip

$ pip install dictionary-core

brew

$ brew install dictionary/cli/dictionary

Run with Docker

Containerized installation for consistent environments across development and production.

docker

$ docker run -d \\
  --name dictionary \\
  -p 8080:8080 \\
  -v dict-data:/app/data \\
  dictionary/app:latest

💡

Tip

Mount a volume to persist your dictionary database and custom configurations across container restarts.

Build from Source

For developers who need the latest features or want to contribute to the project.

bash

$ git clone https://github.com/dictionary/dictionary-core.git
$ cd dictionary-core
$ npm install
$ npm run build
$ npm link

⚠️

Development Mode

Running from source includes debug logging and unoptimized performance. Use only for development or testing.

Post-Installation Configuration

After installation, configure your API keys and preferences to unlock all features.

bash

$ dictionary init
# Follow the interactive setup wizard
# Enter your API key when prompted

$ dictionary config set --language en-US
$ dictionary config set --mode developer

🔑

API Key Required

Generate a free API key from your dashboard to access premium definitions, translations, and AI-powered insights.

Common Issues

🚫

Command not found

Add the installation directory to your PATH or restart your terminal. For npm global installs, run npm config get prefix to locate it.

⏳

Slow initial startup

The first run downloads the language database (~45MB). Subsequent launches will be instant. Ensure you have a stable internet connection.